Sunday Orders of Service
Eastertide Spiritual CommunionFourth Sunday of Easter – 3rd May, 2020
Preparation: You may wish to find a space for prayer in front of a cross, a candle, or a special place.
The Lord be with you All: and also with you.
Alleluia! Christ is risen. All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
HymnFather, hear the prayer we offer
Father, hear the prayer we offer:
Not for ever in green pastures
Not for ever by still waters
Be our strength in hours of weakness,
Prayer of Preparation
Almighty God,
Prayers of Penitence
Christ our Passover lamb
Like Mary at the empty tomb, All: Lord, have mercy.
Like the disciples behind locked doors, All: Christ, have mercy.
Like Thomas in the upper room, All: Lord, have mercy.
Gloria in Excelsis
All: Glory to God in the highest,
The CollectLet us pray that we may walk the risen life of Christ in glory.
A period of silent prayer is kept. Almighty God,
The Liturgy of the Word
New Testament ReadingActs 2:42-end
They (the newly-baptised) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Life among the Believers
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
At the end: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
Gradual HymnThe Lord’s my Shepherd (Crimond)
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
My soul he doth restore again,
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
My table thou hast furnishèd
Goodness and mercy all my life
Gospel ReadingJohn 10:1-10 Alleluia, alleluia. All: Alleluia.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. All: Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus the Good Shepherd‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
At the end: This is the Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, O Christ.
ReflectionFr Michael
When I was a child it was customary to learn things “off by heart”. Poetry of all sorts and, at my school, the Collect for the week. Today’s Gospel reading contains one of the verses in the Bible that it is good to know by heart. John 10:10 sums up the essence of the Christian life and why Jesus came: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” But what does it mean? It means that you and I should be filled to the brim with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Living life to the full. How many actually see us doing just that? A popular caricature of Christians is that we are far from happy. Actually, out in that world of blogs there are echoes of “Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells” Being indignant, shocked and horrified – a bunch of kill–joys. Christian folk can easily be offended – don’t like a joke, are rather suspicious of the good things in life, not having much fun. Such folk are sometimes called “Custard Christians” – easily upset by trifles! Not much fullness of life there. The problem invariably isn’t sex or booze, but not living in moderation and not discovering God’s plan for our lives. Fullness of life and personal happiness come to us when we are obeying God’s plan for our lives – surely that is the point? Fullness of life is there for each one of us and it is a life–long process which begins for us at our Baptism and continues all through life. We need to think less of ourselves and turn towards Jesus, to allow His Spirit to grow within us, so that the life of God can well up into eternal life. Turning away from selfishness, living for others, rather than simply looking after number one, is difficult. Jesus warns us of the dangers of following other “false” shepherds – the values of greed, lust, power, selfishness, hatred, violence. The true follower of Jesus is not misled by these, but recognizes that ultimately a life based on these things will come to nothing. Jesus Himself is the only “Way” of salvation, the gate which leads to security and the fullness of life. There is nothing to fear when we can each affirm, both by our words and deeds, that the Lord is my shepherd. It is then that the power of the risen Lord becomes a living reality for us.
Every Blessing, Fr. Michael.
Affirmation of Faith
All: We believe and trust in God the Father,
We believe and trust in God the Son,
We believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
This is the faith of the Church. This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Intercession
Pray for the needs of the world, for our local communities, our loved-ones and our friends.
At the end:
All: Merciful Father,
The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father, who art in heaven,
HymnO Jesus, I have promised Tune: Day of Rest
O Jesus, I have promised
O let me feel thee near me:
O let me hear thee speaking
O Jesus, thou hast promised, and then in heav’n receive me,
Closing Prayer Merciful Father, All: Amen.
Virtual Blessing All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
God the Father, All: Amen.
God the Son, All: Amen.
God the Holy Spirit, All: Amen.
And [may] the blessing of God almighty, All: Amen.
VoluntaryDirector of Music: James Lilwall
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