Sunday, 17th May 2020 is ‘The Sixth Sunday of Easter’ in the Church’s calendar. This coming Thursday is Ascension Day, the time when the Church remembers Jesus rising up to heaven to be with God.in our Gospel reading for this Sunday we read from John (Chapter 14 verses 15-21).We witness Jesus preparing to leave his disciples and join his Father in heaven. He promises to ask the Father to give the disciples another Advocate who will be with them forever. Jesus was referring to the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would come down upon the disciples after he himself had finally disappeared from their sight.An advocate is someone who stands up for someone else. The best advocates are true friends who will stand by you and respect you and value you and love you, even in the most difficult of circumstances.In his earthly life, Jesus had stood beside humanity: loving, supporting, teaching, advising, encouraging, building confidence and promoting well-being. He knew that once he had gone to the Father there was the potential that his disciples would feel bereft, lost, confused and concerned about what was ahead of them. His explanation of God’s own Spirit, which had been inside him and which would now be inside them, brought the disciples hope and a sense of reassurance as they looked to the future.It’s always reassuring to know someone is looking out for you, that someone has got your back.With that in mind, we give thanks for all those Key Workers (and so many others) who have looked after us so well in the last few months and we give thanks for the many ‘advocates’ in our communities who have spoken up and acted on our behalf during this ongoing health crisis.As the Government proposes plans for ‘exiting lockdown’ there are many uncertainties. In so many ways, it is all a big experiment! However, amidst the uncertainties and worries that befall us all at this time, be assured that there are many ‘advocates’ who will fight your corner and support you in the months and years that lie ahead, as we continue to battle Coronavirus.This week is a very appropriate time to pray for them. We pray for Health Care professionals, teachers, MPs, clergy, trade unions, community activists and so many more people in our society who will hold those in authority to account for their decisions and who will force those in authority to remember that their overwhelming priority is to look after and care for the people above everything else.This Sunday and throughout this coming week, we give thanks for God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate. We give thanks for the gifts of love, support and encouragement that the Holy Spirit offers to us all. In his time of great change, we should also remember that the gifts of the Spirit are gifts that we, too, can offer others through our concern for their welfare and we’ll-being and as we seek to build a society of love, justice and equality for all, a society that is better than the one we lived in before lockdown.Every blessing,Christian
Spirit of God, show us Jesus. Remove the darkness, let truth shine through.Acts17: 22-31Let us pray:Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day:God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.John 14: 15-21Jesus said ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth...’We share in the risen life of our Lord Jesus Christ as we follow him in spirit and in truth through the journey of the cross and resurrection, through the sorrows and joys of our time on earth.Please read this week’s message from the vicar.Let us pray:We say prayers for the Church, for the world, for our community, families and friends, and for all who are sick, suffering or bereaved.Please pray, as the vicar requested, for Health Care professionals, teachers, MPs, clergy, trade unions, community activists and so many more people in our society who will hold those in authority to account for their decisions and who will force those in authority to remember that their overwhelming priority is to look after and care for the people above everything else.We pray together the prayer that Jesus taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.Hymn: Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself, the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service, the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our hearts; and may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and and be with us always. Amen.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
You may already know that our part of North Norfolk has the most elderly population in the whole of the UK.In Sheringham, we regularly enjoy the opportunity to celebrate with people who have reached 100 years of age!An inevitable consequence of an elderly population is lots of funeral services. One of the greatest privileges I have as a Vicar is to conduct funeral services and support bereaved families and friends in their loss. Amidst our sorrow at the loss of a loved one, the opportunity to remember, mourn, give thanks and celebrate the life of the deceased is central to saying ‘farewell’.During the lockdown period, funerals are different. Church services are not possible at the moment; the number of mourners is restricted at the crematorium or graveside and loved ones often can’t travel across the country to attend services. However, the wonders of technology are allowing people to be present via webcasts and FaceTime and, importantly, words of scripture continue to support us at our time of greatest need.This Sunday, our Gospel reading is taken from John (Chapter 14 verses 1-14). This piece of scripture has brought comfort to generations of bereaved people and continues to do so today. Jesus assures his disciples that there is room in heaven for us all and that he will be there to lead us to heaven when our time comes.Many different things can bring us comfort when a loved one dies. Memories inevitably play an important part, but so do poems, music, stories, photographs and belongings. The words of scripture, the words of Jesus, also bring us hope and comfort at our time of greatest need.Sadly, in the last 6 weeks I have led an increasing number of COVID-related funeral services. Today, I ask you all to pray for all those who have lost their battle with the virus in our local communities; those who have died of so many other causes; and all those who mourn, give thanks and celebrate that their loved ones are now safe in the arms of Almighty God.When you clap for Key Workers on Thursday evening, remember that God loves you all and please don’t forget to also remember our local Funeral Directors who through their care, attention and love are seeking to bring comfort and assurance in our times of greatest need.Every blessing,Christian
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Hymn: All my hope on God is founded; He doth still my trust renew.Acts 7:55-60Let us pray:Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day:Risen Christ, your wounds declare your love for the world and the wonder of your risen life: give us compassion and courage to risk ourselves for those we serve, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.John 14:1-14‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.’Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. He is all we need. When we remain focussed on him, the hope and trust which overcomes all fear is fostered in our hearts. We cannot share in the bread and wine which is provided by human endeavour and the ingredients which grow in abundance thanks to God, and yet we share in the body and cup of our Lord Jesus Christ as we follow him in spirit and in truth through the journey of the cross and resurrection.Prayers for the Church, the world, our community, families and friends, and all who are sick, suffering or bereaved, followed by the Lord’s prayer:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.Taize chant: I am sure i will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living;Yes, I shall see the goodness of our God: hold firm, trust in the Lord.Father of all, we give you thanks and praise that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself, the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service, the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our hearts; and may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and and be with us always. Amen.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
