Trusted VoicesThis is the Sunday when the Church encounters Jesus as ‘The Good Shepherd’. Historically, the image of the ‘shepherd’ had been used for and by kings, prophets and priests. However, their self-serving and faithless service usually brought the nation to its knees.Unlike the majority of leaders who had gone before him, Jesus presents as ‘The Good Shepherd’ who cares for his sheep and knows them all by name. Sheep can recognise a voice they trust and know, and still in Palestine today, when shepherds issue their distinctive calls, the sheep withdraw from their shared pasture to follow their own shepherd home.There are stories emerging from survivors of the Coronavirus, about how the calm and soothing voices of trusted nurses and doctors kept them fighting when they felt like giving up. For those who have lost their battle for life on this earth, we give thanks that the trusted voice of ‘The Good Shepherd’ guides them home to eternal life.Today we celebrate Jesus’s love for each and every one of us. We trust his voice and give thanks that he knows us all by name. We also celebrate all those ‘trusted voices’ in our communities who have supported us and provided for us through this health crisis. Let us pray together that their selfless, faithful devotion, commitment and love will never be forgotten.Every blessing,Christian
May the Lord be with us all.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.The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;He makes me down to lieIn pastures green; He leadeth meThe quiet waters by.Acts 2: 42-47Let 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, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.John 10: 1-10“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”While we are in lockdown we can only hear the voices of those we love and don’t live with through the phone or the internet, and yet we recognise their voices and know who they are. Jesus says of the sheep that they know his voice, and trust him enough to follow him. He is the good shepherd. We can trust in his promise to give us life, and to give it abundantly.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.Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd, and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again: keep us always under his protection, and give us grace to follow in his steps; through Jesus 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.
There’s no knowing in advance what will happen on any journey. In our Gospel reading from Luke for this Sunday, we hear a story about two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were bereaved and bereft at the death of their friend Jesus. On the journey to Emmaus, from Jerusalem, they met a stranger.That stranger turned out to be the risen Jesus, but they failed to recognise him. The disciples opened up tothe stranger and the stranger listened and encouraged them to talk. The disciples shared their upset and disillusionment at the loss of their friend, their Lord, and in doing so perhaps began to gain a clearer perspective.The disciples offered the stranger hospitality and the chance to stay with them. As they sat to share a meal the stranger took the bread, blessed it and broke it. Only at that moment did the disciples recognise their friend and Saviour. When the disciples set off for Emmaus, little did they know that their journey would take them from disbelief to faith.In the last 5 weeks of lockdown we have all journeyed together through times of confusion, heartache and disbelief. But amidst the difficulties, I wonder how many strangers have crossed your path, often emerging from the shadows to give you hope and increase your faith in humankind. We give thanks for all those who are our ‘local heroes’, bringing hope and help in our darkest times. Strangers in health care, supermarket and so many other uniforms who are now our greatest support and strength.There’s no knowing in advance what will happen on any journey, but what we do know is that God is with us always. When you next encounter a ‘stranger’, remember that they could be ‘angels unawares’.May God bless you all as we continue this particular journey together...Every blessing,Christian
Act of Worship The Third Sunday of EasterLord, 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.Stay with us, remain here with us.Watch and pray. Watch and pray.Acts 2:14a, 36-41Let 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, you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope: strengthen us to proclaim your risen life and fill us with your peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.Luke 24:13-35They told how Jesus had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.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.Do look out for the vicar's message, to be posted here separately.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.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.Hymn (to listen to on line, play, or join in with):I cannot tell why He, whom angels worship, should set His love upon the sons of men, or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wand’rers, to bring them back, they know not how or when..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.
