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.Breathe on us, breath of God. Fill us with life anew, that as you love so may we love, and do what you would do.Acts 2:14a, 22-32Let 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, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen.John 20:19-31Peace. What does the word mean to you?Peace in the sense of no war?Peace in the sense of a still, quiet place - perhaps the bank of a slow-flowing river, or a calm sea?Peace in the sense of an absence of stress or anxiety or troubling thoughts?Peace in the sense of a deep, inner calm, a confident assurance of hope which overcomes fear?Jesus said “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit.”Jesus didn’t promise that people wouldn’t fight, that all would be still or quiet, or that nothing would give us cause for concern.The peace that Jesus gives is the inner calm, recognition of the love of God which will remain with us, giving us the strength and courage to see it through, whatever happens.We are given the guidance and gifts of the Holy Spirit as we follow the teaching and example of Jesus, living lives of service with sacrificial, generous love.May the peace of the Lord be with you as we see this lockdown through.And may the peace of the Lord be always with you.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.We cannot share in the bread and wine, and yet we share in the body and cup of our Lord Jesus Christ having followed him in spirit and in truth through the journey of the cross and resurrection.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.
<span style="font-size: 1rem;">This is the Sunday when we remember ‘Doubting Thomas’. Thomas refused to believe that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other disciples until he had seen and felt the wounds received by Jesus on the cross.</span>Doubt is often ridiculed, but doubt is an important element of a living faith. Thomas’ honesty and openness in questioning his friends’ experience of the resurrected Jesus creates a space into which the Risen Lord breathes new life and new understanding.This year, the week following Easter Day has been a great struggle for our nation. The tragic loss of so many fellow citizens to the Coronavirus inevitably leads us to doubt and uncertainty enters our minds.This week we salute front line health workers whose lives are being put at risk due to a lack of Personal Protective Equipment. Yet, in the face of practical doubts and uncertainties they heroically, sacrificially care for those most in need.Thomas’ doubt and uncertainty makes us all appreciate the reality of faith. Doubt and uncertainty is transformed by Jesus’ love for Thomas and his acceptance of our holy questioning on our journey of faith. Ultimately, we are drawn from honest and holy doubt into the resurrection experience of a faith made all the deeper for the struggle. Easter breathes new life into us all.May the God of love and Resurrection breathe new hope into us all as we keep all Key Workers in our prayers in the days and weeks ahead.Every blessing,Christian
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus met with his disciples for what was their Last Supper. In humility and love he washed his disciples’ feet. He really was the Servant King. Jesus knew what lay ahead of him and he prepared his friends. Later he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemene by Roman Guards and on Good Friday, following his trial, the crowds called for him to be crucified! He died on the cross, next to two thieves.The light seemed to have gone out. The hope of the world seemed to have been taken away.This last week has been a very difficult one for everybody. The numbers of those who have lost their lives to the COVID disease in hospital each day are scarcely believable. Sadly, the actual number of deceased persons is even bigger because those who have died at home or in Care and Residential homes are not included.Despite the sunshine on Easter Saturday it may seem that the light of our nation has dimmed. However, Easter Day brings both light and hope to us all. It is the day when God raised Jesus from the dead. The Resurrection story reminds us that God defeated both sin and death as His Son was raised in glory from the dead. Light and hope returned to the hearts of the disciples and we are all reminded that God knows us all by name and welcomes all the departed with the Easter promise of eternal life.This Easter, live in the light and hope of the Resurrection story and be light and hope in your local community, to your neighbours and families and friends. Be light and hope to those in need and in support of all Key Workers, not least those who offer us all light and hope in our darkest hours. We remember in particular the thousands of professional health care workers throughout the UK.Worship may be suspended in our church building this year, but our joy in the light and hope provided by the Resurrection story certainly is not!Happy Easter everybody from St Peter’s Church, Sheringham. Every Blessing,Christian
There is an Act of Worship on our Facebook Page here:https://www.facebook.com/StPetersSheringham/
