Topic: Morning Prayer Easter 6
Time: May 17, 2020 10:50 AM Dublin
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Killiskey Parish
Sunday 17th May 2020 @ 11.00am
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
SERVICE OF MORNING PRAYER
The Gathering of God’s People
GREETING The Lord be with you and also with you.
Opening Hymn: CH28 “I sing the almighty power of God”(vs 1-6) I sing the almighty power of God that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; the moon shines full at his command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord that filled the earth with food; he formed the creatures with his word and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn mine eye, if I survey the ground we tread or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flower below but makes thy glories known, and clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from thy throne.
All creatures, numerous as they be, are subject to thy care; there’s not a place where we can flee but God is present there.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748) altd. based on Psalm 136: 5-9; James 1: 17
INTRODUCTION We come to offer to Almighty God our worship and praise and thanksgiving, to confess our sins and to receive God’s forgiveness, to hear his holy word proclaimed, to bring before him our needs and the needs of the world, and to pray that in the power of his Spirit we may serve him and know the greatness of his love. Let us confess our sins to God our Father.
Silence is kept.
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION Heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault; by what we have done and by what we have failed to do. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Proclaiming and Receiving the Word
Stand O Lord, open our lips and our mouth will proclaim your praise.
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Praise the Lord. The Lord’s name be praised.
The First Reading: Acts 17: 22-31 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
The Psalm: Psalm 66: 7-18 7 Bless our God, O you peoples; ♦︎ make the voice of his praise to be heard, 8 Who holds our souls in life ♦︎ and suffers not our feet to slip. 9 For you, O God, have proved us; ♦︎ you have tried us as silver is tried. 10 You brought us into the snare; ♦︎ you laid heavy burdens upon our backs. 11 You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; ♦︎ but you brought us out into a place of liberty. 12 I will come into your house with burnt offerings and will pay you my vows, ♦︎ which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 13 I will offer you fat burnt sacrifices with the smoke of rams; ♦︎ I will sacrifice oxen and goats. 14 Come and listen, all you who fear God, ♦︎ and I will tell you what he has done for my soul. 15 I called out to him with my mouth ♦︎ and his praise was on my tongue. 16 If I had nursed evil in my heart, ♦︎ the Lord would not have heard me, 17 But in truth God has heard me; ♦︎ he has heeded the voice of my prayer. 18 Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, ♦︎ nor withheld his loving mercy from me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the be|ginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
The Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 13-22 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Hymn before the Gospel: CH294 “Come down, O love divine”(vs 1, 2 and 4) Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul of mine, and visit it with thine own ardour glowing; O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; and let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long, shall far outpass the power of human telling; for none can guess its grace, till Love create a place wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.
Bianco da Siena (d. 1434) tr. Richard F. Littledale (1833-90) based on John 14: 16, 26
The Gospel: John 14: 15-21 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me,
and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
The Canticle: BENEDICTUS The Song of Zechariah Luke 1: 68-79 Alleluia! The Lord is risen, as he promised to you. Alleluia!
1 Blessèd be the Lord the God of Israel, who has come to his people and set them free. 2 The Lord has raised up for us a mighty saviour, born of the house of his servant David. 3 Through the holy prophets God | promised · of | old to save us from our enemies, from the | hands of | those who | hate us, 4 to show | mercy · to our | forebears, and to re|member · his | holy | covenant. 5 This was the oath God swore to our | father | Abraham: to set us | free · from the | hand of · our | enemies. 6 Free to worship him with out | fear, holy and righteous before him | all the | days of · our | life. 7 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the | Most | High, for you will go before the | Lord · to pre|pare his | way, 8 To give his people knowledge | of sal|vation by the for|giveness · of | all their | sins. 9 In the tender compassion | of our | God the dawn from on | high shall | break up|on us. 10 To shine on those who dwell in darkness ___ and the | shadow · of | death, and to guide our feet | into · the | way of | peace. Glory to the Father, and | to the | Son, and | to the | Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be|ginning, is | now, and shall be for | ever. | A|men.
Alleluia! The Lord is risen, as he promised to you. Alleluia!
THE SERMON
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn of Faith: CH618 “Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy” Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy, be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe, be there at our labours and give us, we pray, your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace, be there at our homing, and give us, we pray, your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm, be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray, your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
The Prayers of the People The Lord be with you and also with you. Kneel Let us pray. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, On earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. O Lord, guide and defend our rulers and grant our government wisdom. Let your ministers be clothed with righteousness and let your servants shout for joy. O Lord, save your people and bless those whom you have chosen. Give peace in our time, O Lord, and let your glory be over all the earth. O God, make clean our hearts within us and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
THE COLLECTS
THE COLLECT OF 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 our Lord. Amen.
COLLECTS AT MORNING PRAYER O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everliving God, we give you thanks for bringing us safely to this day: Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger, and in all things guide us to know and do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray that your Holy Spirit may so guide and govern us that in all the cares and occupations of our daily life, we may never forget your presence but may remember that we are always walking in your sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS For frontline health care workers, we thank you for their vocational call to serve us. Caring God, we also pray: Keep them safe and healthy. Keep their families safe and healthy. Help them to be knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Help them to stay clear-minded in the midst of the surrounding panic.
Deliver them from anxiety for their own loved ones (aging parents, children, spouses, roommates). Give them compassion for every patient in their care. Provide for them financially, especially if they fall ill and are unable to work. Help Christians in health care to exhibit extraordinary peace, so that many would ask about the reason for their hope. Give them opportunities to proclaim the gospel.
God, we trust that you are good and do good. Teach us to be your faithful people in this time of global crisis. Help us to follow in the footsteps of our faithful shepherd, Jesus, who laid down his life for the sake of love. Glorify his name as you equip us with everything needed for doing your will. Amen.
PRAYERS Let us pray that Christ’s risen life may be evident in us daily.
INTERCESSIONS O Christ, in your resurrection the heavens and the earth rejoice. Alleluia! By your resurrection you broke open the gates of hell and destroyed sin and death. Keep us victorious over sin.
By your resurrection you raised the dead and brought us from death to life. Guide us in the way of eternal life.
By your resurrection you confounded your guards and executioners and filled the disciples with joy. Give us joy in your service.
By your resurrection you proclaimed good news to the women and apostles and brought salvation to the whole world. Direct our lives as your new creation.
God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life.
From the waters of death you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us.
THANKSGIVINGS All-loving and all-powerful God, we thank you for this season and all it means – the assurance it brings that your love is stronger than anything else in heaven or earth – stronger than evil, than all human powers, than sorrow and suffering, than death itself. Accept our thanks for this day. Accept our thanks for everything.
We thank you that in our world of so much pain and sorrow you have shown that hope and faith is not in vain. Your purpose is always at work, giving meaning to our seeking and striving after good. Accept our thanks for this day. Accept our thanks for everything.
All-loving and all-powerful God, accept our praise for all you have done in Christ – a mystery before which we stand in awe, a wonder before which we bow down in praise, a truth in which we live and move and have our being. Accept our thanks for this day. Accept our thanks for everything, in the name of the living and risen Christ. Amen. Closing Hymn: CH640 “Purify my heart” Purify my heart, let me be as gold and precious silver; purify my heart, let me be as gold, pure gold.
Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire is to be holy; set apart for You, Lord; I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my master, ready to do Your will.
Purify my heart, cleanse me from within and make me holy; purify my heart, cleanse me from my sin, deep within.
Brian Doerksen (b. 1965)
Going Out as God’s People May the risen Christ grant us the joys of eternal life. Amen. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.