Morning Service for the Seventh Sunday of Easter 2024 – The Sunday after the Ascension
HYMN Hail the day that sees him rise NEH 130 – Llanfair
1 Hail the day that sees him rise Alleluya!
Glorious to his native skies; Alleluya!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluya!
Enters now the highest heaven! Alleluya!
2 There the glorious triumph waits; Alleluya!,
Lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluya!
Christ hath vanquished death and sin; Alleluya! Take the King of glory in. Alleluya!
6 Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluya!
Far above yon azure height, Alleluya!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluya!
Seeking thee beyond the skies. Alleluya!
7 There we shall with thee remain, Alleluya!
Partners of thine endless reign; Alleluya!
There thy face unclouded see, Alleluya!
Find our heaven of heavens in thee. Alleluya!.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith,
firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments and to live in love and peace with all.
Almighty God, our 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.
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.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE COLLECT
O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
FIRST READING – Acts 1.15-17, 21-26
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
HYMN Come let us join our cheerful songs NEH 349 – Nativity
1. Come, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne.
Ten thousand, thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.
2. “Worthy the Lamb that died,” they cry,
“To be exalted thus!”
“Worthy the Lamb,” our hearts reply,
“For He was slain for us!”
3. Jesus is worthy to receive
Honour and power divine;
And blessings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, forever Thine.
4. Let all creation join in one,
To bless the sacred name
Of Him who sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.
GOSPEL – John 17.6-19
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
SERMON
Jesus said, “and now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.”
This morning’s Gospel reading was the beginning of the end of John’s farewell discourse by Jesus to his disciples, the long soliloquy preparing them for his death and for his glorification, and their future. In the speech Jesus deals with his relationship to God and his relationship to the disciples and their relationship to the world. Jesus speaks of him and the father being one, he then, a little later, talks of the disciples being one and then he says that he is one with the disciples, “I in them and you (that’s God) in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me, and have loved them just as you have loved me.”
It is this unity that is usually the topic of encouraging sermons – the extraordinary generosity of God, the overwhelming love of God. All the barriers are broken down, between Jesus and the Father, between Jesus and his disciples – there is unity.
There is, however, one barrier that remains, and that is, if anything, greater than before, the division between God and the world. The father, Jesus, the disciples, all exist one in the other – but the world is other, outside, hostile, over and against, a foe and an enemy.
And that is how it must have felt to be one of the disciples – danger all around, rejection from family and friends, ostracised by neighbours and community. We see on our TV screens from all across the world what happens when a community decides who is in and who is out. And being out is entirely uncomfortable – and dangerous. Those defined as outsiders often band together tightly for safety and for necessary fellowship. For the early Christians who had thrown their lot of in with the gospel the unity of their community, and their unity with their Lord and God, was a matter of life, and death. So fear of the world (all that is not of Christ) and rejection of the world was only natural – and as the persecutions came, even more reasonable and sensible.
However, just as John highlights the gulf between the world and God so he makes it very clear that it is the disciples who are to bridge that gulf. Jesus had gone from the Father to the world – but he had been rejected. John began his Gospel by saying “he was in the world, and though the world has made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own but his own did not receive him.” But those who did accept him, and believed in his name, not only did he give them the right to become children of God, but he also called them to share in a task.
They were to take all that Jesus had taught them, all that they knew Jesus to be, all that they had experienced from Jesus and of Jesus – they were to take it all to the world. The same world that had crucified Jesus, that did not understand Jesus, that had persecuted and rejected Jesus, they were to take Jesus to this world all over again, and keep on taking him there until the end of time.
They, of course, do not go alone, unaided, they were not abandoned – but that story is for next week, for Pentecost.
The disciples, despite their own rejection and persecution, never gave up on the world – how could they – their Lord died for the world. The task of loving the world into salvation was passed on to the disciples – and from them to us, their inheritors. It is a proposition of pure hope, hope over experience, but hope is a very gift from God, and a sure sign of the Spirit’s presence.
Yes, John saw boundaries, Christ and his church on one hand and the evil world on the other, but he also saw that the people Jesus called “the children of God” were his bridge to the world. It is our job not to emphasise the boundaries that divide us but to put down the welcome mat, put the kettle on and throw wide the door and say “come in and find a home with us.” That’s why the word welcome isn’t an optional part of the Christian vocabulary – it’s at its very heart.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles: this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen. 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
HYMN Eternal Monarch, King most high NEH 128 – Gonfalon Royal
1 Eternal Monarch, King most high,
Whose blood hath brought redemption nigh,
By whom the death of Death was wrought
And conquering grace’s battle fought:
2 Ascending to the throne of might,
And seated at the Father’s right,
All power in heaven is Jesu’s own,
That here his manhood had not known.
3 Yea, angels tremble when they see
How changed is our humanity;
That flesh hath purged what flesh had stained,
And God, the flesh of God, hath reigned.
4 Be thou our joy and strong defence,
Who art our future recompense:
So shall the light that springs from thee
Be ours through all eternity.
5 O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to thee let earth accord,
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit One. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Mary Hinton
Give thanks to the Lord. Rejoice and praise his name.
On Thursday, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus to the Father, as he concluded his ministry here on earth. Jesus left his disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, may we, like them, open our hearts to receive him.
We pray for our troubled world where violence, bloodshed and a lack of compassion are commonplace. We remember those who are persecuted for their faith. Lord, we pray for those with responsibility in Government, may they seek the common good and look for justice and peace. We pray for those caught up in conflict, remembering the people of Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Haiti and Sudan. Lord, have mercy on all who are displaced because of conflict, natural disasters, and poverty. Be with all who are weak and vulnerable.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, we pray for your church as we continue the work Jesus called us, like his disciples, to do. We pray for Charles our King, Justin our Archbishop, Philip our Bishop and all who minister in your church, both laity and clergy. We give thanks to William our Rector for his work and support in our Benefice and the many demanding aspects of his ministry here.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We remember in our prayers with thanksgiving all those whose efforts both large and small make our local and our church communities the thriving places they are. Lord, bless our families, friends and neighbours. May we be mindful of those in special need.
We pray for our children and young people whose minds are focused on forthcoming exams. Lord, help and guide them in their studies.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, pour out your healing love on all who are sick of mind, body and soul. In a moment of quiet we remember those who are known to us personally. Our prayers are particularly asked for Daisy Warne. We give thanks for the work of all carers, whether at home, in hospital, care homes or hospices.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear us as we remember in faith and love those who have died. From our benefice we especially remember Marie Bawcutt. May they rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon them. We pray for all who mourn, may they find comfort in the Lord.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
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.
BLESSING
The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself,
the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen you in his service,
the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
bless you and keep you, always. Amen
HYMN All hail the power of Jesu’s name NEH 332 – Miles Lane
1 All hail the power of Jesu’s name;
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
To crown him Lord of all.
2 Crown him, ye morning stars of light,
Who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the Strength of Israel’s might,
And crown him Lord of all.
4 Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Ye ransomed of the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
And crown him Lord of all.
5 Hail him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call;
The God incarnate, Man divine,
And crown him Lord of all.
6 Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at his feet,
And crown him Lord of all.
7 Let every tribe and every tongue
To him their hearts enthral,
Lift high the universal song,
And crown him Lord of all.