St Clement Church
Easter Three Community Service
Good morning
Today, we continue to read about Jesus appearing to his disciples and as we do, may we think more deeply about resurrection in our lives.
My love to you all
Liz
This is your day and we shall praise You!
This is Your day and we shall declare your name!
This is your day and we shall worship a risen Saviour and our King.
Amen
We say together:
We meet as family in the presence of our heavenly Father. We meet as brothers and sisters in Christ, accepting the responsibility that this places upon us – to love one another as you have loved us. We meet as your lights in this dark world, and pray that through our words and our lives others may be drawn into your family, and accept you as their Saviour and Lord.
Amen
Hymn: 375 I danced in the morning
Our Prayer of Penitence:
Seek the Lord while he may be found,
and call upon him while he is near.
Let the wicked abandon their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Turn back to the Lord, who will have mercy;
to our God who will richly pardon.
Lord God, we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent.
Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen
The Collect for Easter Three
Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; 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
Readings:
Acts 9. 1 – 20 Revelation 5. 11 - 14
Hymn: 346 City of God, how broad and far
Gospel: John 21. 1 - 19 (Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast your net to the right of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples fared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’
He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God. After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Elara is a woman deeply scarred by the loss of her son, Ben. She retreats into a shell, haunted by memories and unable to find solace. Her once cherished garden, now overrun with weeds and neglect, reflects her own state of despair. One morning, she notices a vibrant, unexpected bloom on a forgotten rose bush. It’s a miracle, a spark of life amidst the desolation.
This little bloom ignites a spark within Elara. She begins to tend her garden, weeding, watering, and planting new seeds. With each passing day, the garden slowly transforms. Colours emerge, once dormant plants awaken, and a sense of vibrancy fills the space. This mirroring of the garden’s rebirth becomes a parallel to Elara’s own healing journey.
As the garden flourishes, Elara finds herself drawn to the beauty around her. She begins to engage with the world again, finding solace in the simple act of nurturing. She starts to see Ben’s spirit in the laughter of children playing in the park, the gentle rustling of leaves, and the vibrant hues of the setting sun.
The ‘resurrection’ she witnesses isn’t just in the garden; it’s within her own heart. She finds a new purpose, a renewed sense of hope, and an appreciation for the beauty and fragility of life. Elara stands in her vibrant garden surrounded by the warmth of the sun, finally free from the shackles of grief embracing a future filled with joy and possibility. The resurrected garden, a symbol of her own rebirth, stands as a testament to the enduring power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.
I wonder – what has the past two weeks been like for you? Have you seen and experienced resurrection in your life? What does it look like? Two weeks ago, we celebrated the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Two weeks ago, the stone was rolled away, the tomb was found to be empty, and Jesus was seen alive. What difference has the resurrection made in us? I’m not asking about what difference it might make in some distant heavenly future, I’m asking about our lives today, here, now.
I wonder whether Easter Day, with the rolled away stone, the empty tomb, Jesus being alive is so huge that we lose sight of the resurrection in our lives. We look for and expect it to be an equally ginormous thing in our lives. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe that’s why it’s sometimes difficult to recognise it in our own lives here and now.
Maybe, and maybe more often than we realise, the immensity of the empty tomb is experienced in the ordinary circumstances of life. Maybe the enormity of Jesus being alive is revealed in the routine rhythms of life.
Think about today’s story – John’s recording of it is very precise.
The disciples have returned home. They’ve gone back to fishing. They’ve moved from the empty tomb to their boats, from the house in Jerusalem to the familiar waters of the Sea of Tiberius. They’ve travelled 70 or 80 miles from the place of Jesus’ resurrection and they’re back to their old routine of fishing. They’ve returned to the same boats, the same nets, the same water, the same work. That’s when and where Jesus “showed himself.”
It's now two weeks since Easter and I bet we’ve all returned to the routine of our lives. That’s when and where we can expect Jesus to show himself to us. Resurrection does not happen apart from the routines of life but in them. Resurrection isn’t about escaping life but about becoming alive.
The disciples fish all night, but they catch nothing – their nets are empty, but so are they. Who hasn’t experienced darkness and emptiness? We all know what that’s like. You fish, you work, you do your best, but you still come up empty. That’s when Jesus, still unrecognised by the disciples, and indeed so often by us, appears.
Did you notice that this happens just after daybreak? The dark night of fishing gives way to the dawn of a new day, new hopes, new possibilities. The darkness doesn’t win; the light always prevails. In the light of this new day, Jesus shows himself. This isn’t about the rising of the sun. It’s about the rising of the Son in the darkness of the disciples’ lives and in the darkness of our lives.
I wonder whether the reference to Peter gets dressed is more than simply clothing his nakedness. He is clothing himself with courage, with joy, with an urgency for Jesus. What places or circumstances of our lives need to be clothed in courage or joy? And if they were, how would that change our life? What new possibilities would open to us? What might we do differently? Whatever our answers, may be, they are the places and ways in which Jesus is showing Himself to us.
I wonder what Peter thought when he got ashore and saw a charcoal fire. Was he reminded of the fire where he denied Jesus three times? I wonder if he relived that night, hearing the cock crow and thinking, ‘If only …’ Whatever Peter might be thinking or feeling and whatever guilt the cock was crowing in Peter’s memory were interrupted, banished and silenced by Jesus showing Himself and saying, “Come and breakfast.” Jesus shows himself to us in the charcoal fires of our guilt, regrets and betrayals. Those fires, however, have been extinguished and a new fire kindled. That’s true for Peter, for you, and for me.
For most of us, shared meals also mean shared conversation, and so it does for Peter and Jesus. It is a conversation about love, freedom and moving forward. “Do you love me? Jesus asks Peter, not once but three times. One question for each of Peter’s denials. Three times Peter gives the same answer, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus knows that Peter loves him, but Peter himself needs to know it. He needs to understand that he is not bound or identified by his past. How many of us also need to hear, understand, and experience that again and again as if for the first time. That’s another detail or circumstance of our lives in which Jesus is showing Himself?
With each question and answer, Jesus draws Peter from his past and frees him to become himself and to be more fully alive. Isn’t that really what today’s gospel is about? It’s the same story being told through the many different details and circumstances of our lives.
Jesus showed Himself in the empty nets that were filled with large fish, the darkness that gave way to light, nakedness that was clothed, a charcoal fire of denial that became a fire of welcome and invitation, a last supper that became a first breakfast, and three denials that were forgiven with three affirmations of love.
Resurrection is in the details. That’s true in today’s gospel and in our lives. The gospel’s details are our life’s details. It’s as if John has given us a paper with a bunch of dots on it, each one a particular detail or circumstance, and now our work is to connect the dots with the lines of our lives. And, when we do, we discover resurrection. We discover that we have a future, our life has been guaranteed by Christ’s life, and He has shown Himself to us.
Amen
Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God
Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God, but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave, he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself and was obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore, God has raised him on high, and given him the name above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen
Hymn: 294 Just as I am without one plea
Our Intercessions
Mighty God, your Son revealed Himself again and again and convinced His disciples of His glorious resurrection. Help us to feel His risen presence, so that we can lovingly feed His sheep, and care for the lambs of His flock here in this parish and the communities in which we live.
Lord, hear us; Lord, graciously hear us
Lord God our Father, we give thanks for the victory in Europe, a victory won at great cost and sacrifice. We remember with reverence and gratitude those who fought and died in the Second World War, and we honour their courage and dedication.
Guide us by your Spirit to build a more just and peaceful world, where all people can live in harmony and cooperation. Help us to learn from the past and to strive for a future free from conflict and oppression.
May your peace fill our hearts and minds and may we be instruments of your peace in all we do.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us
Creator God, we thank you for the example of leadership given to us by your Son, Jesus Christ, in His life here on earth and how, in a practical sense, He showed His followers a new way to fish.
Our world is a troubled place. So many leaders of nations seem only interested in their own and their country’s power, ignoring the well-being of their own and other nations’ peoples.
May all leaders of nations work for the good of their people and the bringing of peace to the world.
Lord, hear us; Lord, graciously hear us
Almighty God, you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son, and to care for those who are our companions, not only with words, but with acts of love. As we seek to be true friends of all, we pray for our families, our friends, and our neighbours, especially in areas where there are problems with our relationships. Let us always be the ones to make the first steps towards reconciliation.
Lord, hear us; Lord, graciously hear us
Gracious God, we remember this morning those who are sick in body, mind or spirit; those who are sad or lonely and those who feel there is no place for them. We pray for all whose life’s journey is coming to an end, that they may be aware of your comforting presence and know that in your hands they are safe and loved. We especially remember at this time: Reverend Diane, Ken, May, Susan, Lauren, Lynda, Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Stella, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Dave and Jeanette, Carrie and John Paul, Felicity, Nan, Barry, Paul and all those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, hear us; Lord, graciously hear us
Creator God, through the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, you have freed us from the grip of the tomb. We pray for those who have departed this life especially remembering Terry today, and ask You, through your loving kindness, to have mercy on their souls. We pray too for those left behind who are grieving for their loved ones, remembering Dot, Debbie, Graham and their families.
Lord, hear us; Lord, graciously hear us
Lord, at the start of this week, help us to be an example to others. Show us, as you did with your fishermen friends, the practical steps we need to take so that we can change the ways in which we do things and so develop consistency and integrity in all that we do in our lives.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.
We say together:
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
Resurrection in Our Lives
The dust of yesterday still swirls, A shadow lingers, life unfurls With hesitant steps, a weary sigh, As echoes of loss fill the sky.
But in the depths, a spark ignites, A flicker of hope, burning bright. Resurrection whispers, a gentle call,
To rise above, to stand tall.
The broken piece, once so frail,
Can weave a story, a new trail.
With tender hands and patient care,
A vibrant tapestry, we share.
The darkness fades, a golden dawn,
A new creation, newly born.
Resurrection’s promise, sweet and true,
A vibrant life, forever new.
For in our hearts, a seed is sown,
A spirit strong, a life unknown.
Resurrection lives, within our soul,
A journey onward, to make us whole.
The Peace
Lord Jesus, we pray for peace in our hearts and in the world. May the joy of your resurrection fill us with hope and love.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 467 Through all the changing seas of life
The Blessing
As we take our worship, praise, and prayer from this place and into our daily lives, may our lives be sustained through the love of the Heavenly Father.
May we feel the presence of our Saviour walking beside us, and know the power of the Spirit in both our actions and words.
Amen