St Clement Church
Easter Seven Community Service
Good morning
We are still looking at the Gospel reading from the Last Supper. Before leaving the Upper Room, our Lord made a request – ‘As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us …’ Even though He was going to a bitter end, Jesus thought of His disciples and us.
May we live up to that request.
My love to you all
Liz
God of grace, we open our hearts, minds and souls to worship you. Thank you that today we dwell in your kingdom and live in your presence. Thank you, that as we gather together we join with Christians across the world to glorify your holy name. Come be with us, inspire us and lead us in our time together. We ask all this in the beautiful name of Jesus. Amen
We say together:
Heavenly Father, thank you for this new day. Bless us with your wisdom, strength and kindness in all we do. Guide our hearts to share love and patience with others. Protect us from harm and help us fulfil our tasks with joy and purpose. We trust in your care always. Amen
Hymn: 238 New every morning is the love
Our Prayer of Penitence:
Seek the Lord while he may be found, 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. Wah 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 Seven
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 Jesus 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
Readings:
Acts 16. 16 - 34 Revelation 22. 12 – 14, 16 – 17, 20 - 21
Hymn: 130 Hail the day that sees him rise (omit verses 3, 4 & 5)
Gospel: John 17. 20 - 26 (Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed: ‘Holy Father, I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, so that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
In a diverse community, where families often struggled to find common ground, a small group of neighbours, united by a shared belief in a common good, decided to organise a community garden.
Their initial vision was to foster unity and build a space where everyone, regardless of background, could work together. However, disagreements soon arose about the garden’s design, the types of crops to grow, and even how to divide the work. Would it be possible with so many egos and differences of opinion to build what they wanted? Despite their many challenges, they persevered, drawing inspiration from the idea that through working together, they could create a beautiful and bountiful garden which everyone could share.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is praying to the Father and He is praying for us. Three times He asks our Father that we would all become one as He and the Father are one.
If Jesus is praying for our oneness, then He is also recognising and rejecting the boundaries and differences that divide us. There are divisions within ourselves, our families, our churches, our nation. We live in a world full of divisions – male or female; rich or poor; educated or uneducated; young or old; heaven or earth; divine or human; sinner or saved; orthodox or heretic. We could go on and on listing the boundaries that we encounter and all too often establish and promote. They are not just divisions they have become oppositions. These divisions exist not only out there in the world but primarily and first in the human heart. We project into the world our fragmented lives.
For every boundary we establish, there is a human being. Ultimately, boundaries and differences are not about issues. They are about real people, with names, lives, joys, sorrows, concerns, and needs, just like us. I think we sometimes forget or ignore this. It is easier to deal with an issue than a real person.
Whether or not we admit it, the boundaries that we establish and enforce are usually done in such a way as to favour us; to make us feel ok, to reassure us that we are right and in control, chosen and desired, seen and recognised, approved of, and accepted. In order, for me to win, someone must lose; in order, for me to be included someone must be excluded, otherwise winning and being included mean nothing. The divisions in our lives in some way become self-perpetuating.
We often deal with the boundaries and differences that divide us by writing agreements, covenants, treaties, and legislation that govern how we will get along with each other, and behave, in the midst of our differences. But that is not Jesus’ prayer.
Jesus doesn’t pray for our tolerance, our getting along, or just being ‘nice’ to each other. He doesn’t even pray that our differences would be eliminated. Instead, He prays for our oneness. He prays that we would be one as He and the Father are one so that our oneness would be the revelation of God’s presence in the world. Oneness, in the midst of difference, becomes a sacramental presence of God’s life in the world.
This doesn’t mean that we lose our identity or individuality. Jesus doesn’t stop being Jesus and the Father doesn’t stop being the Father because they are one. Oneness is less about numbers and quantity and more qualitative. Jesus and the Father are one because they love and give themselves to each other. Oneness is a quality of life – God’s life. Jesus’ prayer for oneness is ultimately that we would be and live like God.
Oneness is not about eliminating differences. It is about love. Love is the only thing that can overcome division. Over and over Jesus tells us that.
Love God.
Love your neighbour.
Love yourself.
Love your enemy.
Our love for God, neighbour, self, and enemy reveals our oneness, and the measure of our oneness, our God like-ness, is love. In love there may be differences but there is no division.
God’s love knows no boundaries. God loves male and female, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. God loves young and old, heaven and earth, divine and human. God loves sinner and saved. All are loved fully, completely, and uniquely, as each has need.
God doesn’t even draw boundaries between Jesus and us.
If we think God loves Jesus more than anyone else, we have missed the point. God loves each one of us as much as he loves Jesus. God loves our neighbours the same as he loves Jesus. God loves our enemies the same as he loves Jesus. If that is how God loves, how can we do anything less and still call ourselves Christians?
For far too long we have dealt with each other through our boundaries, differences, and divisions. You can see where that has gotten us. You need only look at the world, read the newspaper, or watch the news. When we deal with others through our divisions we label, do violence, and hunker down to defend our position. There is no oneness in that.
Though Jesus is praying to the Father, you and I will in large part be the ones to answer Jesus’ prayer.
We answer His prayer every time we choose how to love, who to love, where to love. It is time we answer Jesus’ prayer and deal with one another in love.
So, I wonder, who are the boundaries that await our love?
Amen
Let us declare our faith in God
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Hymn: 476 Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim
Our Intercessions by Helen Dunbar
In the power of the spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.
Dear Lord, we ask your blessing on the worldwide church and on all who minister within it. In our own Diocese we pray for Bishop David, in his new role as Bishop of Truro. Here at St Clement, we pray for our own dear Reverend Diane, as she works to enrich the ministry in this community. We thank God we can be here at St Clement and worship with our Christian family. Let us remember the many Christians in other parts of the world, whose lives are very different to ours, living in fear and unable to openly worship and go about their daily lives. We pray for all who are persecuted for their beliefs.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
We pray for the homeless and hungry and all who have no place to rest. May they find kindness and generosity wherever they may go. Lord, be merciful to all who find doors shut against them and give blessings to all who reach out to those in need; the refugees in Gaza, for all people living with the ravages of war, the people still suffering in war torn Ukraine, for all who are in need of food, clean water and shelter and for all being persecuted.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
Guide the leaders of all nations that justice and peace may prevail throughout the world. We pray for the healing among nations; for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is pain; that your love may bring peace to all. We pray that the leaders will work together to meet the challenges facing our world and there will be an end to aggression and war.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
We pray for all students whether at school or university who face end of year and national exams this term; Dear Lord help all of them to focus on their revision and get their reward; give them quiet hearts and quick minds when it really matters.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
Our thoughts and prayers go to the 65 people injured, some of them children, when a car ploughed through a busy Liverpool street full of people celebrating the success of their football team; a carnival atmosphere turned from celebration to one of horror and devastation.
Show us, oh God, how to love not only the animals, birds, and all green and growing things, but the soil, air and water by which we live, so that we may not exploit or pollute them for our own profit or convenience.
Help us to cherish these necessities for our survival, and guide those in authority to ensure that the human spirit may not be starved in pursuit of material comfort and wealth.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
Bless and guide King Charles and Queen Camilla; may they have help and guidance from you as they go about their duties.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
Dear Lord, have compassion on all who are wearied by pain and illness. Bring wholeness and healing to all who reach out to you. We pray for: Reverend Diane and Ken, May, Susan, Jan, 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, Nan, Barry, Felicity, Paul and Barbara, those known to each of us and those with no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
We pray for those whose anniversary falls at this time – for Liz Hitchens, Stella Lawry, Arthur Rowe and Glenys Tall.
Loving God, we pray for those saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them, either recently or at this time of year. Our thoughts and prayers go to Dot and family as they prepare for the funeral of Terry whose funeral takes place in this church tomorrow.
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Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Clement, St Allen, and St Andrew,
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
Walking with God by John Newton
By faith in Christ I walk with God, With heav’n, my journey’s-end, in view; Supported by his staff and rod,
My road is safe and pleasant too.
I travel through a desert wide
Where many round me blindly stray;
But he vouchsafes to be my guide,
And will not let me miss my way.
Though snares and dangers throng my path,
And earth and hell my course withstand;
I triumph over all by faith,
Guarded by his Almighty hand.
The wilderness affords no food,
But God for my support prepares;
Provides me every needful good,
And frees my soul from wants and cares.
With him sweet converse I maintain,
Great as he is I dare be free;
I tell him all my grief and pain,
And he reveals his love for me.
Some cordial from his word he brings,
Whene’er my feeble spirit faints;
At once my soul revives and sings,
And yields no more to sad complaints.
I pity all that worldlings talk
Of pleasures that will quickly end;
Be this my choice, O Lord, to walk
With thee, my Guide, my Guard, my Friend.
The Peace
Jesus said: ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you are to love one another.’
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 443 Rejoice, the Lord is King
The Blessing
May God’s Word be in your heart.
May God’s Word be on your lips.
May God’s Word be in your touch.
May God’s Word be in your feet.
On this day and all your days to come
May God’s Word be the life you live.
Amen