INTRODUCTION
Good morning everyone, I hope you are well. Today’s reading from Acts is about Peter bringing back Tabitha(Dorcas) to life and the Gospel reading takes us back to when Jesus was rejected by the Jews.
Here at St Maxentius we are getting back to normal and have introduce the choir processing in and having communion at the rail. On the 21st May we are having a coffee morning and are raffling off a hamper, tickets are available from church. Our APCM is next week after the service and we are looking for new PCC members if anyone is interested.
Our reflection today is by myself and the intercessions by Alison Greaves, many thanks to them.
Jan B.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Alleluia. Christ is risen
He is risen indeed Alleluia.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope. He has raised Jesus from the dead.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed Alleluia.
Almighty God, your Son opened for us a new and living way into your presence. Give us new hearts and constant wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF PENITENCE
God shows his love for us in that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Let us then show our love for him by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
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.
GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE NEW TESTAMENT READING
ACTS 9:36-43
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas.* She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, ‘Please come to us without delay.’ So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
THE GOSPEL
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you O Lord
John 10:22-30
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
REFLECTION
The Gospel reading today is under the heading of Jesus being rejected by the Jews, despite the prophecies, the work and teaching of Jesus and his disciples, many of the Jews wanted hard proof from him and were constantly challenging him. It must have been quite exhausting. I did a little research on this reading and I have taken some of the views of Karyn Wiseman to get more information on this text.
Firstly the place where Jesus was challenged was in the Temple’s porch or portico and it was also called the “porch of Judgement”. This was where the King would make judgements and sentences for those brought before him. Karyn comments that Jesus is physically embodying justice in this place of justice, something his life and teachings were about. The Jews challenged him to tell them straight that he was the Messiah, but he has given them miracles and explained the prophecies and still they have doubts, very much like Thomas in previous readings.
He likens his believers and followers to his flock of sheep, he once again shows us the analogy of the “Good Shepherd” who looks after his sheep cares for them and knows them all. They in return hear him, follow him, feel safe and have faith that he will look after them “I give them eternal life “. Jesus says that those that do not do this, are not his flock and do not belong.
Doubt in everyday life is everywhere, constantly niggling us and making us question what is right and what is wrong. Faith does not mean that we cannot question things that trouble us, but at times helps us to find our own way or reasons. Even Jesus’ disciples doubted that he was alive when the women came back to tell them the tomb was empty and they had seen him.
Jesus tells the doubters that he is one with God he knows his followers and they know him. This should bring us hope. Karyn Wiseman asks how do we do this? – “We do this by reminding our people of the gifts of God’s unmerited grace and forgiveness. We do that by once again bringing our people to the font to remember the gift of grace at baptism and to the table to remember the abundant hope we receive from the body and blood of Christ shared in the sacrament.”
Jan B.
THE CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by 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, and is seated on the right hand of the Father; he will come again in glory 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.
INTERCESSIONS
During the intercessions, we pray for the church, our country, our government, people in difficulty and those who have died. You can use your own prayers or if you prefer here are some on today’s theme.
As members together of the body of Christ, let us pray to the true and living God.
We pray for the nurture of each member of the Church – for those who will be baptised here later this morning Maizie Lily Wright and Jude William Lane for all in ordained and lay ministry. We especially pray for our own parish and our Turton Moorland team and the new Mission Community with our neighbouring parishes. May our love for one another show as we work for the coming of the Kingdom. We give thanks for all those who know and love us and help us grow in faith.
Lord in your mercy – hear our prayer.
We hold before you our Monarchy and all those who govern our country and make our laws, that they may be upheld and that we act responsibly and with compassion – attentive to real needs and values.
Lord in your mercy – hear our prayer.
Bring healing and wholeness to people and nations and all that we do.
Good Shepherd, as we reflect on Peter’s healing of the seamstress , Dorcas, we give thanks for all those pursuing craft activities throughout our churches and the valuable functions they fulfil. We remember that Jesus himself was a carpenter, and pray for those who work with their hands and skills to maintain our homes and churches.
Lord in your mercy – hear our prayer.
God of nations past and present, we weep over the violence and pride in our world. We too cry out for the people of Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and places unknown to us, whose homes, land and daily life have been devastated by other nations. We pray for peaceful and satisfactory outcomes to all these situations.
Lord in your mercy – hear our prayer.
Good Shepherd, we find through your comfort and healing. We bring to you those who are weak or struggling with physical, mental or spiritual health – you are the great healer. We pray for the dying and those who have died recently, commending them to the joy and safekeeping of your love – remembering from our book of remembrance Percy L Wood and Thomas Dykes..
Lord in your mercy – hear our prayer.
Lord in a world of many divisions, keep beckoning us out of safe havens into your richer fellowship of challenge, reconciliation, sacrifice and service.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
THE BLESSING
The Lord bless us and watch over us, the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us. The Lord look kindly on us and give us peace. The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen.
