Sixth Sunday of Easter

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Faithful God, who loves me in Christ Jesus, send your Spirit of truth to dwell within me, that I may always reject what is false, live by the commands of Christ, and be true to the love you have shown me. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen
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“Spirit of God” – Phil Wickham

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Reading: John 14:15-21 (NLT)

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
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Reflection & Prayer:

Heavenly Father:

You are the point of reference for all that Jesus says or does; in you, I find my meaning and purpose. You made me, loved me, and claimed me as your own, even before I was born. Thank you for receiving me into your presence.

Jesus Messiah, Son of the Living God:

Thank you for interceding for me before the Father. You have promised not to abandon me, not to leave me an orphan; you have promised that you will return for me and take me home – I wait for your return with confident hope.

You are the living One, the conqueror of death; you are in the Father and in me. You love me, as the Father loves me; and you have allowed me to experience your presence and life-changing power.

Holy Spirit:

You unite the Father and the Son; you create an indissoluble union of love, of being. You bring the Father and the Son into my heart and unite me with God’s love. Thank you for living within me.

You are the Spirit of truth; in you there is no deceit or falsehood, only the certain light of Christ. Stay with me as Counselor and Friend, as I wait for the Son’s return. Be my strength, my guide, my joy in this “already, not yet” time between times.

Merciful God:

Thank you for receiving me into your presence; thank you for your gracious help when I need it most. Strengthen me to do the work you have given me to do, to love and serve you as a faithful witness of Christ my Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
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“Come Holy Spirit” – Painted Christ in Norway UL 2014 Youth Camp

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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 22 (NLT)

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”

Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.

Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.

O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.

Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!