Month: May 2017

4th Sunday of Easter, 07 May – John 10:1-10 ~ the Good Shepherd

Fourth Sunday of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“King of Love” – I Am They


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Reading: John 10:1-10 (NLT)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
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Reflection & Prayer:

O God, you never cease to call even those far away, for it is your will that all be drawn into one fold. Attune our ears to the voice of the Good Shepherd, who leads us always to you, that we may find under your tender protection life in all its fullness. We ask 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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“Shepherd” – Amanda Cook


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 23 (NLT)

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Saturday of 3rd Week of Easter, 06 May – John 6:60-69 ~ In Christ Alone

Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Faithful God of the covenant, in the daily choices we have to make give us the courage to opt always for your Son and his ways and to remain close to him. Bless the difficult road we have sometimes to take without seeing where it will lead us. Keep us from making half-hearted decisions when our faith is rather weak and make us accept all the consequences of our choice. Keep us always faithful through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Reading: John 6:60-69 (NLT)

Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
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Reflection & Prayer:

+Lord Jesus Christ, Bread of Life: raise up on the last day all those who believe in you.

+ Son of God, Lord of Life; bless your people with your Spirit and make us holy.

+ Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God: take away our sins and turn our sorrow into joy.

+ Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the World: help us to live as children of light, rejoicing in your victory.

Gracious God: increase the faith of your pilgrim people; and make us faithful, credible, witnesses to your life-changing power that we may share your peace and joy with others. Through our lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“In Christ Alone” – Keith & Kristyn Getty

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace; when fears are stilled, when strivings cease: my Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied; For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain; then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me; for I am His and He is mine—bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—this is the pow’r of Christ in me; from life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand; till He returns or calls me home—here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.
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Concluding Prayer

Truly I am your servant, Lord; …you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. – Psalm 116:16-17 (NLT)
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Friday of 3rd Week of Easter, 05 May – John 6:52-59 ~ true food and drink

Friday of the Third Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Our living and loving God, how could we know the depth of your love if your Son had not become flesh of our flesh and blood of our blood? How could we ever have the courage to live for one another and if necessary to die if he had not given up his body and shed his blood for us?

Thank you for his presence wth us in the eucharist and for making himself our daily bread. Let this bread be the food that empowers us to live and die as he did, for one another and for you, our living God, for ever and ever.
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Reading: John 6:52-59 (NLT)

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
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Reflection & Prayer:

O merciful Father; in your great goodness, we ask you to bless and sanctify, with your Word and Holy Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine, that we, receiving them according to your Son our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.
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We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord, who always delights in showing mercy.

Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.
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Heavenly Father, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ: and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal Kingdom. And now Father, send us out into the world to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
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“Remembrance” – Matt Redman

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Concluding Prayer

Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! – Psalm 117:1-2 (NLT)
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Thursday of 3rd Week of Easter, 04 May – John 6:44-51 ~ Word and Sacrament

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Father, you draw all people to you who believe in your Son Jesus Christ. Faith, Lord, is what I need. Give me a living faith that I may encounter Jesus Christ, your Son, today –

  • in your word that you speak to me,
  • in the bread that you offer me,
  • and in the food that I can give and can be to another.

Through Jesus Christ, your Son and my Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit now and for ever.
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Reading: John 6:44-51 (NLT)

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
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Reflection & Prayer:

Heavenly Father:

+ you have given me your written Word in the Scriptures; teach me what it means – that I may listen and learn from you.

+ you have given me your incarnate Word in your Son; draw me continually to him – that I may be raised up on the last day.

+ you have given me your enacted Word in the Sacraments; give me the bread of life – that I may live forever.

Almighty, ever-living God, you alone offer eternal life to the world. Stay close to me and reveal your loving-kindness in my life that I may be a faithful, compelling witness to your mercy and grace. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Christ Be All Around Me” – All Sons & Daughters


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Concluding Prayer

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. – Psalm 66:16-17 (NLT)
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Wednesday of 3rd Week of Easter, 03 May – John 14:6-14 ~ one God

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord God, I praise and thank you for your apostles. Through them I have come to know that Jesus is alive and risen. May I too be a witness to the risen Jesus by the way I live his risen life, even though I am flawed and weak, that people may find through me the way to the Father of Jesus my Lord.
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Reading: John 14:6-14 (NLT)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
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Reflection & Prayer:

Father God: thank you for giving me your Son. I believe that you are in the Son, and the Son is in you. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to you except through him.

+ Without Jesus, I am homeless – I have no Way to come to you
+ Without Jesus, I am confused – I have no Truth to guide me.
+ Without Jesus, I am dead – I have no Life ahead of me.

Lord Jesus: thank you for showing me the Father.

+ You have spoken his life-giving words to me.
+ You have shown his wondrous works to me.
+ You have demonstrated his unfailing love for me.

Holy Spirit: thank you for living within me through belief and baptism.

+ You are always with me and will never leave me or forsake me.
+ You teach me and remind me of everything Jesus has said and done.
+ You empower me to become the person I was always meant to be.

Almighty God: send me out 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 for ever.
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“Here’s My Heart Lord” – Lauren Daigle


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Concluding Prayer

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. – Psalm 19:1-2 (NLT)
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!