Tag: Universalis

Saturday of 4th Week of Easter, 13 May – John 14:7-14 ~ just believe

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, you are distant and unknown, and yet so near that you know us and love us and save us through your Son Jesus Christ. May he be present in us and in our actions that we may do the same works of mercy, truth and loving service and thus become the sign to the world that your Son is alive and that you are a saving God now and for ever. Amen.
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Reading: John 14:7-14 (NLT)

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:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing us the Father in all that you said and did. Draw me close to you, that I may draw life from you and breathe deeply of your Spirit.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the face of the Father here in our midst. Live in me and through me, that I may faithfully fulfill your purpose for my life.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for opening up a new world of possibilities for us. Attune my heart to yours, and my will to yours, that I may successfully intercede for others in your name – and bring glory to the Father.
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“God Who Moves the Mountains” – Dustin Smith


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 98:3-4 (NLT)

He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Friday of 4th Week of Easter, 12 May – John 14:1-6 ~ my Father’s home

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the way that leads to you and to one another, the truth that is good news of love and hope, and the life which he sacrificed to give it.

Help us to show the way to him and to go his way to one another, to speak the truth that is encouraging and credible, and to give life by sharing happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Reading: John 14:1-6 (NLT)

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
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Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: in this evil age of conflict and uncertainty, speak to us a word of peace and encouragement.

+ Pacify our troubled hearts that we may love and serve all believers as members of our family in faith.
+ Thank you for preparing a place for us in our Father’s home where we can live together with you forever.
+ Give us patient endurance while we wait confidently for your return; even so, Lord, come quickly.
+ Sustain us with your Spirit that our lives may reflect your presence and bear credible witness to your Way to the Father.

Lord Jesus Christ: you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life – the only way by which we come to the Father. Secure us in our faith and support us in our trust that we may live with you forever in our Father’s house. For your name’s sake, we ask it. Amen.
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“Big House” – Audio Adrenaline


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 98:1 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Thursday of 4th Week of Easter, 11 May – John 13:16-20 ~ welcome Master

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

All-powerful God, you remind us today that we are not greater than your Son Jesus, our servant Lord and master. Give us the love and endurance to serve you and to serve others without waiting for awards or gratitude; and to accept the difficulties and contradictions which are part of the Christian life, and which are normal for followers of him who bore the cross for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Reading: John 13:16-20 (NLT)

I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
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Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: you gave up your divine privileges, took the humble position of a servant, and were born as a human being. In washing your followers’ feet, you gave us an example of how to love and serve others.

+ Fill me with your Spirit that I may set aside all distractions and wait quietly for your word spoken to me.
+ Deepen my faith and trust in your loving-kindness that I may set aside my fears and do what you call me to do.
+ Give me the willingness to expend myself for others that I may find true happiness in their joy.

Lord Jesus Christ: you are the presence of the liberating face of God in our midst. May I decrease and you increase that I may find true freedom in your Father’s service, who lives with you and the holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“God I Look to You” – Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 89:1-2 (NLT)

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Wednesday of 4th Week of Easter, 10 May – John 12:44-50 ~ trust me

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, through your Son Jesus Christ you assure us that he came not to condemn us but to bring us Life and Light –

+ Life worth living, that refreshes us with love and a spirit of service;

+ Light of Life, that enables us to see all that is good and worth living for.

Thank you for allowing us to share in his Life that has no end, and walk in his Light that pierces the darkness. Through Christ our Lord, who lives with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen,
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Reading: John 12:44-50 (NLT)

Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
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Reflection & Prayer:

Heavenly Father: you sent us your only Son that we may see you in him.

+ Write every word he speaks in your name on my heart.

+ Satisfy the deep longing of my soul with his presence within me.

+ Enable me to view the world in which I live through his eyes.

+ Make me a bearer of Good News that the world may be saved through him.

Lord Jesus Christ: you are a faithful reflection of the Father. Fill me with your Life and Light that I may live faithfully and serve you only until my life’s end. You who lives with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“We Believe” – Newsboys


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 67:4-5 (NLT)

Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!