Celebrating Eastertide from Home: 7th Friday of Easter
In these worship resources,
we conclude our journey through Eastertide.
Getting started
Read a reflection on Eastertide and ideas for celebrating this season from home
Opening to the Word
You show me the path of life.
the fullness of joy in your presence.Notas mihi fecisti vias vitae;
adimplebis me laetitia cum vultu tuo.
Psalm 15 (16):11
The Liturgy of the Word
Click on one of these references to read today’s Bible readings:
Short Reflection
Division and unity
Pentecost is on Sunday, and so Eastertide is drawing to a close, at least for this year.
(Although, of course, every Sunday is Easter, as we celebrate the Lord’s resurrection on that day.)
It has been difficult to celebrate these 50 days away from physical contact with our communities and sacred spaces.
And yet, maybe we have caught a glimpse this year of something else.
We may, in lockdown, have realised anew the mystery of God’s presence.
Maybe it has been an opportunity for us to reflect deeper on what it is to be at home (not forgetting that for many people, this has been an awful time).
Our fragile world requires that we think afresh about what it means to be global citizens, caring for this sacred space we call earth.
Our fragile world demands that we take her more seriously, and with greater respect.
In our Gospel reading today, we hear Jesus asking Peter three times, “Do you love me?”. Peter, who denied him three times when Jesus was on trial, is mortified to be asked this question. He seems to have been quite flighty, highly-charged and impetuous, and yet Jesus gave him a new name: the rock on which he would build his Church.
Through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, Jesus can transform us, as he transformed Peter.
In turn, we can transform our world if we put some effort into it. We can make small changes, each of which add up to much more than we can hope or imagine.
We can hold corporations, governments and media to account for their wrong-doing.
We can be the change we want to see.
But to do so, begins with the first step.
We are not alone.
You are not alone.
The earth is crying out in labour for the coming Kingdom of justice, love and peace.
We can assist in this bringing-to-birth or we can remain part of the problem.
Dare to be the change you want to see.
This takes radical steps; indeed, a change of heart and a change of mind.
Pray for wisdom, for strength and for courage.
You will show me the path of life,
the fulness of joy in your presence.
Prayer
At this time, continue to pray for our politicians and leaders,
that they may learn humility, wisdom and integrity.
Pray for those who nurse and care for patients with COVID-19
for everyone working to protect the most vulnerable in society from this disease
for those who are most at risk from the pandemic, especially those in enclosed environments.
Pray for essential workers.
Pray for us all.
Music for reflection *
Paul Hindemith: Organ Sonata II, ‘Ruhig bewegt’
An Eastertide hymn
1 Blest be the everlasting God,
the Father of our Lord!
Be God’s abounding mercy praised,
and majesty adored!
2 When from the dead he raised his Son,
and called him to the sky,
God gave our souls a lively hope
that they should never die.
3 There’s an inheritance divine
reserved against that day;
’tis uncorrupted, undefiled,
and cannot fade away
4 Saints by the power of God are kept,
till that salvation come;
we walk by faith as strangers here,
till Christ shall call us home.
Isaac Watts, alt.
Alternative Eastertide Hymn (especially for the evening)
1 Stay with us Lord, for day is almost over;
Come to us in peace and greet us with your word.
You we have known, your love has sought and found us:
Speak to us now, our brother and our Lord.
2 Stay with us Lord, your word like fire within us
Sheds its searching light on all our despair:
We had forgotten you, the risen Master,
Taking our way, you talked with us there.
3 Stay with us Lord, and ever go before us,
Soon will your future dawn on us like day;
Stretch out your hand to hold and lead us always,
Gentle and strong one, Lord of our way.
Words: Alan Griffiths
© 1995 Alan Griffiths
from ‘Hymns for Prayer & Praise‘
The Lord’s Prayer
You can say this in any language you choose.
Here it is, in English, Latin and French.
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.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis;
sanctificatur nomen tuum:
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie:
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris:
et ne nos inducas in tentationem:
sed libera nos a malo.
Quia tuum est regnum,
et potestas, et gloria, in saecula.
Amen.
Notre Père qui es aux cieux,
que ton nom soit sanctifié.
Que ton règne vienne.
Que ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel.
Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain de ce jour.
Pardonne-nous nos offences
comme nous pardonnons aussi
à ceux qui nous ont offensés.
Et ne nous soumets pas à la tentation,
mais délivre-nous du mal.
Car c’est à toi qu’appartiennent le règne,
la puissance et la gloire
pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.
Concluding prayer
O God, the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
do not leave us comfortless,
but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us,
and exalt us to that place
where our Saviour Christ has gone before;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
* You can find more organ music from Holy Trinity Church, Stirling
on Alistair Warwick‘s website and on SoundCloud
In these strange times, we are called to trust
Other resources
Acknowledgements
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Collects are from the Scottish Episcopal Church, 1982.
The hymn ‘Stay with us Lord’ by Alan Griffiths, is taken from ‘Hymns for Prayer & Praise‘.
Images, unless otherwise stated, are from lockdown, by Alistair Warwick.
Music engraved by The Art of Music.
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