This is a form of prayer you might find helpful to use on Sunday Morning, perhaps at the time you would usually be in Church.  Remember that others in their own homes will be joining with you.  If a household are praying together one person may act as leader and the others join in the sections in bold type. If you're on your own, read all these words aloud. The lines in red type are to help guide you. 

Opening Words

Before you begin you may wish to light a candle, make sure you are sitting comfortably and take a few deep breaths to still yourself. 

Alleluia! Christ is risen!   
He is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

Take a moment to reflect on your life and our need of God's compassion and mercy.

We have lived by our own strength,
and not by the power of your resurrection. 
In your mercy, forgive us. 
Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes,
as faithless and not believing. 
In your mercy, forgive us. 
Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone,
and doubted our home in heaven. 
In your mercy, forgive us. 
Lord, hear us and help us.

May the God of love bring us back to himself,
forgive us our sins,
and assure us of his eternal love
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect

You might like to pause for a moment and consider if there is one thing in particular for which you would to pray, or for which you would like to give thanks, and offer it to God.

God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings

Psalm 66.7-18

Bless our God, O you peoples;
make the voice of his praise to be heard,
Who holds our souls in life
and suffers not our feet to slip.
For you, O God, have proved us;
you have tried us as silver is tried. 

You brought us into the snare;
you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
You let enemies ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water;
but you brought us out into a place of liberty.

I will come into your house with burnt offerings
and will pay you my vows,
which my lips uttered
and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
I will offer you fat burnt sacrifices
with the smoke of rams;
I will sacrifice oxen and goats.

Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell you what he has done for my soul.
I called out to him with my mouth
and his praise was on my tongue.

If I had nursed evil in my heart,
the Lord would not have heard me,
But in truth God has heard me;
he has heeded the voice of my prayer. 

Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer,
nor withheld his loving mercy from me.

The Gospel according to St John 14.15-21

Jesus said, ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

 ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ!

Reflection

Here is a video of Robert our vicar reading the gospel and giving a reflection

Prayer

Spend a few moments praying for the people you know and love, the needs of the world and for an end to the current Pandemic.

You may like to pray:

On this Sixth Sunday of Easter

Risen Christ, by the lakeside you renewed your call to your disciples: help your Church to obey your command and draw the nations to the fire of your love, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. 

For hospital staff and medical researchers

Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the earth

In the beginning your Spirit swept over the face of the waters, and the oceans of the world proclaim your majesty and glory. May the expanse of the seas and the fury of the waves speak to us of your creative power. In your mercy protect all who work and travel on the sea and preserve the teeming life of coral reef and ocean depth. Amen. 

From our Prayer Cycle this week

pray for all residents of Holystone Crescent and Weldon Crescent.

For the sick

Jacqueline Pearson, The Philips family, Charlene, Jones, Barbara Field, Elisha, Esther Beswick, Dr Sangeetha, Geoson, Dr Gupta, Eric Wright, Alan Trotter, Wilma Doig, Doreen Richardson, Maureen Harper and Dorothy Graham.

For those who have died recently

Stephen Saxon, David Bowers and Poornima Nair 

For those whose year's mind is this week 

Frederick Wilson, Laura Wilson, Tom Snowdon, Ernest Wright, Christina Carruthers, Les Henderson, Harry Hawdon, James Croall

The Lord's Prayer

You might like to end your prayers with the Lord's Prayer  

The Conclusion

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.   
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Wishing you peace and all good in this Eastertide!