Feast of St Mark - Sunday 26 April
Today we celebrate the good news of God as shared by St Mark, the author of the earliest Gospel.
We warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection . Here are some resources to assist.
They can be used all in one go, bit by bit, or selectively, as suits your needs (privately, or with others).
May God bless us all as we continue to affirm God's Love as we travel through these unusual days
Today we celebrate the good news of God as shared by St Mark, the author of the earliest Gospel.
We warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection . Here are some resources to assist.
They can be used all in one go, bit by bit, or selectively, as suits your needs (privately, or with others).
May God bless us all as we continue to affirm God's Love as we travel through these unusual days
Acknowledgement of Country
Firstly, as we gather in God's presence, we acknowledge the land which is covered by the Milton parish, its traditional custodians, elders past present and emerging, and all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in our communities. May we honour and share more deeply the wisdom of all, and walk in paths of just reconciliation and renewal of all Creation
Firstly, as we gather in God's presence, we acknowledge the land which is covered by the Milton parish, its traditional custodians, elders past present and emerging, and all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in our communities. May we honour and share more deeply the wisdom of all, and walk in paths of just reconciliation and renewal of all Creation
Opening Reflections
Take a moment to breathe in God's peace as we open ourselves to new life in Christ. Rest in the love which conquers death. That love can give us courage to live and praise God in all that we face and feel. For a great traditional symbol of St Mark is that of the lion, a sign of indomitable courage and the ultimate power of love. Let us take heart :-)
Take a moment to breathe in God's peace as we open ourselves to new life in Christ. Rest in the love which conquers death. That love can give us courage to live and praise God in all that we face and feel. For a great traditional symbol of St Mark is that of the lion, a sign of indomitable courage and the ultimate power of love. Let us take heart :-)
You may like to join in/listen to, and reflect upon, one of the great traditional songs of the Resurrection of Christ...
Opening Prayer
Ever living Christ
We come seeking you; roll back the stone
Christ of the weak and the frightened
We come seeking you; roll back the stone
Christ of the bored and the disbelieving
We come seeking you; roll back the stone
Christ of the uncertain and the anxious
We come seeking you; roll back the stone
Christ the same yesterday, today and forever
We come seeking you; roll back the stone
(Penny Jones)
A Reading from the Resurrection narratives - in the Gospel of Mark chapter 16, verses 1-15
Please join in by reading this passage in your own Bible, or online here.
Please join in by reading this passage in your own Bible, or online here.
A Reflection (by Penny Jones)
brave as a lion, tender as a leaf
a messenger of hope and resurrection to us today...
click here to read more
and/or click on the YouTube link below for Penny's reflection for today...
brave as a lion, tender as a leaf
a messenger of hope and resurrection to us today...
click here to read more
and/or click on the YouTube link below for Penny's reflection for today...
Prayers of Intercession
God of creation, we bring to you our planet earth.
We thank you for every place where human shutdown has brought regeneration.
Help us to learn the lessons of the birds and plants and trees.
Help us to seek to nourish the tender green shoots of rebirth.
God of courage, we bring to you our human family.
We thank you for every act of compassion and generosity by governments and world leaders.
Help us to learn to share and to seek the common good.
Help us to listen wisely and well to the voices of the little and the least.
God of holiness, we bring to you your church and all people of faith.
We thank you for every prayer and every song of praise that points to You.
Help us to attend to your voice, calling us to new ways of worship.
Help us to let go of all that no longer serves your greater purpose.
God of compassion, we bring to you all who are suffering.
We thank you for all medical staff and those who care for others at this time.
Help us to be mindful of others in the choices we make.
Help us to play our part great or small in bringing healing and hope.
God of new life, we bring to you all who have gone before us in faith.
We thank you for those like St. Mark who have dared the new and inspire us today.
Help us to follow their examples of courage and compassion.
Help us to trace the paths they have made. Amen.
(Penny Jones)
Praise Song for Health Workers and the Pandemic
you may also like to pray with this Praise Song for Health Workers and the Pandemic
- written and read by Christine Valters Paintner, from Abbey of the Arts, with music by Giants & Pilgrims...
you may also like to pray with this Praise Song for Health Workers and the Pandemic
- written and read by Christine Valters Paintner, from Abbey of the Arts, with music by Giants & Pilgrims...
The Lord's Prayer
Please use whatever form seems best to you - or check out the NRSV version here
As we reflect on the good news of resurrection,
you may like to share in the beautiful Easter hymn 'Now the green blade riseth',
sung here by the choir of King's College Cambridge ..
Giving Thanks (Eucharist)
The word eucharist means thanksgiving, and when we share bread and wine together as the body and blood of Christ, we use one of the Great Thanksgiving prayers in our authorised prayer book .
(see photo here from our worship in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at St Francis College in Milton).
When we have no opportunity to gather in this way with an ordained priest to lead us, we may still take time to give thanks for God's blessing to us, and especially the gift of love in Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you may like to read one of the Gospel versions of the Last Supper and Jesus' words at this point? - click here for Mark's Gospel chapter 14, 22-25
If you have an Anglican Prayer Book, you can also read one of the authorised prayers.
As you share food today, you may also like to remember God present with us whenever we take bread and wine, or anything else to eat.
Prayers of Commendation
Like the women who went to the tomb
May we show faith and love
Like Mary of Magdala ahead of her time
May we risk the scorn of others
Like the prophets and martyrs of every age
May we challenge the status quo
Like St. Mark who wrote the good news
May we have courage to proclaim it.
Let us ask God to give us grace to continue to live our lives in faith hope and love:
Touched by the light of new dawn
Send us out to dispel the darkness
Helped by your grace to look twice
Send us out to see you in the stranger
Nourished like seeds in rich earth
Send us out to bring life to the world
Rejoicing that death could not hold you
Send us out to bring joy to the sorrowing
Brushed by the wings of angels
Send us out to proclaim the good news.
(Penny Jones)
Like the women who went to the tomb
May we show faith and love
Like Mary of Magdala ahead of her time
May we risk the scorn of others
Like the prophets and martyrs of every age
May we challenge the status quo
Like St. Mark who wrote the good news
May we have courage to proclaim it.
Let us ask God to give us grace to continue to live our lives in faith hope and love:
Touched by the light of new dawn
Send us out to dispel the darkness
Helped by your grace to look twice
Send us out to see you in the stranger
Nourished like seeds in rich earth
Send us out to bring life to the world
Rejoicing that death could not hold you
Send us out to bring joy to the sorrowing
Brushed by the wings of angels
Send us out to proclaim the good news.
(Penny Jones)
A Blessing for this Easter season...
one more song for today...
a Virtual Choir rendering of St Mark's central message...
This virtual choir a cappella performance features the voices of 48 singers from 14 countries.
It was a labour of love lasting 5 months, and many dozens of work hours.
Words and Music by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, with Vocal Arrangement by David Wesley
a Virtual Choir rendering of St Mark's central message...
This virtual choir a cappella performance features the voices of 48 singers from 14 countries.
It was a labour of love lasting 5 months, and many dozens of work hours.
Words and Music by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, with Vocal Arrangement by David Wesley
Offertory
In our usual worship, we include an opportunity to offer monetary and/or other gifts to God.
If you would like to contribute to the work of Milton Anglicans during the COVID-19 crisis,
please feel to do so via electronic means -
via BPoint
or by contacting the parish office
In our usual worship, we include an opportunity to offer monetary and/or other gifts to God.
If you would like to contribute to the work of Milton Anglicans during the COVID-19 crisis,
please feel to do so via electronic means -
via BPoint
or by contacting the parish office