Sunday 3 May (4th Sunday after Easter)
Today we reflect on how Jesus came to bring life in its fullness and on God as a good shepherd.
We warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection as we travel through these unusual days.
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 resurrection in the midst of struggles and death.
Today we reflect on how Jesus came to bring life in its fullness and on God as a good shepherd.
We warmly invite everyone to share in prayer and reflection as we travel through these unusual days.
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 resurrection in the midst of struggles and death.
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 conquered death. As today's Gospel reminds us, Christ offers us life in all its fullness. Let us seek to receive that fullness of life, opening ourselves to the opportunities and invitations of Christ in this time of worship.
Take a moment to breathe in God's peace as we open ourselves to new life in Christ. Rest in the love which conquered death. As today's Gospel reminds us, Christ offers us life in all its fullness. Let us seek to receive that fullness of life, opening ourselves to the opportunities and invitations of Christ in this time of worship.
You may like to join in/listen to, and reflect upon, an hymn from a great Anglican spiritual writer, George Herbert...
Opening to New Life
Perhaps you might like to say this prayer as a blessing,
or cup the palms of your own hands as you read it and ask for God's blessing to embody resurrection in your own life...
God of Resurrection
we remember
how the apostles struggled to comprehend the risen Christ,
unaware of the depth of your miraculous love.
Bless us and open our hearts and minds to your astonishing grace.
May the power of your redeeming love
remind us that you can work your wonders afresh in all situations
Bless and transform us that we too may be raised to new life.
May the knowledge of your ultimate victory give us assurance
that we may rejoice and sing alleluia even in adversity.
Bless and inspire us in this time. Amen.
(Jo Inkpin)
A Reading from Psalm 23
Please join in by reading this passage in your own Bible, or online here.
and/or listen and/or join in with this version of Psalm 23 with the tune Crimond
Please join in by reading this passage in your own Bible, or online here.
and/or listen and/or join in with this version of Psalm 23 with the tune Crimond
A Reading from the Resurrection narratives - in the Gospel of John 10:1-10
Please join in by reading this passage in your own Bible, or online here.
Reflections (by Jeni Nix)
Intimately Loved and Never Alone
on Psalm 23...
click here to read more
and/or click on the YouTube link below for Penny's reflection for today...
Intimately Loved and Never Alone
on Psalm 23...
click here to read more
and/or click on the YouTube link below for Penny's reflection for today...
Prayers of Intercession
At this time of social distancing and isolation,
we thank you that we can gather together in prayer,
knowing that we are united - with all Christians - through your Spirit.
Even in the darkness you are here with us.
Walk beside us as we travel through the shadows;
go ahead of us to lead us into new life, and
live within our hearts, that we may not fear.
Lord of life,
hear our prayer.
Those who came to believe devoted themselves to prayer and fellowhip and common good.
We seek to spend time with you, to hear your voice,
and thus with glad and generous hearts minister to our hurting world.
Help us in this task.
Lord of life,
hear our prayer.
You call us by name to lead us to life.
We pray for those who have died and those who are dying.
May they hear your voice and be led to the heavenly pastures
where they can dwell in peace.
Lord of life,
hear our prayer.
(Petrina Gardiner)
At this time of social distancing and isolation,
we thank you that we can gather together in prayer,
knowing that we are united - with all Christians - through your Spirit.
Even in the darkness you are here with us.
Walk beside us as we travel through the shadows;
go ahead of us to lead us into new life, and
live within our hearts, that we may not fear.
Lord of life,
hear our prayer.
Those who came to believe devoted themselves to prayer and fellowhip and common good.
We seek to spend time with you, to hear your voice,
and thus with glad and generous hearts minister to our hurting world.
Help us in this task.
Lord of life,
hear our prayer.
You call us by name to lead us to life.
We pray for those who have died and those who are dying.
May they hear your voice and be led to the heavenly pastures
where they can dwell in peace.
Lord of life,
hear our prayer.
(Petrina Gardiner)
The Lord's Prayer
Please use whatever form seems best to you - or check out the NRSV version here
You may like to share in this beautiful song by Bernadette Farrell and reflect further on our readings for today...
Please use whatever form seems best to you - or check out the NRSV version here
You may like to share in this beautiful song by Bernadette Farrell and reflect further on our readings for today...
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
Christ source of abundant life
Open our hearts to the opportunities you offer
Christ who calls us each by name
Embrace us in your tender care
Christ gateway to grace
Open for us a living way
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)
Christ source of abundant life
Open our hearts to the opportunities you offer
Christ who calls us each by name
Embrace us in your tender care
Christ gateway to grace
Open for us a living way
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, from a young choir (St Joseph's Boy's School, Terenure) in Dublin...
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