11:00am Sunday – Family Service and Youth Parade
Sixth Sunday of Easter
This service is live in church, but it will be streamed so if you are unable to attend you can view it online. Now most of the words will also appear when you view the service on line so it will be easier to follow the service.
First Reading: Acts 17: 22 – 31
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Second Reading: John 14: 15 -21
If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Intercessions
As we continue through this time of Eastertide in our prayers today, we give thanks for the wonder of creation, for the gift of life, and for the blessing of human fellowship, and we bring before you, our world, our nation, our community, and our families and friends.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Creator God, we thank you for the example of leadership given to us by your Son. We pray for all the people of the world who are learning to do new things with their lives, and we continue to pray that such changes will hasten the day when our entire world has enough of the basic essentials and comforts of life.
We pray for our communities here in Clayton and Altham. For those struggling to feed their families, for those in debt, and for those in poor housing. Enable us as a church to help where we can, to see and to act as you reveal their plight to us. Help us to help them, and may they see your love in our actions.
Following the elections this next week we pray for all those who will take up positions of responsibility. We ask that you give them health and strength, wisdom and courage so that they may carry out their duties in the best interests of all people and in accordance with your will.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Ever living God, you bring us together in our households, our families, and our communities, and you teach us to love one another as Christ has loved us.
We remember all parts of the world where there is hatred or war, we pray for nations of the world especially Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Gaza in the hope for an ending of hostilities and true declarations of peace.
We extend our thoughts to those affected by war, the sick, the lonely, and the marginalised. We pray especially for those who have died and for their families and friends who are grieving, for those who are injured and without food, shelter or medical supplies, and we particularly ask for the strengthening and support of relief organisations.
Praying on their behalf and for all world leaders, we ask you to pour out your spirit of reconciliation and understanding, that they will do your will, to seek and work towards peace.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We bring to you the sufferings of those we love; and we pray for those who are sick at home, in hospital or care homes. In your great mercy bring them comfort, relief and reassurance that you are always with them in all their troubles. We pray for carers and those who visit and comfort the sick, for those who listen, and for those who pray.
In a moment of silence, we pray for anyone we know who needs our prayers at this time.
Today we especially pray for ………………. (sick)
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, be close to those who feel the pain and grief at the loss of a family member or a friend. Help us to support all those who mourn with our prayers, with words of comfort, and with practical help as they come to terms with their loss.
In our prayers, we remember the families and friends of ……………(departed)
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
God of love and mercy, your son Jesus Christ shows us the way to you. Teach us to follow him more closely. We ask that you hear our prayers that we make in his name, for he is our risen Lord.
We thank you for the love that unites us, for the peace we enjoy today and for the hopes we have for tomorrow.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
