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Listen to or read a service of Prayer for Friday, 29 May 2020, the Friday after the Seventh Sunday of Easter.
Preparation
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
Praise
Risen, ascended Lord,
as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin
may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits;
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he set our sins from us.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom has dominion over all.
Bless the Lord, you angels of his,
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Reading
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’
John 21:15-19
This is the word of the Lord.
Prayers
In the power of the Resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.
Grant that your Church may ever respond with joyful eagerness to the vision of her risen Lord. Empower her ministers faithfully to feed your sheep, and bless all Christian people with grace to follow Christ to the end of the way.
We pray for the world where so many are as sheep that are not fed, some lacking food for the body and others food for the soul. Grant that all people may come to know the Lord who is calling them to his side.
As we give thanks for the mercy that fulfils our daily needs, we pray that we shall remember the needs of others and be generous in giving help. Help us to love our Lord with all our hearts and to live our family lives in fellowship with him.
We pray for all who are disappointed after much striving that has seemed to end in failure. Give them new hope and purpose in their lives. Be merciful to those who have lost the love they once knew, and bring them back into the way from which they have strayed.
Receive the souls of the departed who have followed Christ and been with him at the end. Gather them into the fold of the redeemed, into the company of the heavenly feast.
We pray in the name of Christ who calls us to himself as his children.
Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Conclusion
May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and minds.
Alleluia. Amen.