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Listen to or read a short service of prayer for the Monday after the Third Sunday of Easter, 27 April 2020.
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 Christ,
you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:
strengthen us to proclaim your risen life
and fill us with your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Psalm 119:17-24
O do good to your servant that I may live,
and so shall I keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see
the wonders of your law.
I am a stranger upon earth;
hide not your commandments from me.
My soul is consumed at all times
with fervent longing for your judgements.
You have rebuked the arrogant;
cursed are those who stray from your commandments.
Turn from me shame and rebuke,
for I have kept your testimonies.
Rulers also sit and speak against me,
but your servant meditates on your statutes.
For your testimonies are my delight;
they are my faithful counsellors.
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
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’
John 6:22-29 (NRSV)
This is the word of the Lord.
Prayers
Let us pray to the Father through whose Son we have grace to do his will.
Bless your faithful people with the peace and unity by which we are sealed in the Spirit. Empower the ministers of your Church, that they may bring the true bread of life to all who seek.
Grant to a troubled world the stability and firmness of purpose that only you can bring. Reveal your will to each member of your human creation, that all may serve you according to the gifts that you have given.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, that in our words and deeds we may show the sincerity of our faith. Make us pure in our motives, never looking for material benefit when we are called to work in your service.
Have mercy on those who seek you in ignorance, not knowing the reality of their search. Satisfy their hunger and thirst for salvation.
May Jesus Christ, who descended into the depths to bring new life to all, receive the souls of the departed. We pray that the bread of heaven shall feed them evermore.
Trusting in Christ, the true and living bread, we offer our prayers in his name.
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God by in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.
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 risen Christ give us his peace.
Alleluia. Amen.