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Listen to or read a short service of prayer for the Saturday after the Fourth 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 Christ,
faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:
teach us to hear your voice
and to follow your command,
that all your people may be gathered into one flock,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Psalm 98:1-5
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvellous things.
His own right hand and his holy arm
have won for him the victory.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
towards the house of Israel,
and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth;
break into singing and make music.
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
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you know me, you will know* my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
John 14:7-14 (NRSV)
This is the word of the Lord.
Prayers
In the power of the Holy Spirit that we have received by grace, let us pray.
Grant to the Church strength, wisdom and judgement through the Holy Spirit. Release in your people the power of a living witness to the whole world, fulfilling your command to those who seek to follow in your truth.
Have mercy on a world where there is often speech without communication, relationships without love, and where people are separated by barriers of race and nationality. Send your Holy Spirit to show men and women their true needs and teach them to live together without fear.
Grant us right judgement in our families, friendships and work. May we know your presence in every situation. Give us grace to reflect your love in our care of those with whom we share our lives.
Break through the darkness of unhappy lives with the light of your healing and guidance. Have mercy on those who have never known you. Redeem and restore those who have lost the faith they once had.
We remember those who now rejoice in the perfect knowledge and unclouded vision of your nearer presence. May we who know and worship you imperfectly here come at last into that same eternal light.
May our prayers be worthy to stand in the pure light of the Holy Spirit.
We give thanks, O God our Father,
for the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord from the dead:
for his victory over sin and the grave;
for his risen presence in our daily lives;
for his promise of life immortal with him.
Accept our praise,
and teach us day by day to live rejoicingly
in the faith of him who died for us,
and rose again, and is alive for evermore,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
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.