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Listen to or read a short service of prayer for the Thursday after the Fourth Sunday of Easter, 7 May 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,
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 89:1-2, 20-26
My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord:
with my mouth will I proclaim your faithfulness
throughout all generations.
I will declare that your love is established for ever;
you have set your faithfulness as firm as the heavens.
‘I have found David my servant;
with my holy oil have I anointed him.
‘My hand shall hold him fast
and my arm shall strengthen him.
‘No enemy shall deceive him,
nor any wicked person afflict him.
‘I will strike down his foes before his face
and beat down those that hate him.
‘My truth also and my steadfast love shall be with him,
and in my name shall his head be exalted.
‘I will set his dominion upon the sea
and his right hand upon the rivers.
‘He shall call to me, “You are my Father,
my God, and the rock of my salvation;”
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
After he had washed the disciples’ feet, Jesus said, ‘Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’
John 13:16-20 (NRSV)
This is the word of the Lord.
Prayers
In the power of the Spirit, and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, we come to you, the true guardian of our souls. Keep your Church focused firmly on you and your Kingdom. Draw us closer in unity and fellowship in your name.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, we come to you, our true defence. Give us courage to place our trust in following your way of peace. Draw the nations closer in a commonwealth of shared humanity.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, we come to you, the true owner of all wealth. Open the hearts and purses of all, that as we have richly received so we may be generous in our giving. Raise benefactors who can enable all that delights and liberates in your name.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, we come to you with the injured and the weak. Protect and hold in your love all who cry to you in their need. Revive us in your mercy.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, you laid down your life for our salvation. Gather us in our final hour to your eternal fold. As you know us, so may we hear you call by name in your Kingdom.
Be with us, Lord, in all our prayers,
and direct our way toward the attainment of salvation,
that among the changes and chances of this mortal life,
we may always be defended by your gracious help;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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.