Worshipping at Home 22nd May 2022
Home Worshipping 

Easter 6 - 22nd May 2022 

The First Hymn
Welcome!

I wonder what the modern-day equivalent is for Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Some act of humility that a servant would undertake for their master. 
This is what worship does: it inspires us to live humble lives of service. And it does this through example because as we approach Jesus we see him holding a towel and a bowl of water. 
Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us. 


Psalm 98

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Acclamation

Praise to the Lord, 
the Almighty, 
the King of creation! 
O my soul, praise Him, 
for He is thy health 
and salvation! 
All ye who hear, 
Now to His temple draw near; 
Draw near in glad adoration!

The Collect Prayer

God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 

Amen

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.

Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

John 14: 23-29 (Jesus promises the Holy Spirit.)

 

Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

‘All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.


‘You heard me say, “I am going away and I am coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

Thought for the Day

Television channels are full of programmes where celebrities take on challenges, whether it is a quiz game or a physical test. And we, from the comfort of our armchairs, watch familiar faces being put on the spot. Our annual foray into the Eastertide Gospel stories is a similar experience: from the comfortable distance for two thousand years we watch the well-known disciples being put through their paces with Jesus. 

The famous eleven repeatedly meet the risen Lord, and we are told that Jesus spent forty days helping them to look back and understand his teaching. It was like a forty day revision time before the test. But what was the challenge? What was Jesus training them up for? When we watch celebrities on the television we know exactly what is expected of them – to dance, dive into a pool, trek across a wilderness or unravel a riddle. But what was the task for the disciples? Was their mission to tell others about Jesus, to explain his teaching, to attract new followers? 

Just before he left them, Jesus gave his disciples what we call the ‘Great Commission’ – “go into the whole world and make disciples of all nations”. But how were they to do this? Had Jesus sat down with them and worked out a strategy? The evidence suggests not. So, what had Jesus trained them to do? I think the answer may well be that he taught them to trust him, and to live by faith – to believe in him, and to believe in themselves. The ‘Acts of the Apostles’ tells us what happened with the disciples after Jesus ascended to heaven, and after the Holy Spirit was sent to them. One the one hand we see them doing extraordinary things – preaching, teaching, miracle-working and forming new communities. On the other hand we see them facing very new situations, both spiritually and practically, and having to work their way through the confusion.

And so we watch the unfolding story of the first disciples, trained by Jesus and equipped by the Holy Spirit. But then, from the comfort of our armchair we begin to realise that Jesus is calling us into the same experience – to understand who he is, take on board his teaching, trust him, and to live by faith. 

Let us Pray

You are the God who formed us, the God who knows us, the God who loves us, the God who leads us, the God who feeds us, the God who blesses us, the beginning and end of all that we are, and hope to be. You are worthy of our praise. Amen.

God of Grace, in whom I put my trust, be my rescuer and the liberator of my soul, the still small voice that says ‘Be free’. God of Love, in whom I put my trust, be my joy and comfort at all times, the source of all my thoughts and words, the still small voice that says ‘Rejoice!’. God of Peace, in whom I put my trust, be my tranquillity in times of turmoil, the steadying hand in raging seas, the still small voice that says ‘Be calm’. God of Power, in whom I put my trust, be my confidence when faith is challenged, the sword and armour that protects
the still small voice that says ‘Be strong!’ Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit, come and be our Comforter and guide. Come and be our inner strength, and shape our lives that they may resemble the life of Christ. Amen.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(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 Blessing

God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent / Priest in charge

For a full list of church contact details please click here
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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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