Topic: Morning Prayer Easter 5
Time: May 2, 2021 11:00 AM Dublin
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88366052460
Meeting ID: 883 6605 2460
The service leaflet is available here: Killiskey MP Easter 5 02-05-21
or below here:
Killiskey Parish
Sunday 2nd May 2021 @ 11.00am
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
SERVICE OF MORNING PRAYER
The Gathering of God’s People
GREETING
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Opening Hymn: CH8 “The Lord is king! Lift up your voice” (vs 1, 2, 4 and 6)
The Lord is King! Lift up your voice,
O earth, and all you heavens, rejoice;
from world to world the song shall ring,
‘The Lord omnipotent is king!’
The Lord is king! who then shall dare
resist his will, distrust his care,
or murmur at his wise decrees,
or doubt his royal promises?
God reigns! He reigns with glory crowned;
let Christians make a joyful sound!
And Christ is seated at his side:
the Man of love, the crucified.
One Lord one kingdom all secures;
he reigns, and life and death are yours;
through earth and heaven one song shall ring,
‘The Lord omnipotent is king!’
Josiah Conder (1789-1855) altd.
based on Psalm 97
SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth
into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1: 3INTRODUCTION
Beloved in Christ,
we come together to offer to Almighty God
our worship and praise and thanksgiving,
to confess our sins and to receive God’s forgiveness,
to hear his holy word proclaimed,
to bring before him our needs and the needs of the world,
and to pray that in the power of his Spirit
we may serve him and know the greatness of his love.
PENITENCE
There is no such thing as a solitary Christian. Every Christian is linked to Christ and to all other
Christians. This is clear from the words we will hear today in the Gospel reading: “I am the vine, you are
the branches.”
This is a beautiful image of closeness and interdependence but it is also a challenging one. Alas, we
sometimes forget the Lord, ignore others, and live for ourselves.
Lord Jesus, you are the vine, we are the branches.
Lord, have mercy.
Separated from you and from one another our lives become barren.
Christ, have mercy.
United with you and with one another our lives become fruitful.
Lord, have mercy.
Proclaiming and Receiving the Word
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth will proclaim your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
The First Reading: Acts 8: 26-40
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down
from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian
eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had
come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet
Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ So Philip ran up to it and heard
him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of
the scripture that he was reading was this:
‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.’
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about
someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the
good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said,
‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and
both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went
on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he
proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
After the reading silence may be kept.
Psalm 22: 25-31
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; ♦︎
I will perform my vows
in the presence of those that fear you.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; ♦︎
those who seek the Lord shall praise him;
their hearts shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the Lord, ♦︎
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s ♦︎
and he rules over the nations.
29 How can those who sleep in the earth
bow down in worship, ♦︎
or those who go down to the dust kneel before him?
30 He has saved my life for himself;
my descendants shall serve him; ♦︎
this shall be told of the Lord for generations to come.
31 They shall come and make known his salvation,
to a people yet unborn, ♦︎
declaring that he, the Lord, has done it.
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.
The Second Reading: 1 John 4: 7-21
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among
us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not
that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved,
since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one
another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have
seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world. God abides in those who
confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that
God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected
among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this
world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and
whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I
love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom
they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this:
those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
After the reading silence may be kept.
Hymn before the Gospel: Thanks & Praise 65 “In the heart where love is abiding”
In the heart where love is abiding, God is in that heart.
And the love of Christ has made us all of one heart.
Then with joyful and with glad hearts let us thank him.
Let us fear God and remember all his goodness.
Let us love each another with a good and clean heart.
May no quarrelling or dispute come between us.
Let us see your face, O Lord Christ, now among us.
Let us sing with all the angels praise to Jesus.
In a song of joy that wells up from a clean heart.
Paul Wigmore (1925-2014)
based on Ubi Caritas
from the liturgy of Maundy Thursday
The Gospel: John 15: 1-8
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.
Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the
word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by
itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the
branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do
nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are
gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for
whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit
and become my disciples.
After the reading silence may be kept.
THE SERMON
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn of Faith: CH611 “Christ be beside me”
Christ be beside me,
Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me,
King of my heart.
Christ be within me,
Christ be below me,
Christ be above me
never to part.
Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me
shield in the strife;
Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising
light of my life.
Christ be in all hearts
Thinking about me,
Christ be on all tongues
Telling of me.
Christ be the vision
in eyes that see me,
in ears that hear me,
Christ ever be.
James Quinn SJ (1919-2010)
adapted from The Breastplate of St Patrick
The Prayers of the People
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
O Lord, guide and defend our rulers
and grant our government wisdom.
Let your ministers be clothed with righteousness
and let your servants shout for joy.
O Lord, save your people
and bless those whom you have chosen.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
O God, make clean our hearts within us
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
THE COLLECTS
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
Grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity. Amen.
COLLECTS AT MORNING PRAYER
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord,
to know you is eternal life, and to serve you is perfect freedom:
Defend us in all assaults of our enemies,
that we, surely trusting in your protection,
may not fear the power of any adversaries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everliving God,
we give you thanks for bringing us safely to this day:
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger,
and in all things guide us to know and do your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ wanted his followers to be united with him and with one another.
Let us pray that this unity may become a reality.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the Church:
that you would bind its members together in a community of love.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For our civil leaders:
That they make work to create a society
in which all can enjoy the fruits of freedom, justice and peace.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For those who have cut themselves off from the Christian community:
that they may be drawn back into it.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the sick and the lonely:
that they may know that they are supported by our prayers and practical care.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For all gathered here:
that the fruits of Christian living may be evident in our lives.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For our own special needs which we bring before you in quietness…
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.Almighty and ever-living God,
Fill our hearts with your love.
Give us grace to rise above our human weakness,
And keep us faithful to you and one another.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing Hymn: CH311 “Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s sowing”
Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s sowing,
may we ripen and increase,
fruit to life eternal growing,
rich in love and joy and peace.
Laden branches freely bearing
gifts the Giver loves to bless;
here is fruit that grows by sharing,
patience, kindness, gentleness.
Rooted deep in Christ, our master,
Christ, our pattern and our goal,
teach us, as the years fly faster,
goodness, faith, and self control.
Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s tending,
may we grow till harvests cease;
till we taste, in life unending,
heaven’s love and joy and peace.
Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926)
based on Galatians 5: 22-23
Going Out as God’s People
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
To the King of Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1: 1