Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Today is our Annual Parochial Church meeting, and we have only one service in the parish - at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church.
If you are unable to attend our services in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "I Cannot tell, why He whom Angels Worship"
Today's Gospel
John 17:1-11 Jesus Prays for Himself and His Followers
Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
Reflection
A few years ago, one of our former vicars, Edith, started a prayer group. It was attended by a few who would come together and explore prayer. Sometimes with candles, or hand held objects or music. We experimented with different things as we explored different ways of reaching out to God and one another guided by the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we discussed and prayed about things in the world, or in our schools and community, and sometimes, if people were comfortable sharing things, we prayed for and about each other.
I have a similar prayer group with some of my friends from college which has been a true blessing as we journeyed together as ordinands over the years. We continue to pray through our ups and down, highlights and worries, and find spiritual strength guided by the Spirit as we reflect about what is going on in our lives, our old and new parishes and also across the wider world.
Prayer is always special but there is something even more powerful when we come together as a group and pray as friends, and even more so when we pray for one another. It can be an intense and also unifying experience.
In John 17, it feels like John has invited us to eavesdrop into Jesus’ prayer group with his closest friends - Those who will soon become his apostles, charged with the responsibility of continuing to take His message to the wider world and build his Church. John brings us into Jesus presence as he prays with his disciples just before he goes to the Cross.
It starts with Jesus praying for himself, not in a selfish way but for his glorification through what he knows lies ahead and also for the glorification of God the Father. He is praying for his coming re-unification with the Father and for the disciples to understand all that has happened and what will happen.
During our Ascension Day service last Thursday, Rev. Kirsten talked about the contrast between Christmas and the Ascension – the former being Jesus’ human incarnation on earth and the latter being the reversal, where Jesus returns to heaven to be re-united with God.
It reminds us that Jesus existed and was one with God the Father before he came to earth, and moreover, how much he set aside to become human and be with us. We are also reminded that Jesus has been with God since the beginning of time, before the world existed and will remain with God until the end of the ages. Jesus is eternal in unity with God and the Holy Spirit. At his ascension, he is re-united in heaven at the right hand of God.
Whilst he is praying, Jesus is mindful of his faithful disciples. Amidst the talk of his glorification, he prays for his faithful and beloved disciples; he asks the Father to watch over them and protect them on the perilous mission that lies ahead after he has gone. He prays that they are protected so that they might know the sort of unity that exists within the Godhead.
At first glance we might think that he is only praying for his disciples – But if we read the prayer carefully, we can see Jesus extends his prayer to all who have received the truth that came from the Father to us though Christ and who believe in him. He is not just praying for the disciples but for all who believe and have been glorified in him and for those who are persecuted or ridiculed for their faith.
I mentioned how powerful it can feel when you know people are praying with you and for you, even if you are not present when the prayers are said. How absolutely wonderful and beloved do you feel when you realise that Jesus is praying for you alongside his disciples and across time when he says - “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”? How marvellous is it to know that not only is he praying for our protection but also for our unity with him? As we eavesdrop on Jesus praying, we witness his invitation to join him in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. How special does that make you feel today? Our unity is Jesus’ prayer for himself.Paul
Our Prayers
Loving heavenly Father,
Thank You that You sent Jesus to enable all who believe in Him
to be witnesses to the truth of Your Word.
Bind us together in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
to seek unity and reconciliation in our broken world,
as we spread the Good News of your wonderful plan of redemption,
through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning"
Notices
Next Sunday is Pentecost, and the arrangements are shown in the poster below
