Opening prayer:
The Lord’s name is to be exalted,
his glory is above earth and heaven.
So, let us come before him now,
young and old together
and praise his name.
Amen.
And did those feet in ancient time.
And did those feet in ancient time
walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
on England’s pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
among these dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
till we have built Jerusalem
in England’s green and pleasant land.
Bible Readings
Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever –
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendour is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
John 13:31-35
Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 ‘My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come.
34 ‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’
Reflection
A New Commandment, Love, Love, Love (John 13 v 31-35).
This passage is all about love. The film ‘Love Actually’ it follows the lives of different people, but the common theme is love. The film ends with a scene at the airport where people are welcomed by family.
The passage is titled a ‘New Commandment’ where Jesus explains to the disciples that they should love one another in the same way that He loved them. He explains love should be unconditional, not based on whether we like someone or agree with them. Love in the Bible is about treating others how we would like to be treated ourselves. Jesus says, that by loving unconditionally, people will know that you follow Jesus.
In Northampton we have many opportunities to come alongside other Churches to be a witness in our local areas. The World Council of Churches, local ecumenical partnerships where Churches seek out ways of working together. One of the greatest acts of love is when ministers and lay people pray together and work together to be a witness in the local community. Rick Warren (author of ‘The Purpose Driven Church’) says, ‘He (God) created the church to meet your five deepest needs: a purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on. There is no other place on earth where you can find all five of these benefits in one place’.
At Easter this year the Churches in Great Billing hosted an Easter event for Children and families to attend a fun event with activities around the village including a trail to the Churches in Great Billing to explore the Easter story. This was an opportunity to share God’s love in the community.
We are called to gentleness and non-judgmentalism and a showing of unconditional love to all those we know, even the weak and vulnerable; and those who make a mess of their own lives. The words of this song remind us how we should love one another.
Let there be love shared among us, let there be love in our eyes.
May now your love sweep this nation, cause us O Lord to arrive.
Give us a fresh understanding, of brotherly love that is real,
Let there be love shared among us, let there be love.
The next time you are collecting someone from the airport, observe those around you who are excited and waiting for a friend or family member, ready to hug them. This reminds us how God loves us, and therefore we should show God’s love to those around us.
Watch Love Actually Ending
A prayer of confession
Lord, we ask forgiveness for the times
when we don’t accept your Word because it seems strange to us.
Lord, forgive us for not seeing the big picture.
For the times when we hang on to the old,
doing things as we always did.
Lord, forgive us…
For when we think we are the only one’s worthy of your love.
Lord, forgive us…
For when we make judgements on things we have no right to judge.
Lord, forgive us…
Open our eyes to new life in you.
Amen.
Prayer for those who strive for social justice
For those who fight injustice and make a stand for good, who strive to give the poor a chance to live as they should, for all who labour, heart and soul, to make our world more fair, we ask your courage and strength – Lord, answer hear our prayer.
For those who show compassion, who work to heal and mend, who nurse the sick, support the weak. Encourage and befriend, for all who reach out in your name to offer love and care, we ask your blessing, power, help – Lord, answer hear our prayer.
For those who tackle conflict, where wounds run red raw, who strive to conquer hatred and put a stop to war, who work to foster dialogue despite the scars we bear, we ask your guidance, vision, faith – Lord, answer hear our prayer.
For those who try to witness to Christ through word and deed, to show his love embraces each colour, culture, creed, who point to light and life and hope in which the world can share, we ask your wisdom, grace and truth – Lord, answer hear our prayer. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
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.
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.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
I cannot tell why he whom angels’ worship StF 350
I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship,
should set his love upon us, now or then,
or why, as Shepherd, he should seek the wanderers,
to bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary
when Bethlem’s manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.
I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted
and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
for still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.
I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.
I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with love is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad, myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer:
‘at last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!’
A sending out prayer:
Life-giving God, Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, journey with us as we go from this place into our communities. As we look forward to the time when you will make all things new, enable us, by your Spirit, to bring your kingdom here on earth.
Amen.
