The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burton Latimer
Making the love of God known in our community & homes
Week commencing 24th May 2020
The Seventh Sunday of Easter (Sunday after Ascension Day)
Welcome to this weeks sheet and in the Christian tradition/calendar we find ourselves in the week before the birth of the first church at Pentecost (31st) and the Ascension of Jesus back to His Father in Heaven which we celebrated on Thursday. What a strange time it must have been for those first followers of Jesus, they witness Christ ascending…. then…they go home and wait probably very unsure of what to do next. They have witnessed the greatest moments in history being close to Jesus in his teachings, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection but then ..nothing…well for a few days at least because at this moment they didn’t know the Holy Spirit was coming to fill them with the power Jesus had promised them. But what I find encouraging about this time and how it resonates with our current experience is…the Holy Spirit didn’t come upon the friends of Jesus in the synagogue (church building equivalent) in a great show of power, it came to them at home when they were shielding themselves from the adversaries of Christ who wanted the Jesus movement eradicated. Soon they were to move out but now they were to stay at home , in all probability they didn’t know how they could do it, how they could get out safely and share the good news of Jesus. This week we have been told that different groups can now start returning outside or to work and naturally this has caused great anxiety in many people. We have all been acutely aware of the dangers of Covid 19 and taken onboard the reinforced message to stay indoors, away from other people (well most have!!!) and yet we know that we don’t want to stay this way and one day we need to venture out, so that we and the world we live in may become full of life again. I believe the power of the ascension, the promises of Jesus and His gift of the Holy Spirit will and can sustain us when the time is right for us to come out of our shielded existence. Until this day comes and it will be different for many ,we stay as we are, our church building remains closed but the promise of the Holy Spirit dwelling with us in our homes and as we meet together over the internet is real. Let us live in hope that the day will come when we can be free and be thankful that despite all of this ,Gods spirit is with us. Every blessing to you today, this week and always. Jez
Daily Psalms
Sunday, 25th May – Psalm 68.1-10
Monday, 26th May – Psalm 68.1-6
Tuesday, 27th May – Psalm 68.9-10,18-19
Wednesday, 28th May – Psalm 68.27-28,32-end
Thursday, 29th May – Psalm 16.1,5-end
Friday, 30th May – Psalm 103.1-2,11-12,19-20
Saturday, 31st May – Psalm 11.4-end
Prayers
Dear Lord, our hearts are bruised, we are anxious, we are worried about the ones we love, we are saddened by the lives lost. Thank you that we can be honest before you. You know us and you have entered into our woundedness and frailty and continue to love us. You alone are our hope, our strength, our counsellor. Jesus you are our shield in the storm. Pout the oil of healing upon us, have mercy, comfort the sick and bring peace to those in sorrow. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Lord, help us not to lean on my own understanding but in everything acknowledge You so that You can direct our words, thoughts and actions. In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Dear God, thank You for sending Your Son into the world so that we may be saved. Thank You for the fulfilment of Your Word by the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension into heaven. We glorify Your Name because You are faithful to Your Word and Your people. You sent Your son to be a forerunner so that we could also be with You in heaven. May your name be blessed forever.
Amen
Our Prayer List
In company with the other churches in the town, each week we pray for a different street: this week is Church Street
We remember those who are ill or need our prayers at this time, especially: Heather, Sarah Pattison, Ian Staires, Daphne Dacre, John, Marjorie,
Henry Flynn, Graham Dayer, Emma Howe, Ray Bunce, Lilly Mannion
We pray for the souls of those who have died:
Freddie Groome, Janet Cailes, Derek Maslin, Doris Searle, Dorothy Gibbs, Maura White
We remember those whose anniversaries of death are at this time:
Hilda Thurlow, Paul Smith, Ryan Howard, Sybil Guest
Collect
O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
First Reading
Acts 1.6-14
6When the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Gospel
John 17.1-11
1Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
6‘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. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for 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. 9I 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. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And 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.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise be to you, O Christ
Prayer after Communion
Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
O God of love, true source of peace,
Make wars throughout the world to cease;
The wrath of sinful hearts restrain:
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Remember, Lord, your works of old,
The wonders that our forebears told;
Remember not our sin’s deep stain:
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Whom shall we trust but you, O God?
Where rest but on your faithful word?
None ever called on you in vain:
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Where saints and angels dwell above,
All hearts are knit in holy love;
Oh bind us in that heavenly chain:
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Contact details:
The Rector: The Revd Jez Safford, The Rectory, Preston Court, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5LR. Telephone: 01536 723810.Email: jez.safford766@gmail.com.
Assistant Curate: The Revd Tom Houston, 3 Virginia Crescent, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5GB. Telephone: 01536 685664. Email: houston89@hotmail.co.uk
Pioneer Ordinand: Yvonne Desroches, 7 Hollow Wood Road, Burton Latimer, NN15 5RB. Telephone: 01536 678377/07989023206. Email: yvonnebing@hotmail.co.uk
Safeguarding Officer: Lucy Lorentzen, 3 Clipson Close, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5GH. Telephone: 07944597181. Email: lucy@lorentzen.co.uk
Website: www.stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk or visit us on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
© St Mary the Virgin Burton Latimer, 2011.
Internet Order of Service for use at home.
Welcome
Lighting of the candle(s)
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
The Collect
The minister prays the collect on your weekly sheet
All Amen.
Reading
Please see the weekly sheet.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Invitation to Confession
The minister
You then, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins,
and are in love and charity with your neighbours,
and intend to lead a new life,
following the commandments of God,
and walking from this day forward in his holy ways:
draw near with faith,
and take this holy sacrament to your comfort;
and make your humble confession to almighty God.
Confession
All Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love,
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed,
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen
Absolution
The minister says
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who in his great mercy
has promised forgiveness of sins
to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith turn to him:
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and bring you to everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Please refer to the weekly sheet
Eucharist Prayer
Have your bread a wine ready
The Lord be with you
All and also with you.
Father, on the night before he died,
Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took the bread, and thanked you.
He broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine.
He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
the new promise of God’s unfailing love.
Do this to remember me.
Jesus Christ has died.
All Jesus Christ has died.
Jesus Christ is risen.
All Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
All Jesus Christ will come again.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine,
and remember his death and resurrection,
send your Holy Spirit,
that we who share these gifts, though apart but together now in you,
may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Pour your Spirit on us
that we may love one another,
work for the healing of the earth,
and share the good news of Jesus,
as we wait for his coming in glory.
For honour and praise belong to you, Father,
with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit:
one God, for ever and ever.
All Amen
We take communion.
Prayer after Communion
Post communion prayer available on your sheet
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
All 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
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen.