+ In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit AMEN
Alleluia! Christ is risen,
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Our opening hymn today is: Alleluia sing to Jesus
Heavenly Father, all hearts are open to you.
No secrets are hidden from you.
Purify us with the love of your Holy Spirit
That we may love and worship you faithfully,
through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen
Lord, have mercy Lord, have Mercy
Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy
Heavenly Father,
we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and have failed to do
what we ought to have done.
We are sorry and truly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ
who died for us, forgive us all that is past,
and lead us in his way
to walk as children of light. AMEN
May God our Father,
who by the Lord Jesus Christ
has reconciled the world to himself
and forgives the sins of all who truly repent,
pardon and deliver us from all our sins,
and grant us the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN
The Gloria.
The Collect for Sixth Sunday of Easter (Rogation)
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 and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN
Reading
John 14:15-21 (NRSV)
15 “If you love me, you will keep[a] my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[b] to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in[c] you.
18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
Reflection
I remember many years ago, when James was about three , we stayed away for a weekend at a small hotel. We got Rebekah ready for bed and settled James down too, in bed, story read and having had bathtime etc. All was calm, Becky asleep and James very heavy-eyed. We had a babysitting service via the phone and popped downstairs for our dinner. We could hear everything in the room the snores etc. However, suddenly the babysitting service stopped recording so David popped up stairs to see what had happened. He was met by James, semi-dressed running down the corridor, to tell us the phone was off the hook so he'd put it back on, and that he was hungry. He was totally contented and quite happy. But he added, I left the room and you said not to and now Becky is locked in!
Rebekah was still fast asleep and James had tried to do as he had been told. The hotel was enchanted by James and his antics, and despite pj top and short bottoms, invited him to stay for dinner, which he enjoyed very much. The baby listening service worked perfectly and Becky slept through all. James was very pleased with himself.
If we love someone, we try to please them or we try to do as they ask, though we all get it wrong at times. We love them and because of that want to please them. We love our family and friends and would reach out to care for them, because we love them, worts and all. However, we recognise that it isn't always easy to love someone else and that love can come at a price. It is difficult in these days of the pandemic, when we cannot reach out physically to touch someone, to hug, embrace or just hold hands. Loving from a distance isn't easy or natural.
In the Gospel, Jesus makes it clear that what he speaks about, the Holy Spirit, will be there and available to those who decide to keep his commandments. He loves those who carry out his commandments and we realise that true love involves obedience. Jesus loves and obeys the Father and so the disciples should do likewise. The disciples are obedient in love to Jesus and his commandments, they love one another and so the relationship between Jesus and the disciples on earth continues, when Jesus has left them physically.
We are approaching Ascension day when Jesus finally leaves the disciples but they knew they will not be just left and the bond of trust, faith and love which they shared is also available for us too. We are not left without either and we will explore more about this over the next week. Love is costly and we try to follow and serve Our Lord, as He has us do and what circumstances we are in. We are following in the difficult days of Covid-19, but we are not left alone and in the love of Christ and our relationship with Him, we can be confident.
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Prayers of intercession
Gracious God, you are anything but unknown to us for you made us, our world and everything in it. We remember that at Rogation we say please for what we will say thank you for at Harvest. We pray with one voice, proclaiming your presence to all the earth.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
We pray for the Church and for all who seek God in this pandemic. For those who wish to come into our church buildings but as yet cannot, and for the clergy and readers in this parish, for Bishop June and all who serve in Llandaff diocese.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
For all who hold power, that they may be guided by the Spirit of Truth. We especially pray all the worlds’ governments as they continue to do their best during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
For all who work to serve the needs of the community through health, hospitality, service industries.
Lord in your mercy :Hear our prayer.
In our prayers we remember all those who are ill in body, mind and spirit. We pray for those who are feeling low, as they remain in isolation or remote from their loved ones,
those who are desperate and out of control.
For those facing death and frightened and the fears of their families.
Lord in your mercy : Hear our prayer.
We bring before you all those who have died this week or recently. For our love for them.
Those whose who have their anniversaries at thsi time. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
We pray for who mourn that they may know your peace and love surrounding them,
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
We pray for ourselves, our loved ones and friends, that we support each other through the love which we see in Christ Jesus.
Let us commit ourselves again, to following Christ's command to love one another as we love ourselves and knowing the indwelling of teh Holy Spirit within us.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Hymn: Great is thy faithfulness
The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and ever more. AMEN
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alelluia! Alelluia!
Ewch mewn tangnefedd i garu a gwasanaethu'r Arglwydd. Alelwia! Alelwia!
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