Sunday worship 26th April 2020

+ 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 All our hope on God is founded.

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 Collect for the third Sunday of Easter

Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; 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

Luke 24:13-35 RSV)

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection

I have always loved this reading for it speaks of breaking bread and because of that, being recognised. Would you recognise your own priest by the way they break bread? I am guessing not, but of course each of us brings to the altar some of our own way of doing - celebrating the Eucharist. I am not trying here to repeat what Edwin said last Sunday, but the things which shout out to me and that I wish to share today.

How do you break bread? Outwards? Inwards? Side to side? Do use always try and use a knife? I am not much good at cutting a new loaf and although at one end my bread is thin and well cut, the far end is always thick and doorstop- ish. My Auntie Glad could cut her "Vitbe" loaf so you could almost see through it and it was always the same.

I always disliked the Methodist or Free Church little cubes of salty, white, doughy, plastic bread often much loved at Communion and equally am not a fan of the large loaf which is always big, drops crumbs everywhere, even if you just reserve a small bit. I must add I do like the Orthodox practise of reserving a small bit of the big loaf for consecration and then blessing and sharing the rest of the bread afterwards. I am aware that sometimes the power of using bread rather than a wafer in the Eucharist can be powerful and I know also that the snap of a fresh, crisp wafer at the fraction means so much.

Do you find it strange that Jesus wasn't recognised on the journey, not by his physical presence, his voice, his insight, the way he walked when ahead of them, or alongside but when he broke bread at the table. What was it that revealed the Lord, his own style of breaking bread, his voice, the fact that at last the penny had dropped, or a more open receptive mind whilst at the table? We shall never know but we can be certain that the invitation for Jesus to share in a meal was thoughtful. Yes, but more than that, it was pleasurable and about relationship building and deepening. Meals and sharing them were important to Our Lord.The bread was broken to be shared and everyone in that sharing is united, whatever station in life, whether good or not, We are united in solidarity and in fellowship. Christ has declared He is the Bread of Life and in the Eucharist we find this bread broken for us and shared among all. Jesus is known in the hands that break the bread. He is known in the hungry who take the bread. He is the bread that is broken and taken, states Clyde Tilley. However it is even more than this, as Paul Bernier SSS states in his book, 'Bread broken and shared':

"If our celebrations are real, we will know that Christ has broken the bread and shared with us, and is only looking for us to do likewise."

Prayers

Holy God, as we gather and worship  to read your word, to sing your praise. Help us to have our eyes opened as you did on that Emmaus Road experience and afterwards at the meal. Open our eyes to the power, reality and truth of the resurrection, Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

We give thanks for our Church for all Bishops, priests and Deacons and all who lead forward in these difficult times. For our parish and the creative ways that have enabled worship and fellowship. to continue even though we are physically separated. For the renewed fellowship in meetings as we again see and hear each other  Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

Creator God, your Son walked the roads and tracks of this world and taught us to seek your hand in the beauty and wonders of earth and sea and the sky. We so often see too much of the evidence of poor stewardship and it is easy to forget that the world is yours. Help us to recognise your presence in our modern world, and help us to use more wisely the resources of the earth. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Loving God, we know so many who are going through a time of suffering and pain. Help us to always be aware of one another’s needs and to respond accordingly and assist them with words and deeds on to the road of recovery. We pray for all who struggle in physical, mental and spiritual health and pray for all who we know at this time are poorly. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

Merciful God accompany those travelling, through the journey of life ending and may our love and prayers support those who walk that journey today or whose anniversaries are at this time. I ask your prayers for Gladys, Ian, Margaret, Ken, Gerald who have died recently and for Dorothy Davies on her anniversary. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. 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

The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and ever more. AMEN

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.