16. 01 May - Sts Philip & James

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VERSION: 29 April 2002

ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES, APOSTLES

(1 May)

This festival falls within the Easter season, so Easter propers are used.

ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES

'Philip, like Peter and Andrew, was born at Bethsaida and was one of the first disciples of Jesus. After he became an apostle, he brought Nathaniel to Jesus. Philip may have been of Greek ancestry (his name is Greek), for when "certain Greeks" wanted to see Jesus, they came to Philip. He is apparently not to be confused with Philip the evangelist and deacon of Acts 6:5. According to tradition, Philip was martyred in Phrygia.

'James, the son of Alpheus, is traditionally entitled "the Less" to distinguish him from James, the brother of John, and from James, the brother of the Lord. Philip and James are commemorated together becaue the remains of the two saints were placed in the Church of the Apostles in Rome on this day in 561.'

(Contemporary Worship 6: The Church Year: calendar and lectionary, 1973)

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

Jesus said: 'I will do whatever you ask in my name', Alleluia,

'so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.'

Alleluia. (John 14:13 NRSV)

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional (altered)

Almighty God,

you have built your church

on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

Join us together in one spirit

by the witness of Saints Philip and James,

and make us into a holy temple pleasing to you.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

Almighty God,

to know you is eternal life.

Teach us to know your Son

as the way, the truth and the life;

and guide us along the way

of Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 30:18–21 This is the way

PSALM

Psalm 44:1–3,20–26

Antiphon:

Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love. (Ps 44:26b NRSV)

SECOND READING

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 We preach Jesus Christ as Lord

ALLELUIA VERSE

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;

death no longer has any power over him.

Alleluia!)

Jesus said: 'The words I say to you are not just my own.

It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.'

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 14:8–14 Jesus answers Philip's request

SEASONAL PREFACE

The seasonal preface given here is a modernised text recommended for use by the Department of Liturgics with all forms of the liturgy during Easter. For the various original texts from the Supplement to Lutheran Hymnal, see the document 'Easter season', under 'Seasonal preface', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But most of all we praise you

for the glorious resurrection of your Son,

the true Passover Lamb,

who has taken away the sin of the world.

By his death he has destroyed death,

and by his rising again he has restored life.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter

and all the other witnesses of the resurrection,

with earth and sea and all their creatures,

and with angels and archangels,

cherubim and seraphim,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

The following invitation may be used throughout Easter. The congregation may respond with the words 'Thanks be to God' after the verse, before the invitation, 'Come . . .'

Jesus says: 'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life,

and I will raise them up on the last day.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

DISMISSAL AFTER COMMUNION

The dismissal after communion could be modified to:

The body of our risen Lord Jesus Christ,

and his precious blood

strengthen and preserve you in body and soul

to life eternal.

Go in peace.

Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

See the document 'Easter season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder, for a post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the following.

Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ,

you have shown us the way to you.

Grant that we may witness to the truth

which we have seen,

and live the new life

which we have received.

We ask this through your Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

(May) the God of peace,

who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus,

provide you with every good thing you need

in order to do his will . . . (the blessing follows)

HYMNS AND SONGS

'BY ALL YOUR SAINTS'

Horatio Bolton Nelson wrote this hymn, which has various middle verses, for various minor festival occasions. It may be sung to the tune Nyland (LH 16), or to the original tune King's Lynn (LBW 177, 178; LW 193, 194; TIS 249). The first and last verses given below are as they appear in Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Book of Worship; the middle verse is Nelson's original that has been slightly modernised. The first line of verse 1 could be changed to: 'By saints on earth who struggle'.

By all your saints in warfare,

for all your saints at rest,

your holy name, O Jesus,

for evermore be blest!

For you have won the battle

that they might wear the crown;

and now they shine in glory

reflected from your throne.

We praise your name for Philip,

who guided Greek and Jew;

and for young James, his brother.

Keep us as brothers too,

and grant us grace to know you,

the way, the truth, the life,

and, wrestling with temptation,

be victors in the strife.

Then let us praise the Father,

and worship God the Son,

and sing to God the Spirit,

eternal Three-in-one,

till all the ransomed number

fall down before the throne,

ascribing power and glory,

and praise to God alone.

ADDITIONAL HYMNS

VISUAL

SYMBOLS OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES

Philip was said to have laboured in Galatia and Phrygia, where he suffered a cruel death. When scourging failed to silence him, he was stoned, crucified, and finally run through with a spear to hasten his death. His symbols therefore are:

St James (the Lesser) laboured in and around Jerusalem. One tradition has it that he was taken to the top of the temple and pushed off. He was seriously injured, but still managed to stagger to his knees before being stoned and clubbed to death. His symbols are: