20. Year C - Fifth Sunday of Easter

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VERSION: 26 February 2002

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C

In 2004: 9 May

In 2007: 6 May

In 2010: 2 May

In 2013: 28 Apr

In 2016: 24 Apr

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Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Easter season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

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

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples (Alleluia),

if you have love for one another (Alleluia). (John 13:35 NRSV)

OR

The home of God is among mortals (Alleluia).

He will dwell with them as their God (Alleluia). (Rev 21:3a NRSV)

OR, use one of the standard Easter Sentences in the document 'Easter season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

INTRODUCTION TO CONFESSION

The following introduction to confession may be used:

Friends in Christ,

God has given even to the Gentiles

the repentance that leads to life. (Acts 11:18b NRSV)

So let us confess our sins to God our Father

and ask him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

O God,

since you make the minds of the faithful

to be of one will:

Grant that your people

may love what you command

and desire what you promise,

that among the many changes of this world

our hearts may there be fixed

where true joys are to be found;

through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Lord God,

you make the minds of the faithful

to be of one will.

Lead us to love what you command

and desire what you promise,

so that, among the changes of this world,

our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found.

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

(Let us pray that we may remain in Christ. [silence])

Loving heavenly Father,

you sent your Son Jesus Christ

to reconcile the world to yourself.

Strengthen our faith,

so that we remain united with him

and bear the fruit of love.

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, new

(Let us pray that we love others. [silence])

Merciful Father,

you have reached out to all people

through your Son Jesus,

who died for us all.

Encourage us to live as your chosen people

and give of ourselves to others.

We ask this through Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Acts 11:1-18 Peter explains how God's salvation is also for Gentiles

PSALM

Psalm 148

Antiphon:

His glory(/The glory of the Lord) is above earth and heaven.

(Ps 148:13b NRSV)

SECOND READING

Revelation 21:1-6 God will wipe away all tears

ALLELUIA VERSE

Alleluia.

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

death no longer has any power over him.

Alleluia.)

(Jesus said:) 'I give you a new commandment,

that you love one another just as I have loved you.' (John 13:34)

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 13:31-35 The new commandment: love one another

(If using NRSV or NIV, begin: 'When Judas . . .')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ (, raised to live forever).

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us.

Lead us to love one another,

so that everyone will know that we are your disciples.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

God of love,

you have shown us how you love us and all people.

Lead us to love one another

through our lives and our gifts.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

We live in the hope of a new heaven and new earth. Let us pray for that time to come quickly, in the name of Jesus.

The regular response, OR:

God of power and might,

come, and make all things new.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Father in heaven, as you have raised Jesus Christ to be the firstfruits of the resurrection, raise up all the world to be a new creation in him; in whose name we pray.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

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

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.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For an Easter post-communion prayer, see the document 'Easter season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Loving heavenly Father,

you sent your Son Jesus Christ

to reconcile the world to yourself.

As we have received his body and blood,

keep us united with him

so that we may bear the fruit of love.

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.

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; . . .

DISMISSAL

Go in peace, and love one another.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Acts 11:1-18

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Revelation 21:1-6

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: John 13:31-35

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 148

For musical settings of Psalm 148, see Music Packages 1, 4, 7 and 8.

A paraphrased version of Psalm 148 from the Iona Community may be found in John L Bell, Psalms of patience, protest and praise on page 57 (also available in TIS 94). As the tune will be new to most people, consider having the congregation sing the chorus as an antiphon and a cantor or choir sing the verses. Another song version is 'Great in power', ATW 426.

There are also two hymns based partly on this psalm: 'O praise ye the Lord', LH 468 / 'Sing praise to the Lord', TIS 96; and 'Praise the Lord, ye/you heavens adore him', sung to Austria (LH 458, TIS 93). However, the second verse of the latter is not a paraphrase of the psalm. The Psalter (1912) gives two extra verses that are true paraphrases of the psalm, which are provided here in a modernised form. The first verse below is the modernised text from TIS.

Praise the Lord, you heavens adore him;

praise him, angels in the height;

sun and moon, rejoice before him,

praise him, all you stars and light.

Praise the Lord, for he has spoken,

worlds his mighty voice obeyed:

laws, that never shall be broken,

for their guidance he has made.

On the earth let all things praise him:

seas and all that they contain,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

hail and lightning, snow and rain.

Hills and mountains, praise your Maker;

praise him, all you flocks and herds.

Fields and orchards, sing his glory;

praise him, creeping things and birds.

All you nations, come before him:

earthly rulers and all kings,

men and women, parents, children,

join with all created things.

Praise the God of our salvation,

who restores from sin and shame.

Heaven and earth and all creation,

praise and glorify his name.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

ACTS 11:1-18: Although Jesus had clearly told the disciples before his ascension that the gospel would go out from Jerusalem to Samaria, to Judea and thence to the furthermost parts of the world, Jewish Christians had great difficulty at first with associating in any way with Gentiles. The vision received by Peter at Joppa clearly indicated that Jewish ceremonial laws were no longer binding as God's law. He was also directed to go to the home of a Roman officer in Caesarea. Here Peter experienced the response to the gospel among Gentiles in the same tongues spoken by the Holy Spirit's power on Pentecost day. Baptism of those people marked the beginnings of the first non-Jewish church. A great reason for the Jerusalem church to rejoice!

REVELATION 21:1-6: The events here described follow on the final destruction of Satan, his angels, and all evil at the end of all things. There is also a renewing or re-creation of the earth and a new heaven. Out of heaven comes the new Jerusalem, or the reconstituted and perfected church – the people of God. They live now with God immediately among them. There appears to be less difference between heaven and earth. Now all suffering and tears have disappeared with the passing of all evil. God's word and God's almighty being guarantee this.

JOHN 13:31-35: These words belong to the final discourse of Jesus with his disciples in the upper room the night before his death. Judas has just departed to do his treacherous work. The Lord refers to his suffering and death as his glorification. Note that it is expressed in the past tense. So certain is his commitment to the Father's will. The love of Jesus thus expressed is to be conveyed in the love of his redeemed people to each other.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the second reading could be accompanied by a picture of Jerusalem.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading could be read by three readers: critic of Peter (vv 3, 18b), Peter, and voice from heaven/angel; and the second reading could be read by three readers: narrator, voice from the throne, Jesus.

CHILDREN

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

In connection with the second reading, talk about what it is like to have a home where people love each other. Ask who it is that comforts them at home when they are sad and wipes away their tears. It could be their mother, their father, or an elder brother or sister. Tell them that this is what it will be like when we live with God in his home forever.

OR

In connection with the first reading and gospel, talk about how some people have favourite friends, and love them more than others. Perhaps they have some people who are their special friends and other people they don't like. Tell them that God loves everyone, even those not considered important, and wants us to love everyone too.

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

The story for the Fifth Sunday of Easter is: A picture of heaven (Revelation 21,22) (to be found in the original edition Series C, Semester 2, Last Pentecost, and in the RCL edition Series C, semester 1 for 5 Easter).