23. Year C - Seventh Sunday of Easter

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VERSION: 29 April 2002

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C

In 2004: 23 May

In 2007: 20 May

In 2010: 16 May

In 2013: 12 May

In 2016: 8 May

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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.

Jesus said: 'I am the Alpha and the Omega (Alleluia),

the first and the last, the beginning and the end.' (Alleluia)

(Rev 22:13 NRSV)

OR

The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' (Alleluia)

And let everyone who hears say, 'Come.' (Alleluia)

And let everyone who is thirsty come. (Alleluia)

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift (Alleluia). (Rev 22:17 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.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Almighty and eternal God,

grant that we may always have a will devoted to you,

and serve you as our king with a pure heart;

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

Almighty and eternal God,

help us always

willingly to serve you as our king,

with a pure heart.

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 (revised alternative)

(Let us pray for the unity of the Holy Spirit. [silence)]

Holy Father,

your Son prayed for his disciples

that they would be one,

as you and he are one.

Keep your whole church harmoniously together

in faith and love,

united by the one Spirit.

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.

FIRST READING

Acts 16:16-34 Paul and Silas in prison

PSALM

Psalm 97

Antiphon:

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice. (Ps 97:1a NRSV)

SECOND READING

Revelation 22:12-14,16,17,20,21 Jesus is coming soon

ALLELUIA VERSE

Alleluia.

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

death no longer has any power over him.

Alleluia.)

(Jesus prayed:) 'As you, Father, are in me and I am in you,

may they also be in us,

so that the world may believe that you have sent me.'

(John 17:21 NRSV)

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 17:20-26 Jesus prays for all believers

(Begin: 'Jesus prayed:', and in v 20 put 'those you gave me' instead of 'these' (NRSV) or 'them' (TEV/NIV))

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

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

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us and making us yours.

May we and all believers be one,

as you and the Father are one.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

God of comfort,

your Son prayed that we may be one.

Use us and what you have given us

to serve you and one another.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Since the world does not know God, let us pray to him for the gift of the Spirit, that his name may be made known through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The regular response, OR:

Lord, make yourself known to us,

that we may be one.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Lord our God, you have brought the good news of Jesus Christ to us through your Spirit-filled messengers. Move us, by your Spirit, to bring the good news to those with whom we live. We ask this in the name of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

The preface for the days between Ascension and Pentecost is the preface for the Ascension.

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.

After his resurrection he appeared openly to his disciples,

and before their very eyes was taken up into heaven,

so that by your grace we may share in his divine nature.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Consider using a form of the service that includes the eucharistic prayer (eg the Service - Alternative Form or Sing the Feast), as it includes the congregational response 'Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.' If using the Service with Communion, the following response may follow the words of institution:

Jesus says: 'Surely I am coming soon.'

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

COMMUNION INVITATION

Jesus says: 'When I am lifted up from the earth,

I will draw everyone to me.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For a 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.

Holy Father,

your Son prayed for his disciples

that they would be one,

as you and he are one.

As we have eaten of the one bread,

and drunk from the one cup,

keep your whole church harmoniously together

in faith and love,

united by the one Spirit.

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.

BEFORE THE BLESSING

These sentences may be used before the blessing, if they have not been used earlier during the eucharistic prayer:

Jesus says: 'Surely I am coming soon.'

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

SEASONAL BLESSING

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

(May) Christ our exalted king

pour on you his abundant gifts

and bring you to reign with him in glory; . . .

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Live in the love of the Lord.

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 16:16-34

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Revelation 22:12-14,16,17,20,21

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: John 17:20-26

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 97

For musical settings of Psalm 97, see Music Packages 1, 4, 7 and 8. See also TIS 55 The Lord is king.

The following metrical paraphrase by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune Nun danket all (LH 99). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

The Lord is king! Let earth rejoice,

let every shore be glad!

His throne is based on righteousness,

his word is fair and just.

Thick clouds and darkness cover him,

and lightning flashes forth;

his fire will cause the world to fear

and lighten all the earth.

Before the Lord of all the earth

the mountains melt and fall.

The heav'ns proclaim his righteousness,

his power is seen by all.

For all false gods bow down to him,

and all who worship them.

But Judah and Jerusalem

are glad to hear his word.

For you are high above all gods,

and high above the earth.

The Lord will guard his people's lives,

the faithful whom he loves.

A new light dawns for all the just,

and joy fills upright hearts.

Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord,

and give thanks to 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 16:16-34: The witness of the slave girl was not unlike demonic witness to the power of Jesus. It could not of course be accepted, even if it were not a distorted witness. Paul exorcised the spirit, not only bringing down the anger of the owners, but worse, the miscarriage of Roman justice. Yielding to misleading accusations and mob pressure, the magistrates had Paul and Silas summarily beaten. Whatever wrongs they suffered, Paul and Silas, imprisoned and restricted painfully, still gave voice to their joy of serving the exalted Lord. The earthquake was greater even than Roman security, yet Paul and Silas remained obedient to 'the powers that be'. The jailor, answerable with his own life for any prisoner not secured, saw suicide as his only option. The gospel message through Paul's proclamation turned this man's life right around. His care and concern following baptism indicate a vital faith.

REVELATION 22:12-14,16,17,20,21: None other than God could claim all these titles by which the risen and ascended Lord Jesus describes himself in his promise to come soon. Our robes have been washed once and for all by our Lord's blood, but we constantly take the stains of the world's pressures to him for daily rewashing in repentance. The descendant of David gives light and a new day for our pilgrimage. There is a wondrous invitation for all to 'come' and receive also the water of life which satisfies our spiritual need forever. Upon the Lord's promise to come soon, we join the fervent prayer, 'Amen. Come, Lord Jesus'!

JOHN 17:20-26: In this high-priestly prayer our Lord prays for the unity of the future church. The word proclaimed by his disciples will impart a gift of unity which is based on the unity of the Father and the Son. The glory given to Jesus by the Father has been received by his believers already through his achieving the Father's will in all he has accomplished and taught for salvation. He prays further, however, that believers will see his full glory in his exalted state in heaven. Believers will be one as long as they are in the Father and the Son. The Lord prays that this unity may grow so that the world may see that Christ's work and message is evident in Christians' expression of God's love. Thus the world can be drawn to God.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading could be accompanied by a picture like the illustration in the TEV Bible for Acts 16:30; and the gospel could be accompanied by a picture of Jesus praying, eg like the illustration in TEV for John 17:1.

ASCENSION BANNER

If a banner has been used for the Ascension, continue to display it this Sunday.

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 five readers: narrator, slave girl, Paul, slave owner, and jailer; and the second reading could be read by two readers: the narrator and Jesus.

CHILDREN

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

Using a picture of Jesus praying, talk about how Jesus prays for us.

OR

Talk about the Lord's Prayer. It is a prayer that Jesus used to pray to his Father. It is a prayer that we also pray to our Father. So when we pray, we are not praying alone, but we are praying with Jesus, and Jesus is praying for us.

'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 Seventh Sunday of Easter year C is: Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:16–34) (to be found in the original edition in Series A, semester 1 for Easter 5, and in the RCL edition in Series C, semester 1 for 7 Easter).