Seventh Sunday of Easter
8 a.m. Said Eucharist
President and Preacher: The Revd Tracey Clements
9 a.m. St Barnabas, Box: Eucharist with hymns
President and Preacher: The Revd Ann Morris
10.00 a.m. Sung Eucharist
President: The Revd Canon Howard Gilbert
Preacher: The Revd Tracey Clements
5.30 p.m. Evensong
Click here for the Church of England's daily prayer: Morning Prayer, Prayer during the Day, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer
As well as the Sunday collect and readings (see below), you may want to use the following in your prayers during the week:
In the Anglican cycle of prayer, for the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea and Bishop Nathan Ingen
In our diocese's prayer intentions we are asked to pray for initiatives that combat injustice, protect creation, and overcome exclusion and
isolation; for the use of sport, music, and art to build relationships and share the Christian faith; for creative ways of connecting with new housing developments, building communities of faith and friendship; for people and programmes that inspire young people to explore and grow in faith
In our deanery cycle of prayer, for St George, Nailsworth; St Martin, Horsley; StJohn the Baptist, Newington Bagpath with Kingscote. Clergy: Caroline Bland, Laurie Smith, Sue Sobczak. Reader Sue White
In our parish cycle of prayer, for all who live or work in Cirencester Road and Chapel Lane
For those in need: Giles Boon, Jonathan Brough, Jason Kennedy, Ann Gaylor, Giles Gilbert Scott, Tony Evans
For those who have died recently: David Wynne Morgan
For those whose anniversary of death falls at this time: -->Marjorie Sage, Michael Phelps, Eileen Pilkington, Colin Brookes, Dr Hugh Lister, Dorothy Dawson
COLLECT
Risen, ascended Lord,
as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin
may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.
FIRST READING: Acts 1: 6–14
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
PSALM 68.1–4
All Sing to God, sing praises to his name.
Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered;
let those that hate him flee before him.
As the smoke vanishes,
so may they vanish away.
All Sing to God, sing praises to his name.
As wax melts at the fire,
so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;
let them make merry with gladness.
All Sing to God, sing praises to his name.
Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
exalt him who rides on the clouds.
The Lord is his name;
rejoice before him.
All Sing to God, sing praises to his name.
SECOND READING: 1 Peter 4.12–14; 5.6–11
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL READING: John 17: 1–11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
POST COMMUNION
Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.