Lectionary resources Easter 5 Year A

Lectionary -- Easter 5 -- Year A

Acts 7:55-60 Martyr Stephen's vision of Jesus with God
Psalm 31:1-5,15-16 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge
1 Peter 2:2-10 Christ the cornerstone
John 14:1-14 I go to prepare a place for you

Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book.)
44 I'll praise my maker while I've breath
130 My God, I love thee; not because
159 All hail the power of Jesus' name
160 My heart and voice I raise
161 Thou art the way: by thee alone
299 I know that my redeemer lives
343 Christ is made the sure foundation
344 Christ is our cornerstone
374 Glorious things of your are spoken / Sion, city of our God
385 The Church's one foundation
395 God, your glory we have seen in your Son
419 The Lamb's high banquet called to share
438 Here, O Lord, I see thee face to face
517 O Lord and Master of us all
537 May the mind of Christ my Saviour

Sermon summary [click here for complete sermon]

I go to prepare a place for you

In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [John 14:2]. Jesus knew that he was going to die. He recalled them to their fundamental belief in God, asking them to trust him also, as they had come to know God through him [John 14:1 and see John 14:9-10]. They could not come with him then; but they would follow him later [John 13:36]. He went ahead ... to give eternal life to all ... [John 17:1b-2] ...that where I am, there you may be also. [John 14:3]. There is plenty of room.

How were they to find their way there? Not only would he seek them out and take them with him, but they knew the way already. [John 14:4-7]. They were not sure, so said I am the way, and the truth, and the life. It was a call to faith in which we respond in thankful love to what he has done for us, as in the hymn:

My God I love thee; not because
I hope for heaven thereby ...

Thou, O my Jesus, thou didst me
upon the cross embrace; ...

Then why, O my blessed Jesus Christ,
should I not love thee well? ...

All who love the Lord are assured of a place with him in the presence of God their Creator. That is enough, it is in every sense "sufficient". But we make a faith response in the midst of life in this world, which we have to know is far from a perfect world. If we are bewildered by horrifying events, so were the followers of Jesus when he died -- at least until they met him risen from the dead [Luke 24:13-35]. We can hope that in our situation today too some good will come out of the evil. The good news is that good can indeed come out of evil. That is how it was possible for Jesus to prepare the way for us to his Father's house -- through his unjust death.

Order of Service - Easter 5 - Year C - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index |

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
Let us worship God.
Jesus said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -- John 14:6
Lord Jesus Christ, we come to worship the Father in your name,

Jesus said: "If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." -- John 14:7
Lord Jesus, may we meet with you in this hour, and know God our Father and your Father.

HYMN 160 My heart and voice I raise

PRAYER OF ADORATION
CONFESSION [In three parts, concluding ...]
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -- 1 Timothy 1:15
Hear then Christ's word of grace to us: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: Gloria in Excelsis [Sing Alleluia 100b]

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Jesus prepares the way

FIRST READING Acts 7:55-60 Martyr Stephen's vision of Jesus with God
PSALM 31:1-5,15-16 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge
EPISTLE 1 Peter 2:2-10 Christ the cornerstone
GOSPEL John 14:1-14 I go to prepare a place for you

HYMN 130 My God, I love thee; not because

SERMON

Choir: Te Deum

OFFERING
SHARING TIME [Notices, Celebrations and requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Let us pray for the peace and welfare of all people, especially for those whose lives are threatened by violence:-

Loving and eternal God, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ after his had suffered a violent death, stay the hand of the murder, turn the passions of disordered humanity from hatred to respect for life. Lord hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer, and grant us your peace.

Eternal Ruler, who will bring to perfection this creation, let the rule of your Kingdom be confessed by all who the welfare of others in their hands. Lord hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer, and let justice prevail.

Bless, good Lord, the mission of the church, in making known the victory of Christ over sin and death. Let this victory appear in what we say, and in our deeds of caring for those in need through our welfare agencies and our individuals actions. Lord hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer, and your compassion made known in word and deed.

As Jesus promised to prepare the way and there are many rooms in your house, give us grace to trust in your promise of eternal for those whom we love and for ourselves. Lord hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer, and let us see life in triumph over death.

THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY

O God,
form the minds of your faithful people,
to make us love what you command and what you promise,
that, amid the uncertainties of the this world,
our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found,
in your eternal love;
through you Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

The Lord's Supper

THE PEACE
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

[We bless one another, as we prayerfully invoke the peace of God on our neighbours.]

HYMN 419 The Lamb's high banquet called to share

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Thanks and praise ..... in the eternal hymn: [SA 100c and 100d]
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you ....

[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]

THE LORD'S PRAYER

BREAKING THE BREAD
THE LAMB OF GOD [Choir: Sing Alleluia 100e]
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.

COMMUNION

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN 44 I'll praise my maker while I've breath

WORD OF MISSION Jesus said "I go to prepare a place for you" -- John 14:2b
Stephen said "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" -- Acts 7:56
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

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