Collect, Readings and Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
Collect
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above,
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Readings
Genesis Chapter 7
The Great Flood
7 1Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and its mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and its mate; 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.’ 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.
6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. 7 And Noah with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came on the earth.
11 In the six-hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 The rain fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons, entered the ark, 14 they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind—every bird, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.
17 The flood continued for forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; 20 the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings; 22 everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, human beings and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred and fifty days.
Acts 2:42-47
Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
1 Peter 2:19-25
Brothers and sisters: It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
John 10:1-10
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Prayers
Gracious God, it is our privilege to pray for your world and your people, and so we put our prayers at your disposal this day.
- We read how the first disciples shared everything in common and cared for one another. Healing God, in the midst of our busy lives,
the stresses, burdens, and challenges
we face day in and day out,
we miss the silent wounds that we carry
from our lack of connection to one another.
Heal us, God, from disconnection and isolation.
Bind us together and build in us a community
of support and encouragement.
Help us be for one another the Body of Christ,
tending one another as we are tended by you. Amen.
- Lord, we pray for our country today. We ask for wisdom for our leaders, that they may lead with integrity and compassion, seeking justice for all. In this time of division, bring us together and make us a nation built on peace and mutual respect. Amen
- A Prayer for Peace and Protection:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for this land and the freedoms we enjoy. We ask for Your protection from conflict and turmoil. Please strengthen our communities and give our leaders the discernment to make decisions that promote the well-being of all. Amen - A Prayer for Renewal and Hope:
Lord, we recognize our need for You. We ask for a renewal of faith and a spirit of gratitude to fill our homes. Heal the wounds of our nation, help us to be united, and let Your light guide us toward a more perfect union Though there may be differences of politics, faith and other beliefs, teach us to live alongside one another with compassion, curiosity and respect. Give us hope for a future in which all can prosper, no matter what their background, resources or abilities. Amen
- Continuing to hold the ongoing war in Ukraine, the unresolved conflict in Gaza and the Lebanon and the fragile negotiations for peace with Iran before you Lord, we pray for a world in which even ordinary humanity fails so often. We pray for government ministers in every nation. We pray that those who lead and take on great responsibilities may not simply wish to seem great in the eyes of others, but may genuinely serve their people, searching continually for polices and strategies which will be for the good of all, especially for the weakest and most vulnerable.
We pray for the victims of war and violence among individuals and nations
We pray for the children who suffer when people put their faith in weapons and war
We pray for the multitudes in every country who do not want war and are ready to walk the road of peace
Hear our prayer and grant us insight and strength so that we ourselves may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice, to need with the willingness to share. Amen
- We pray for our churches in the Woodfield Team, for the progress of Christ’s mission within them and, Lord, we seek your guidance and help in the tasks to which you have called us. Guide us by your Holy Spirit:
- that our services of worship may be a worthy offering to you and may attract, include and inspire people of all ages;
- that our inner life of prayer and our attention to scripture may be nurtured, and that the journey of faith may not be seen as only for the few;
- that our opportunities for contact with children and young people may grow and that those who are in our churches may be listened to, encouraged, and challenged to become committed Christians;
- that our church premises may convey a message of openness, be a means of Christian service, and forge effective links with our local communities;
- that we may be proactive in reaching out to those on the fringes of faith or outside it and in meeting social and community needs. Amen.
- Following the week in which we remembered the anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II and St George’s Day. we pray:
- Gracious God,
we give you thanks for all that you gave to Church, nation and Commonwealth
through the life of your servant Queen Elizabeth II.
We remember with gratitude her long life of Christian witness,
her compassion for those in need,
and her devotion to duty.
As we mark the centenary of her birth,
grant that, inspired by her example,
we may serve you faithfully in our own generation,
with steadfast hearts, merciful hands, and trust in your providence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- God of hosts,
who so kindled the flame of love
in the heart of your servant George
that he bore witness to the risen Lord
by his life and by his death:
give us the same faith and power of love
that we who rejoice in his triumphs
may come to share with him the fullness of the resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
- Almighty God,
We pray that each of us may be comforted in our suffering
and made whole.
When we are afraid, give us courage to reach toward one another;
when we feel weak, grant us the strength to name our vulnerability;
when we are afflicted, help us persevere together;
when we are lost, show us how to offer one another hope;
when we are alone, move us to come alongside one another.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
- This month we are asked to be particularly aware of people who experience the condition known as autism and those who support and care for them, and so we pray O Creator God, lover of all, for all those with autism. Bless them with calming peace in moments of sensory overload and anxiety. Guide their families and communities to understand their unique needs and to celebrate their beautiful, distinct way of seeing the world. Surround them with love and unconditional acceptance. Amen.
- Good Shepherd, within your embrace we are safe and secure. Within your embrace we know that we are precious in your sight. Within your embrace we feel the warmth of family and belonging. Within your embrace we grow and are nurtured together as one flock, the people of your pasture under your loving care and protection.
Good Shepherd, within your embrace we find comfort and healing. We bring to you those who are weak, or struggling with physical, mental or spiritual health. We pray too for those who are walking in a dark valley at this time, especially for the sick, the elderly and bereaved: You are the great healer, and we pray for healing of mind and body for those we now name before you and that you may give them your comfort and peace. Amen
Let all the world, in every corner sing – my God and King!