Welcome, as you hear the bells of the Old Parish Church in
Peebles, ring out their message - an invitation from us - the people
of Peebles, Eddleston, Stobo and Drumelzier.
Last week we were thinking about how Jesus said that he was the
Vine, and his disciples were the branches. Thinking of how the
relationship between us and Christ, along with the Father and the
Spirit, was based on a commandment of love. These were part of
the Last Supper Discourse, and this week we stay there in the
Upper Room as Jesus continues to explain what this means for his
followers in their lives ahead. Yes. for us too!
When the bells stop, we join the virtual choir of Peebles Old singing
the well known motet by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, an early 19th
century composer - Lead me Lord.
6th Sunday of Easter
INTROIT: Lead me, Lord
PRAYER
Creator of the universe,
you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory
through the victory of Jesus Christ.
We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and
peace,
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Loving Father,
We gather to celebrate your presence with us; to offer You our praise and our prayers,
our love and our obedience.
Through the gift of Your own Spirit, You abide with us
and in us.
We rejoice in Your love for us,
and in the life we have been given
through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Open our eyes to recognise Your presence here among us;
open our hearts to the love that You have for us;
open our minds to the truth You would reveal to us.
All glory and praise to You, triune God,
now and forevermore. Amen.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Hymn. Love divine, all loves excelling
LESSON
John 15:9-17
15:9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I
have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
15:11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and
that your joy may be complete.
15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have
loved you.
15:13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's
friends.
15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15:15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not
know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I
have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
15:16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go
and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever
you ask him in my name.
15:17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Reflection
PRAYER
Holy God, may we hear your voice
In the stillness of night, in clatter of day
You call us, and we respond,
Here I am!
May we follow you and
May we love as you love.
Holy One, through trials and turbulence
Make us steady, your hands
Holding strong the fragile and weak
May we love as you love.
Gracious God, may the fruits of our lives
be food for the hungry, bread
clothing, shelter, fire, water, Word
May we love as you love.
God of justice, remove the barriers
Of our lives that keep us from
One another, barriers we construct
Based on skin colour, religion, or gender
May we hear, and follow, graciously.
May we love as you love.
Loving God, take this day our fears our
Worries, distractions, and all
Turn them into grace and mercy,
And, following the example of all your Saints,
May we love as you love.
Amen.
— written by Terri, and posted on the RevGalBlogPals blog. http://
revgalblogpals.blogspot.com
Hymn. O for a thousand tongues to sing
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
Let us go forward into the week that lies ahead,
with our eyes fixed upon Jesus in whom our race begins and ends.
and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be with you this day and in all the days to come
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit go with you
today and in all the days to come. AMEN.