We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Theme Prayer
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
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.
Confession
Have mercy on us, Lord, when our selfishness betrays you, and when we are afraid to be known as yours. Have mercy on us when we choose the easy way, and turn aside from the way of the cross. Bring us back to you, Lord, and by your mercy and grace restore us in your service. Amen.
Through the cross of Christ may God have mercy upon us; may he pardon us and set us free. May we know we are forgiven, may we be at peace, and may God strengthen us in goodness and keep us in life eternal. Amen.
God’s Word - Verses from John’s Gospel, chapter 11 :-
There was a man named Lazarus who had fallen ill (. . . .)* His home was at Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. On his arrival there Jesus found that Lazarus had already been four days in the tomb. Bethany was just under two miles from Jerusalem, and many of the Jews had come from the city to visit Martha and Mary and condole with them about their brother. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was on his way, she went to meet him, and left Mary sitting at home.
Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. Even now I know that God will grant you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ ‘I know that he will rise again’, said Martha, ‘at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever has faith in me shall live, even though he dies; and no one who lives and has faith in me shall ever die. Do you believe this?’ ‘I do, Lord,’ she answered; ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who was to come into the world.’ (. . . .)*
Jesus, again deeply moved, went to the tomb. It was a cave, with a stone placed against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, ‘Sir, by now there will be a stench; he has been there four days.’ Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you have faith you will see the glory of God?’ Then they removed the stone.
Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me, but I have spoken for the sake of the people standing round, that they may believe it was you who sent me.’ Then he raised his voice in a great cry: ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen bandages, his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said, ‘Loose him; let him go.’
Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.
*NB There is space here only for selected verses. The full reading is John chapter 11, vv 1-45.
A Reflection on the Reading
Three brief comments on this reading: firstly, throughout the story there’s a focus on believing in Jesus, and on a faith that is personal and trusting, rather than abstract or formulaic. “I am the resurrection and the life,” says Jesus. Ours is a faith formed not through ideas of God but relationship with God.
Secondly, John shows us the grief of Jesus, especially in the short verse not included in the selection above, that simply tells us, “Jesus wept.” We see a man like us, sharing the pain of his friends, disturbed by their distress.
And thirdly, see how Lazarus, brought from the tomb, still wears his grave clothes (compare this with John’s report of the empty tomb on Easter Day). Lazarus is still mortal. Jesus shows he has power even over death, yet even this greatest of miracles merely foreshadows the forever victory of Easter.
Statement of Faith
We have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.
The life we live in the body
we live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen. From Galatians
Anthem
1 Jesus, Saviour of the world, come to us in your mercy: ♦
we look to you to save and help us.
2 By your cross and your life laid down, you set your people free: ♦
we look to you to save and help us.
3 When they were ready to perish, you saved your disciples: ♦
we look to you to come to our help.
4 In the greatness of your mercy, loose us from our chains, ♦
forgive the sins of all your people.
5 Make yourself known as our Saviour and mighty deliverer; ♦
save and help us that we may praise you.
6 Come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus: ♦
hear our prayer and be with us always.
7 And when you come in your glory: ♦
make us to be one with you and to share the life of your kingdom.
Prayers
Pray for the needs of the world: for all in places of leadership and authority, that they may love justice, act with mercy and strive for peace. Pray for a concerted response to the challenges of today, and for strength and unity of purpose as nations share and work together.
Pray for the Church of God: for our witness under the sign of the cross, and that we may boldly enter into the places of suffering and need and pain, with Christ’s message of healing and reconciling love.
Pray for those in need today: for those who are sad and grieving, for those who are worried and anxious, and for those who are alone or afraid. Pray for all who are ill, and especially for those who have been infected by Covid-19. Give thanks for all who tend and care for those who are ill, and that carers may be kept free themselves from harm and infection.
Pray for the community around us, and that we may do our best to adhere to the instructions being given for our own protection and the protection of others. Help us to look out for one another, and to be ready to respond to our neighbour in need. Pray too for those whose incomes, homes and settled lives are put at risk by the Coronavirus outbreak and the shutdown of so much of our community life.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
A Prayer for today
Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do also for you: give us the will to be the servant of others as you were the servant of all, and gave up your life and died for us, but are alive and reign, now and for ever. Amen.
Help us, Lord, to bear your saving cross into the world’s dark places.
Where hatred damages lives, let your love break through.
Where justice is denied, let your righteousness rule.
Where the truth is twisted and denied, let the struggle of faith continue.
And where people are paralysed by fear, let your forgiveness restore them. Amen.
May Christ crucified draw us to himself, to find in him
a sure ground for faith, a firm support for love,
and the assurance of sins forgiven.
And may almighty God bless us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
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