Worship for The Third Sunday of Easter

Opening Rite

If you’re at home you might wish to light a candle, make sure you are sitting comfortably and take a few deep breaths to still yourself. 

The Lord is here  His Spirit is with us

Prayers of Penitence

In baptism we died with Christ, so that as Christ was raised from the dead, we might walk in newness of life. Let us receive new life in him as we confess our sins in penitence and faith.                                                                  cf Romans 6.4

Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.

We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

The president declares God’s forgiveness.

May almighty God, who sent his Son into the world to save sinners, bring you his pardon and peace, now and for ever. Amen

The Collect

You might like to keep a few moments of silence

Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; 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        

Acts 9:1-6

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Psalm 30. 1, 3-6, 11, 12

/R:   I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me

I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have raised me up and have not let my foes triumph over me. You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; You restored me to life from among those that go down to the Pit. /R:

Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; give thanks to his holy name. For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, his favour for a lifetime. Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. /R:

You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness; Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever. /R:                                   

Revelation 5:11-end

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing,  “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!”  And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshipped.

The Gospel according to John                                         chapter 21:1-19

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.  When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord    Praise to you O Christ

Reflection

After seeing Jesus’ burial clothes, Peter and the beloved disciple ‘returned to their homes’ (20.10). Now, after being commissioned by the risen Jesus (20.21-23), the disciples are still at home, and at Peter’s initiative have returned to fishing. It is taking time to transform frightened disciples into bold apostles! Jesus had breathed the Spirit upon them saying, ‘If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’ (20.22-23). But first the disciples must know their own sins are truly forgiven, and not return to their former lives hoping their abandonment of their friend could be forgotten. That this is a false hope they quickly discover: ‘that night they caught nothing’. They must turn again to Jesus, who alone can provide the life-giving food that is to be found on the other side of the boat. He is the source of living water (4.7-15; 7.37-38), as in Ezekiel’s vision of the life-giving river flowing from the temple: ‘and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there’ (Ezekiel 47.9).  Jesus has provided ‘very many fish’, on his fire and in their net, and without reproach he once more offers his hospitality: ‘Come and have breakfast.’ But the charcoal fire on which it is cooking recalls the charcoal fire at which Peter was warming himself (18.18) when he denied knowing Jesus three times, and his strange act of putting on his clothes to swim to Jesus recalls the fallen Adam’s shame at his nakedness in the presence of God (Genesis 3.8-11).  Andrew had recognised Jesus as the Messiah and brought his brother Simon Peter to him (1.40-42), and the beloved disciple recognised Jesus on the beach and said to Simon Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ But it seems that Peter still wanted to outdo the others, leaping into the water to reach Jesus first. It is best therefore to understand Jesus’ first question as, ‘Do you love me more than these other disciples love me?’ Wisely, Simon no longer makes that claim, and three times answers only, ‘You know that I love you.’ Forgiven his three-fold denial, Simon will be Peter the Rock, knowing that we love because God first loved us. Now he is ready to feed Jesus’ sheep, following him to the end.

© Reproduced with permission ROOTS for Churches Ltd www.rootsontheweb.com 2002-2021  

Prayers

Spend a few moments praying for the people you know and love, for the world, for peace and for the relief of refugees everywhere. 

On the Third Sunday of Easter

Risen Christ, you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope: strengthen us to proclaim your risen life and fill us with your peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen

Praying for the Earth                                                   Landscape and soil

We thank you for all that is beautiful in the landscapes that surround us. As the environment forms us, so help us to form an environment that is beneficial to others. We thank you for the soil beneath our feet. As the soil supports and nurtures us, so help us to nourish the soil for the good of all living things. Amen

From the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer for the Church

Porvoo Communion: Diocese of Southwark and the Diocese of Björgvin (Church of Norway)

Anglican Communion: The Church of Ireland Primates: Archbishop John McDowell and Archbishop Eamon Martin

Hexham Deanery: Benefice of Allendale with Whitfield Priest in Charge: Martin Naylor

From our Parish Prayer Cycle this week

Pray for all residents of Holystone Crescent and Weldon Crescent

For the sick and those being cared for in hospital or at home      

For those in residential care    

For those whose year’s minds are this week 

You might like to end your prayers with The Lord's Prayer  

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.

The Conclusion

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Let us bless the Lord!  Thanks be to God!