17 May – The Seventh Sunday of Easter Sunday after Ascension Day, John 17.1-11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
6 ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
Things to think about with the child at the centre:
Hymns & Songs
- Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
- All People That on Earth Do Dwell
- 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
- Who You Say I Am
- The Lord’s My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
- He Will Hold Me Fast
- King of Kings
- The Blessing
Activity
“Held by God” Name Hands
You’ll need:
- Coloured paper or card
- Pens, scissors
Instructions:
- Draw and cut out two hand shapes
- Write their name in the middle (or on a heart between the hands)
- On the hands, write words like: “loved,” “kept,” “safe,” “God’s child”
- Stick together so the hands appear to be holding the name
Reflection
Key points:
- Jesus talks to God like a loving Father
- He prays for his friends — and that includes us
- He says we belong to God
- He asks God to protect and keep us together
- We are never forgotten — Jesus speaks our names to God
Prayer
“Name Prayer” (Belonging and Protection)
Invite people to hold their hands open, then gently close them
Leader: “God, you know each of us by name…”
(All quietly say their own name)
Leader: “Thank you that we belong to you…”
All: “We belong to you, Lord.”
Leader: “Keep us safe in your love…”
All: “Hold us, Lord.”
Leader: “Help us to care for one another…”
All: “Make us one.”
Pause for quiet, then finish with the Lord’s Prayer
Easter to Pentecost lectionary reflections from David Sherwin
Over the next few weeks, beginning with Easter Sunday, we are looking at the stories within the narrative of the lectionary Bible readings leading up to Pentecost. As we do this, may it help us consider where we fit into the story, how our encounter of faith, our meeting Jesus in our lives, has affected us and changed us? What would we write down as our story? Perhaps over the next few weeks, we might write down our journey of faith, our encounter with Jesus, and how our Lord impacts our lives day by day. We can also consider how we might share the Gospel story, the story of Jesus, with those around us and how it might impact their lives. Each week, we consider the principal readings for the day and what they might be saying to us. Allow the reading to speak to you throughout the week and let the story open up before you.
There are two readings for each day. If you only want to concentrate on one reading, that’s fine; maybe one reading speaks to you more than the other, that’s okay, let it do so.
Easter 7, 17th May, (Sunday after Ascension) Acts 1:6-14
Read the account and think about what stands out to you before reading on.
Jesus ascends into heaven, and the disciples are told that they are witnesses. Jesus is now leaving the earth and commissions his disciples for the task ahead of sharing the story, sharing Jesus with the world. They will not be alone. Jesus promises to be with them and us always, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God, to enable us to go into all the world and witness to what we have received from God ourselves.
We are back to the beginning, you are my witnesses, what is our witness statement, what’s our story? Our encounter with Jesus? How has our life been affected and changed by our decision to follow his call? Did you write your story down? Maybe share stories with one another, one to one, or if you are able, share them with your congregation. See how it encourages you and others to see how God works in and through us day by day.
John 17:1-11
Read the account and think about what stands out to you before reading on.
Jesus prays for the disciples, and us. Jesus knows the road ahead for his Church is going to have its difficulties, but it is now the job of the disciples, which includes us, to make Jesus known in the world. He is praying that as they believe so may others believe and that the disciples may be protected. This did not mean that when they preached, but that as they did, the word would go forth, changing lives.
Think of someone you know who you long to know the love of God in Christ for themselves, a member of your family, a friend, a neighbour, or a colleague. Maybe even pray for the street on which you live and any you know are facing difficulties, for peace on our streets and in our land. Let us pray for one another and for those we long would know this love of God for themselves as we go out in the power of the Holy Spirit to live and work to God’s praise and Glory, as our liturgy says.
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