Easter 7 Sunday, 17/05/2026

SENTENCE FROM SCRIPTURE:

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord. (Psalm 68)

HYMN-

GREETING

Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

COLLECT FOR PURITY

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this:

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”

The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. Amen. Lord, have mercy.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

God is love and we are God’s children. There is no room for fear in love. We love because God loved us first.

Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.

SILENCE

God our Father,
we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil,
for the sake of your Son who died for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

ABSOLUTION

God, who is both power and love,
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by the Holy Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.

GLORIA
sung by Dougie Byers

COLLECT

O God,
the King of Glory, hear our prayer:
that as we believe your Son Jesus Christ to be exalted
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven;
so also we may know his presence with us now,
and to the end of time;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen

PROCLAIMING & RECEIVING GOD’S WORD

FIRST READING
Acts 1.6–14,
read by David Kerr

⁶ When the apostles had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ ⁷ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

⁹ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹ They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ ¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

SECOND READING
1 Peter 4.12–14; 5.6–11,
read by Amie Byers

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

GRADUAL HYMN

GOSPEL
John 17.1–11,
read by Rev Dcn Ann Wren

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John, Chapter 17,. beginning at verse 1.

Glory to Christ our Saviour

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.

⁵ So 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. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;

⁸ for 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. ⁹ I 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. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹ And 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.’

Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel
Praise to Christ our Lord.

SERMON

Sermon by Rev Chris Wren

The Ascension of Jesus is not simply about Jesus leaving the earth; it reveals the depth of his relationship with the Father and shapes the life of disciples today. After his resurrection, Jesus is taken up into heaven and exalted at the right hand of the Father, marking the completion of his earthly mission and his return to intimate communion with God. This moment shows that Jesus’ entire life was rooted in obedience and love for the Father, and the Ascension is the fulfillment of that relationship—he returns to the Father’s presence, sharing fully in divine glory.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus lived in constant relationship with the Father, seeking his will and acting in his power. The Ascension confirms that this relationship was never broken, even through suffering and death. Instead, it is deepened and revealed in glory. For believers, this gives assurance that Jesus continues to be active, interceding and representing humanity before the Father. The relationship between Jesus and the Father becomes the model for Christian life: one of trust, obedience and communion.

Importantly, the Ascension is also the beginning of the Church’s mission. Jesus does not abandon his disciples; rather, he promises the Holy Spirit, who will empower them to continue his work. This means that living in relationship with the Father is not passive—it equips believers for discipleship. Just as Jesus depended on the Father, disciples are invited to rely on God’s guidance and strength.

In this way, the Ascension connects relationship and mission. As believers grow closer to the Father through prayer, worship and faith, they are strengthened and equipped to serve others and share the message of Christ. Discipleship flows from relationship. The same God who raised and exalted Jesus now works in and through us his followers, giving us the courage, wisdom and power to live out our own calling in the world.

THE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son,
he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS

Prayers of Intercession

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1.8)

Let us pray,

“They all joined together constantly in prayer.” (Acts 1.14)

Loving God,

Strengthen your Church through the power of your Holy Spirit. Deepen us in faith, sustain us in unity, and renew us in prayer, worship, and witness.

We pray for Bishop Nicolas, for Jim our interim priest in charge, and for all who minister in your Church.

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY

HEAR OUR PRAYER

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.” (1 Peter 5.6)

Loving God,

Guide the leaders of the nations in the ways of justice, wisdom, and peace. In a world marked by conflict and uncertainty, teach us to live with humility, compassion, and courage.

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY

HEAR OUR PRAYER

“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5.7)

Loving God,

Bring healing and comfort to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. Give strength to the weary, hope to the anxious, and peace to all who are in distress.

We remember before you those known to us.

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY

HEAR OUR PRAYER

“The God of all grace… will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5.10)

Loving God,

Receive into your eternal kingdom all the faithful departed, those recently departed, and those whose years’ mind falls at this time.

We remember especially:

[…NAMES…]

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY

HEAR OUR PRAYER

“Holy Father, protect them in your name… so that they may be one.” (John 17.11)

Loving God,

Bless and guide the vestry and vacancy committee as we seek the one you are calling to serve among us in this church.

Grant us courage in this season of waiting and change:

courage to follow where your Spirit leads, courage to embrace the future with faith and hope, and courage to bear faithful witness to Christ in this community.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Do not bring us
to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

BLESSING

Christ the Son of God gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

HYMN –

DISMISSAL

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen