Easter 4 Saturday Morning Prayer, 9th May 2020

Holy One, open our lips: and we shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to God, Source of all being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.  Amen.

OPENING

Saturdays: From Psalm 100, Jubilate Deo

Be joyful in the Lord, * all you lands;
serve the Lord with gladness
and come into the divine presence with a song.
Know this: the Lord, the  Lord, is God;
the One made us and to whom we belong;
we are God’s people, the sheep of God’s pasture.
Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving;
go into these courts with praise;
give thanks to God and call upon the name of the Lord.

For the Lord is good, whose steadfast love is everlasting;
and whose faithfulness endures from age to age.
serve the Lord with gladness
and come into the divine presence with a song.

READING: 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12

Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you knows how to control your own body in holiness and honour, not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one wrongs or exploits a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly towards outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Silence 

PRAYERS
The power of the risen Christ sets us free from evil’s grip!
Lord, have mercy upon us.
The touch of the risen Christ heals our deepest wounds and sorrow!
Christ, have mercy upon us.
The life of the risen Christ swallows up our fear of death!
Lord, have mercy upon us.

SATURDAYS:
Lord Jesus, after having given your life on the cross, you entered the glory of the Father. Allow all people to share in your risen life.
In you, Jesus, God made a new covenant with us.
You are with us always, until the end of time.
Jesus, you appeared to your disciples after your passion.
Strengthen our faith by your presence in our midst.
Jesus, you promised the Holy Spirit to the apostles.
May the Spirit of consolation renew our faithfulness to you.
Jesus, you sent your apostles to proclaim Good News to the ends of the earth. May the Holy Spirit make us witnesses to your love.

Lord’s Prayer
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 for ever. Amen.

COLLECTS

SATURDAYS: Lord Christ, even though we had faith enough to move mountains, without love what would we be? You love us. Without your Spirit alive in our hearts, what would we be? You love us. Taking everything upon yourself, you open for us a road to faith, to trust in God, who wants neither suffering nor human distress. Spirit of Christ, Spirit of compassion, Spirit of praise, your love for each one of us will never disappear. Amen.

O God, the light of whose truth stretches out to those who go astray, that they may return to the path of righteousness: give your grace to all who profess themselves Christians, that they may cast out what is harmful, and pursue all that gives life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, world without end. Amen.

God most holy, we give you thanks for bringing us out of the shadow of night into the light of morning; and we ask you for the joy of spending this day in your service, so that when evening comes, we may once more give you thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

The Lord bless us and preserve us from all evil; and bring us to life eternal. Amen.

Compiled with Materials from:  SEC Daily Prayer; Jim Cotter, Lectionary Resources; Taizé A prayer for each day; GS2016 Pointed Liturgical Psalter 2016 04 08; Chris Thorpe, Touching the Sacred.

A priest and poet in the Scottish Episcopal Church, exploring the workings of the Holy Spirit in Banchory .