Prepared by Graham Phillips – 4th May 2025
Wherever you are, welcome.
Call to Worship:- May the God of life, who spoke to the heart of Saul on the road to Damascus, speak to us wherever we may be as we are bound together by god’s love, bringing our prayers, and reading his word. May we see his light, follow where he leads us and be used in service, for the building up of his church.
Opening prayers
Worthy are you to receive from us the honour and praise that’s due your name.
Lamb of God, slain for us to pay the price for sinfulness.
Now to him who sits on the throne, and the lamb who leads us home,
may praise and honour, glory and power be shown for ever and ever.
You speak to us in many ways, in the spectacular and in a quiet whisper,
in the bustle of a street in the solitude of a wilderness,
in the ebb and flow of daily life, traffic jam or office desk
You speak to us in many ways and our ears are often attuned
to different voices, louder more insistent voices.
Forgive us when we fail to hear your voice and follow the wisdom of this world.
Forgive us when we bring tears to your eyes,
open our ears to hear and our hearts to serve,
that our lives might bring a smile to your face
and glory to your name. AMEN
Reading:- John 21 v 1-19 (NRSV)
After these things Jesus showed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberius, 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’. He said to them, ‘Cast the net on 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 some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. 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 and 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?’ 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 mw.’
Hymn StF 481 The Lord’s my shepherd
1/ The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want, 2/ He guides my ways in righteousness,
he makes me lie in pastures green, and he anoints my head with oil;
he leads me by the still, still waters, and my cup—it overflows with joy,
his goodness restores my soul. I feast on his pure delights.
And I will trust in you alone , And I will trust in you alone,
and I will trust in you alone, and I will trust in you alone,
for you endless mercy follows me, for your endless mercy follows me,
your goodness will lead me home. your goodness will lead me home.
3/ And though I walk the darkest path—
I will not fear the evil one,
for you are with me, and your rod and staff
are the comfort I need to know.
And I will trust in you alone,
and I will trust in you alone,
for your endless mercy follows me,
your goodness will lead me home. Stuart Toenend (b 1963)
Short reflection on v 15-17 from our reading.
I wonder if, like me, you have at some point in your life wished we could have that time over again.
I know I have. Why? Because it would give me the opportunity to say sorry for the careless mistake, some unwise judgement, may be a rash commitment or those thoughtless or angry words most of us are prone to say at some point in our lives., If only we could have an opportunity to put things right. A second chance.
I can’t think of anyone who would wish for that second chance more than Peter. He must have felt hopelessly and helplessly weighed down by his past mistakes and errors of judgements, I know how he must have felt.
The memory of his denial of Jesus, not once, not twice but three times must have played heavily on his mind, almost haunting him, I would suggest it would have broken lesser men.
I often wonder what he would have given to be free of these errors and mistakes. Only of course he couldn’t, but hang on a minute maybe he could. Suddenly here was Jesus asking Peter not once. not twice but three times. ‘Do you love me?’
I wonder how long it took for the message to really sink in, the first time Peter’s reaction may well have been one of pique. Why is he asking me such a question he knows I love him! I would think after the third time Jesus asked the same question the truth was beginning to dawn no Peter. Each time Jesus said to him ‘Peter do you love me’ Peter was being given the opportunity to make amends for those times of denial, to redress the balance and start again. That is the great thing about our Lord, he never bears grudges but always gives us the opportunity to put right past wrongs by his love, grace and mercy. I wonder what we would be willing to give up to free ourselves from such thoughts? sadly we cannot put the clock back, as such, as much and as often as we would wish. There are times when we have to live with the consequences of our mistakes difficult though that mat be.
But all is not lost because, as Peter found out God always gives us the opportunity to say sorry and if
we acknowledge our faults and are truly sorry he gives us the opportunity to move forward from what has been to what will be. AMEN
Let’s pray
In all you call us to do, Lord, everything you call us to be, remind us that what we do it not in our strength but through yours
Teach us that what is impossible for us is possible for you; that what we could never hope to achieve through our own efforts can be accomplished by your resurrection power.
Help us, then, to work for you, speak for you, live for you, love for you, confident that if we do our part, you will do yours. AMEN
Hymn 363 My Jesus, my Saviour
1/ My Jesus, my Saviour, Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing,
Lord there is none like you. power and majesty, praise to the king.
All of my days I want to praise Mountains bow down
the wonders of your mighty love. and the seas will roar
My comfort, my shelter, at the sound of your name.
tower of refuge and strength, I sing for joy at the work of your hands.
let every breath, all that I am, forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand
never cease to worship you. Nothing compares to the
promise I have in you.
Darlene Zschech (b 1965)
Prayers of intercession and Lord’s prayer
Holy God creator of all we have seen and all that as yet we have not had the joy of seeing.
We pray for your church here on earth, that by your wisdom you will guide us into ways to revive your church. May we be a vibrant people full of joy and hope so that it shows in our faces, the way we live our lives each and every day. We pray for the Methodist Connexion, for the circuit of which we are a part and for our own church communities. We pray for all our presbyters. our lay preachers and all who give of their time to spread the Gospel to both young and old in exciting and different ways. We thank you for the life of pope Francis and for the work he did reaching out to the poor, these who live on the edges of society those of different faiths and those of no faith ay all. We pray too for those responsible for choosing the new Pope may they be guide by the power of your Holy Spirit,
A moment of quiet,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Lord in your mercy HEAR OUR PRAYER
We pray for peace wherever there is conflict, especially armed conflict. Our thoughts are with the people of Gaza and Israel, the Ukraine and Russia, Myanmar and the Sudan, bring the leaders of these and so many others who don’t make the headlines to places of peace and reconciliation for all their people We pray too for families where there is conflict brought about by the pressures of trying to make ends meet in these difficult economic times. We pray for peace where there is conflict in government, councils and businesses may there be sensible and just solutions to the problems they face. A moment of quiet……….
Lord in your mercy HEAR OUR PRAYER
We pray for all those who care for us in times of need. Doctors. nurses, surgeons, those who work in mental health, for the carers who come into our homes when we are unable to care for ourselves. Give them all wisdom, gentleness and a caring loving attitude to all they are responsible for.
A moment of quiet………
Lord in your mercy HEAR OUR PRAYER
We pray for ourselves and our families we lay these prayers at your feet in the full and certain knowledge that you will answer them when the time is right. A moment of quiet……………
Lord in your mercy HEAR OUR PRAYER AMEN
The Lords Prayer Our Father……………………………..AMEN
HYMN StF 44 Come on and celebrate
Come on and celebrate Comer on and celebrate,
his gift of love, we will celebrate celebrate,
the Son of God who loved celebrate and sing,
and gave us life. celerbrate and sing to the king.
We’ll shout your praise, O King, Come on and celebrate,
you give us joy nothing else can bring, celebrate,
we’ll give to you our offering celebrate and sing,
in celebration praise. celebrate and sing to the King.
Patricia Morgan and Dave Bankhead
Our closing prayer are the words of a Hymn but I think they work well as a prayer
Here are my thoughts, Lord, here is my mind. Here is my heart, Lord, here is my hope.
Here are my deeds, Lord, help me unwind Here is my love, Lord, help me to cope.
Here is my strength, Lord, here is my will. Here is my time, Lord, here, is my might.
Here is my life, Lord, help me be still. Hers I am yours, Lord, help me do right
David Adam (b 1936)
The Blessing
May the Blessing of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit rest lightly on your shoulders and the shoulders of those you love and the shoulders of those you meet on life’s journey today and always. Amen.
