prepared by J Daniel Yovan – 17th May 2026

Call to worship:

 O Lord, save your people, and bless your heritage, govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify you, and we worship your name, ever world without end. O Lord, let your mercy alight upon us, as our trust is in you. O Lord, in you is our hope, let us never be put to shame.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

STF 317   At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow Every tongue confess him King of Glory now, ‘Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call him Lord Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.     Humbled for a season, to receive a name From the lips of sinners unto whom he came, Faithfully he bore it spotless to the last, Brought it back victorious when from death he passed. Caroline Maria Noel (1817 – 1877)

Bore it up triumphant with it human light, Through all ranks of creatures to the central height To the throne of Godhead, to the Father’s breast; Filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.   In your hearts enthrone him there let him subdue All that is not holy all that is not true; Crown him as your captain in temptation’s hour; Let his will enfold you in its light and power.   For this same Lord Jesus shall return again, With his Father’s glory with his angel train; All the wreaths of empire meet upon his brow, And our hearts confess him King of Glory now.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for your Word: made know through prophets; made firm through scripture; made flesh in Christ; made present by your Spirit. Thank you, also, God, that you speak to us and through us. Thank you, God for all who have laboured long and hard to hear and to know and to show your word for all the world. Thank you, God, that you are never without witnesses, that countless quiet and faithful people, listening, wait on you; ready to hear, willing to speak. In the clamour of competing voices, thank you that your Word still can be heard. Make us expectant to hear, ready to respond and willing to change. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Please read John 17: 1-11

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

17After 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.

Reflection:

John chapter 17 is often called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. In this sacred moment, Jesus prays first for himself, then for his disciples, and finally for all who will believe through their witness—that is, for the Church. At the heart of this prayer is one burning desire: unity. Jesus says, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one” (v. 11, NIV). This is no small request. Jesus is praying that his followers will be bound to the Father and bound to one another. To understand the weight of this prayer, we must hear it in its full setting.

In chapter 15, Jesus teaches his disciples to abide in his love, even in the face of hardship and persecution, so that they may bear fruit and bring glory to God. In chapter 16, he promises the Holy Spirit—the Comforter, the Guide, the One who will remain with them after his departure. He tells them to pray in his name. And now, in chapter 17, Jesus himself prays for the unity of his people, because a united people brings glory to the Father. Friends, this is our calling too: to be one with the Father and one with each other, so that the world may see the glory of God among us.

One with the Father, and one with each other

Our calling as Christians is twofold. First and foremost, we are not called simply to do things for God, but to be with God—to abide in his presence, to remain in his love, to walk closely with him in every season of life. Through baptism and confirmation, many of us have made promises to follow him in joy and in sorrow, in strength and in weakness. But our calling does not end there. We are also called to be one with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Christian life is never meant to be a lonely journey. The apostle Paul says this beautifully in Ephesians chapter 4:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

If we are to live faithfully, then our bond with God and our bond with one another are both essential. We may not always agree with fellow believers. We may come with different experiences, different temperaments, and different gifts. But still, we are called to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. We cannot live the Christian life alone. God has given to each of us different gifts and graces, and we need one another if we are to become the people he calls us to be. So my prayer today is this: May God deepen our love for him, and deepen our love for one another, so that we may live as one people—rooted in Christ, strengthened by the Spirit, and shining for the glory of God. Amen.

Intercession:

Almighty God, we pray for your Church, the body of Christ, here in this world still broken and suffering. Confirm the faith of your Church, correct its errors, broaden its sympathies, heal its divisions; that as there is one Lord of all and one Father in heaven, so your children may be one in mind and one in Spirit.

God the three in one: Make us one.

Uphold all who teach in your Name; that rightly expounding the Wisdom of Christ, they may persuade humans to confess truth and obey him who is the Light of the world, and humans’ guide to God.

God the three in one: Make us one.

Living God, thank you for the privilege of belonging to the World Church. Help us to be open to receive new insights and so experience renewal through the worship and spiritual riches that others have to share with us. Enable us to understand what it means to be a pilgrim people who travel on as part of the worldwide family of God, united in your way and time by the grace and power of Jesus.

God the three in one: Make us one.

God of peace and serenity, bid the raging seas of the world’s conflicts to be still. Transform all institutions of pride and domination into instruments of service for the poor and oppressed.

God the three in one: Make us one.

Holy God, empower your Church to make sense of your presence as salt and light for the world, for, in the end, you are God, and in Christ you are our peace. Fill us with the power of your Spirit that we may be your witnesses to the end of the earth.

Gracious God when we come to you in prayers we know that you hear our prayers. Grant the requests of your servants, for the glory of your name, in the name our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

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.

STF 415 The Church of Christ, in every age Beset by change but Spirit-led, Must claim and test its heritage And keep on rising from the dead.   Across the world, across the street, The victims of injustice cry For shelter and for bread to eat, And never live until they die.   Then let the servant Church arise, A caring Church that longs to be A partner in Christ’s sacrifice, And clothed in Christ’s humanity.

For he alone, whose blood was shed, Can cure the fever in our blood, And teach us how to share our bread And feed the starving multitude.   We have no mission but to serve In full obedience to our Lord: To care for all, without reserve, And spread his liberating Word.     Fred Pratt Green (1903 – 2000)

Blessing:

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.