Worcester Diocese Podcast

A sermon podcast for the 4th Sunday of Easter from Paul Lawlor, Vicar in the Holy Trinity Team in Redditch and Area Dean of Redditch and Bromsgrove.

Collect

Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen

Parish Prayers

Please pray _ • for peace and reconciliation, with respect and dignity • Kim Topham and Rosie Moss - co-Deans of Self-Supporting Ordained Ministers • for those who are unwell - Peter, Fiona, Mel, Steve, Helen & Robert, Toni and Linda • for those who have died - Charles & Keith • for their families and friends • for those living on farms. Amen Readings for Sunday 21 April * Acts 4.5-12 * Psalm 23 * 1 John 3.16-24 * John 10.11-18 *

Diocesan Prayers

Mon 22 Severn Parishes Benefice At St James, Hartlebury, pray for new opportunities in the village and with the school and the future of the mission church at Crossway Green. Clergy: Stephen Winter, James Homer; Readers: Richard Jeynes, Marjorie Workman, Richard Berry Tue 23 Severn Parishes Benefice At St Andrew, Ombersley, pray for the ongoing programme looking forward to the 200th anniversary of the current church in 2028. At St Mary, Doverdale, pray for links with Sytchampton school and the securing of the church fabric. Clergy: Stephen Winter, James Homer; Readers: Richard Jeynes, Richard Berry, Marjorie Workman Wed 24 Severn Parishes Benefice At St Michael, Elmley Lovett, pray for plans for the church building and links with Cutnall Green school. At St Mary & All Saints, Hampton Lovett, pray for the vision for the future of the church building. At St Mary, Elmbridge, for our All Age Worship and at St Michael, Rushock, for the opportunities with young families. Clergy: Stephen Winter, James Homer; Readers: Richard Jeynes, Marjorie Workman, Richard Berry Thu 25 Economy & Daily Life On St Mark’s Day pray for all whose work involves writing and communication of ideas. Pray for authors, journalists, bloggers, communications officers and publishers, giving thanks for the freedom we enjoy here and praying for all places in the world where there is no freedom of expression or of the press. Fri 26 Stourport & Wilden Pray for the shared work of both our congregations in our Warm Space and our Happy Memories cafe. For our midweek worship and Lunch Club and our Gather service for our church school. Clergy: Carey Saleh; Readers: Sandra Baty, Richard Standing, Phil Saleh Sat 27 Areley Kings & Astley Please pray for the staff and pupils of our schools and also for all who are struggling to support their families. We give thanks for those helping us in our vacancy. For our ALMs and churchwardens. Clergy: vacant, Reader: Sue Matthews Amen This prayer diary begins on Easter Day. We are the Easter people whose song is alleluia, and who are to be filled with the new life which Jesus comes to bring. Crucial to that new life is joy. Joy is the hallmark of the resurrection and the life of the early Christians. After Jesus’ resurrection Luke tells us that ‘they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.’ In Acts 15.22 we read that the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Paul tells the Romans that the Kingdom of heaven is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and prays that they may be filled with all joy and hope in believing. As Dostoevsky writes in the Brothers Karamazov: ‘Ah yes. I was missing that, and I don’t want to miss it. I love that passage: it’s Cana of Galilee, the first miracle. Ah that miracle! It was not men’s grief but their joy Christ visited. He worked His first miracle to help men’s gladness.’ Jesus comes to bring us life in all its fulness, a life of joy. Our prayer might be not only that we should experience that more fully for ourselves but all might do so. So, we pray for the Church in its mission to spread Kingdom joy and for all those in need, those whose lives are still racked with the marks of Christ’s passion to find abundance of life and joy. Then will the kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Bishop + John