The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.
Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us. cluster.alpha@outlook.com
Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)
A vine is either fruitful or not: rarely will there be fruitful and unfruitful branches on the one vine.
The imagery implies a symbiotic union between Jesus and his followers and between all the ‘branches’.
'Being fruitful' is a communal rather than a personal mission, with Jesus as our sap.
1. How clearly do you see the need for close co-operation between yourself and others in your community in building up the Body of Christ?
2. When have you been “pruned” by your experiences in a way that led to greater abundance? *
* All second questions
© The Pastoral Center
We ask our heavenly Father to keep in his Loving care Pope Francis as he serves the Church as the servant of the servants of God despite his frailties. May he be blessed with deep, loving and fruitful connection to Jesus the true vine and so bear life- giving fruit to give to both the Church and the world.
He is Risen…..Our resurrection and life
In this time of mistrust of authority and abuse of political power, we ask that God raise up people of integrity who are rooted in truth and genuine love for others, rather than lust for power and prestige. We pray that these leaders would be supported in their vocation by faith communities and families to enable them to enrich and renew public life.
He is Risen…..Our resurrection and life
Many people find the world news frightening and hopeless; we plead with our blessed Lord to fill us with the Holy Spirit so that in prayer and action our faith communities can be light, hope and love in times of fear and violence. We bring before our Lord in prayer especially those suffering the terrible effect of war in the Holy Land, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Ukraine and those places we do not hear of in the news.
He is Risen…..Our resurrection and life
For our faith communities that we entrust ourselves to God’s loving care, and we ask for the gift of faith and trust in his loving providence especially when we face difficulties in relationships, work, health and in our communities. May we always seek to stay connected to the true vine and be protected from wandering off in ways that are harmful. We ask that the Lord lead us in effective faith formation so that our communities are united and strengthened.
He is Risen…..Our resurrection and life
We lift up to our Lord and our Lady all those who are suffering with physical, mental and spiritual difficulties, and that they would experience God’s loving presence in deeper ways; we pray that our Lord’s suffering and resurrection will bring companionship, comfort and hope to them and their loved ones. We remember especially those named by the Prayer Foundation.
He is Risen…..Our resurrection and life
We commend to our heavenly Father and our Lady those who have died recently especially Patrick Phelan, Maria Lucaci (Fr Eugen’s Mum), William Young, Sr Margaret Service, Fr Andrew Monaghan, Kathleen Coyle, Paddy Brock and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. We give thanks for the gift of their lives. May their loved ones experience consolation as they come to terms with their loss.
He is Risen…..Our resurrection and life
Let us now say together our prayer to be missionary disciples.
Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN
Preparing for next week - Sixth Sunday of Easter B
John 15: 9-17 You are my friends if you do what I command you
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘As the Father has loved me,so I have loved you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more, because a servant does not know his master’s business;
I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me: no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you is to love one another.’
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Commentary on the readings
Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see
www.universalis.com.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved
Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)
A “commandment” to love? Shouldn't love come from a free choice? Among the early Christians there is no sense of being driven by some external power or authority to love others. Theirs was an inner compulsion /conviction / commission to respond from a deep sense of having been loved first…
1. “You’ve won the lottery – the Salvation lottery!” That’s the joy the early Christians had when they were commissioned to tell others the good news about God in Jesus: all sins forgotten; all death annulled...
Has it sunk in what Jesus has done for us personally?
2. How is love of others connected to love for God? *
* All second questions
© The Pastoral Center
Copyright 2024 © South Edinburgh Cluster. All rights reserved Parishes of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh
Registered Charity N0: SC00854
John 15:1-8 I am the vine, you are the branches
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings
Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved