Live in My Love – John 15: 9–17

Good morning to all who are preparing to get started on this last Friday in May
with a holiday on Monday to anticipate, a week away from school to look forward to.
Let’s praise God for the goodness of this new day.

Glorious God thank you for the blessing of a restful night and the adventures that await us in this new day.
We revel in the beauty of your world as it moves towards summer:
the noisy birds, the myriad shades of green, the changing nature of the light.
We place the day into your hands; lead us out in your love.

Amen

It was good to return to worship in the church building last weekend
albeit still under the covid-secure regime.
The feeling of community’s return was thick in the air
and the demonstration of generosity in the tower of donated flowers was amazing.
Despite technology and the wonders of Zoom it’s hard to be a Christian on your own.
We are a faith that requires a crowd, even if it’s only two or three together.
Our community – our communion – is the demonstration of in-dwelling,
overwhelming love among us all!

‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.’

John 15: 9–17 NIV®

In the words of St Patrick: ‘I was like a stone lying deep in mud, but he that is mighty lifted me up through his great love and placed me on top of the wall.’

Loving Lord, as we set out on life’s daily round today,
remind us often that we are chosen to share your love in the world,
that our task is to show others how to do this.
Remind us often that we are chosen to live your ways and so to reveal your glory.
Remind us often that you are with us and within us as we journey into this day.

Amen

Loving Lord, gather in your arms those we know who are suffering,
whose life is a long tunnel of pain or crippling anxiety.
Bring them comfort, bring them peace.
Remind them often today that your love is safety, your love is solace, your love is rest.

Amen

Loving Lord, as Britain prepares to host the summit of world leaders,
cover our land in your spirit of community
that we may all be supporters, demonstrators for the ways of peaceful discussion
and the distillation of a common cause to uplift the downtrodden,
to treat the poor with dignity, to seek an end to conflict and to care for the world,
the only home for us all.

Amen

Loving Lord, as we adventure with you today, be our compass, be the light on our path,
be the word of encouragement, be the hand reaching out to catch us in a stumbling step.
Loving Lord, at the close of today let us come to rest in your loving embrace.

Amen

Cheryl Montgomery