Collect, Readings and Prayers for the Third Sunday of Easter.

Collect

Almighty Father,

who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples

with the sight of the risen Lord:

give us such knowledge of his presence with us,

that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life

and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Readings

Zephaniah 3:14-20

A Song of Joy

¹⁴ Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
    shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter Jerusalem!
¹⁵ The Lord has taken away the judgements against you,
    he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
    you shall fear disaster no more.
¹⁶ On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
    do not let your hands grow weak.
¹⁷ The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
    a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
    he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
¹⁸     as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
    so that you will not bear reproach for it.
¹⁹ I will deal with all your oppressors
    at that time.
And I will save the lame
    and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise
    and renown in all the earth.
²⁰ At that time I will bring you home,
    at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
    among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
    before your eyes, says the Lord.

Acts 2.14a,36–41

On the day of Pentecost, Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

1 Peter 1.17–23

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

Luke 24.13–35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Prayers

Lord - you know our hearts, you know our needs, and you know the hearts of those around us and their needs.  We lift ourselves and them before you at this time... 

• Lord Jesus, you led the two disciples on the Emmaus Road from the known to the unknown. You walked with them in their grief and the despair. You listened to them and understood their needs. You gently guided them through the scriptures helping them to understand what was going on in the world 

Lord Jesus you used the usual to reveal the unusual. The stranger remained a stranger until dinnertime. Then you took bread and blessed it. You took the cup and gave thanks. You transformed an ordinary meal into holy time that transformed their weak hearts into burning hearts. Help us so to find our ordinary situations transformed by your incredible presence. Amen

• Walk beside us, risen Jesus
  On the Emmaus road of life
  On the journey of confusion
  On the road of questions
  On the way of disappointment
  When we do not understand.

Walk beside us, risen Jesus
On the Emmaus road of life
In the guise of the stranger
In the unfamiliar traveller
In the unexpected guest
When we feel almost overwhelmed.

Walk beside us, risen Jesus
On the Emmaus road of life
Give us insights beyond our knowing
Give us a glimpse of your will at work
Give us strength to keep on keeping on
When our hope is almost gone.
Amen.

• Global conflict zones have increased by 65% in the last three years, with a 29% rise in the death toll.  Sub-Saharan Africa has seen the largest increase in conflict, with a "conflict corridor" spanning from Mali to Somalia. Apart from the loss of life and injuries which result, conflicts affect global food security, disrupt supply chains, and create massive displacement. God of peace, have mercy upon us in all our stupidity. Forgive us our hatred and greed and lust for power and control. We remember before you all the countries and places where there is violence and killing, massacre, mayhem, and gang warfare. We pray for countries in Africa where there is war and inter-tribal strife, we pray for embattled Ukraine, for an end to the war in Iran and surrounding countries in the Middle East, for a permanent resolution to the conflict in Gaza and for positive outcomes from peace negotiations wherever these are currently being undertaken.  Under the guidance of your Holy Spirit, help all people, and leaders with power and influence, to put aside bias and prejudice, old feuds and bitterness so we may understand diversity is part of the richness of our common humanity, become more compassionate and cultivate the habit of caring and neighbourly love and service and resolution of differences by exchange of words and reason rather than the sword.
  Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer

• Lord God, we come before you with grateful hearts, acknowledging the many blessings you’ve given us, including the gift of technology and communication. Yet, we recognize how easily we can become distracted by the constant flow of digital information and entertainment, losing focus on what truly matters.  Help us to be more mindful of the way we engage with our media. Grant us the wisdom to discern when to pause and disconnect. Guide us to use media in ways that uplift, educate, and inspire rather than distract or overwhelm. Teach us to balance our time wisely, not letting the noise of the digital world drown out your still, small voice. Open our hearts to your guidance, that our media use may be a reflection of your light. Amen

• We are conscious of the dangers which social media poses to our children and young people. Help parents and carers in their demanding task of raising children in this current culture where so much is sexualised, children are at risk and technology is advancing with such speed, transforming the way we live, work and relate to one another. We thank You for the excellent advice, practical information and support that is available from organisations dedicated to protecting children and enhancing their online experience. We pray that many more parents, teachers, youth workers and young people will access them and benefit from their resources. Grant them all they need to teach, protect and help young people to fulfil the plans You have for them. In Your mercy. Amen.

• In the light of the results of the election in Hungary, we pray that the  political change which will ensue will be handled with sensitivity. We pray too that the new leaders of the country will make wise and righteous decisions and pursue a path leading toward national unification and an end to the existing deep polarization. Amen

• We pray: for all who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit, and those who care for them; that the risen Christ may be their beacon of hope,  for all who have lost their livelihood; and for anyone facing the threat of redundancy we pray that you will give them courage and hope and direct them to sources of positive support, for the faithful departed: members of our parishes, friends, and family, we pray that they will know the fullness of life with the Risen Lord. Amen.

• Dear Lord, we often forget how privileged we are to be able to profess and practise our faith freely.  We pray for the growth of your kingdom in every country around the world. Where it is dangerous to share their faith, we pray that you will give people the strength and courage to demonstrate the impact of the good news of the gospel to those around them. We pray for each person who has been imprisoned or persecuted in any way for their faith. Protect them, keep them safe, and keep them healthy and strong. Bring them strength, courage and hope for the future; help them to maintain their faith and continue to worship and serve you, sharing your love with those around them. Amen.

• Prayer of John Cosin, 1594-1672

Be light to my eyes, O Lord, and music to my ears. Be to me sweetness of taste and contentment of heart. Be sunshine to me in the day, food at my table and repose in the night. I give to you, O Lord, my body and my soul, all that I have and all that I am; my fame, my friends, my liberty and my life. Dispose of me according to your gracious will and the glory of your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

• Lord Jesus be our companion on the road which we travel. Use us to bless the lives of others and to be a part of your revolutionary movement to transform the world. May we too be your disciples, ready to follow and willing to lead others to a relationship with you. Amen