Today is Whit Sunday, the Feast that celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. It is Luke who provides the foundation account for the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost through his narrative in the Acts of the Apostles. According to Luke, the Holy Spirit came to the apostles with the sound of a mighty rushing wind and settled on them like tongues of fire. As part of Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples during the Last Supper, John narrates how Jesus had promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of kites. In today’s picture from his book, The Windy Day, Teddy Horsley is outside with Betsy Bear feeling the wind tug his kite high into the sky.

Lord God,
you gave the Holy Spirit to your people,
like a gift from heaven.
Lift up our hearts by the same Spirit,
that we may live our lives in your presence
and proclaim your power throughout the world;
we make our prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Next week is Trinity Sunday. The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that God has been made known in the world in three characteristic ways, as Father, as Son, and as Holy Spirit. The image to help us for next week’s theme is space travel. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter and the Sunday after Ascension Day. Today’s Gospel reading continues the theme of the Ascension of Jesus, with a passage from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Here Jesus looks forward with confidence to returning to the Father. What John expresses in this farewell discourse, Luke symbolises through the Ascension which links the close of Luke’s Gospel with the opening of the Acts of the Apostles.  The Ascension, or Jesus’ going to the Father, is seen as Jesus’ enthronement.  The Ascension symbolises the reign of Christ. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of royal thrones. Today’s picture is by Gary Bunt, Liverpool Cathedral Centenary Artist, from his series of paintings, Bert, His Dog, Our God. 
   
Risen and ascended Christ, 
we proclaim you to be our King. 
Rule over our lives, 
that we may work 
for the growth of your kingdom; 
for you are the King of glory, 
now and always. 
Amen. 
 
Next week is Whit Sunday, the Feast that celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. According to the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit came with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, The image to help us for next week’s theme is kites. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  ​

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter when the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Jesus is preparing them for their ongoing life in the world after he has been taken from them, he promises them that the Father will give another Paraclete to be with them for ever.  This word Paraclete is peculiar to the Johannine literature.  The usual translation ‘Advocate’ refers to someone who argues our case on our behalf.  Literally the word means ‘someone called to our side’.  In this passage Jesus promises that the Paraclete ‘will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you’.  In some senses the Paraclete is our coach. 
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For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of the coach. In today’s picture from their book, Special People, Aled and Sian are learning from their vicar, their coach in living Christian lives.   
Risen Lord Jesus, 
you promised the gift of peace to your people. 
Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, 
that we may share your peace 
and lay aside all fear; 
for you are the Prince of Peace, 
today and for ever. 
Amen. 


Next week, the Seventh Sunday of Easter and the Sunday after Ascension Day, the Gospel reading from John is about Jesus returning to the Father. The image to help us for next week’s theme is royal thrones. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  

Today is the Fifth Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. There Jesus gives them a new commandment. In the synoptic Gospels Jesus is portrayed as summing up the law of Moses in terms of the two great commandments, to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself.  Here in John’s Gospel Jesus gives his followers a new commandment, that they love one another.  This new commandment has been characterised as the essence of the Christian way of life. 
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For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of hearts. In today’s picture from their book, Special People, Aled and Sian see a picture of a healthy heart smiling toward them.   


Risen Lord, 
you gave a new commandment 
to love one another. 
Fill our hearts with your love 
and empower us to share your love with others, 
that all may know us to be your disciples; 
for you are our God. 
Amen. 


Next week, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading again is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Here Jesus is preparing his disciples for receiving the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The image to help us for next week’s theme is the coach. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is part of John’s teaching about Jesus as the good shepherd whose sheep hear and know his voice. The image of the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep to model the relationship between God and the people of God was already well established in the Old Testament as exampled by Psalm 23.  Throughout chapter 10 of his Gospel John develops this image to express who Jesus is.  The theme reaches its climax in verse 11 with Jesus claiming ‘I am the good shepherd.’ This image has inspired many generations of Christians. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of sheepdog. In today’s picture from his book, People Everywhere, Teddy Horsley meets the shepherd with her sheepdog as she walks through the meadow.   
 
Risen Lord, 
you are the good shepherd 
and we are your sheep. 
Teach us to know you, 
as well as you know us, 
that we may dwell safely in your fold; 
now and always. 
Amen. 
 
Next week, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples when Jesus gives to them a new commandment that they love one another.  The image to help us for next week’s theme is hearts. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  ​

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is John’s account of the risen Jesus meeting with his disciples at the lakeside. They key to this narrative concerns the way in which the disciples eventually recognised Jesus for who he is.  Jesus was recognised in one of the very ordinary events of life, having breakfast. Yet this ordinary event takes on a new significance when Jesus takes the bread and gives it to them. Here after the resurrection is clear continuity with the way things were before the crucifixion. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of having breakfast. In today’s picture from their book, Bread, Aled and Sian are having their breakfast at home.  
 
 
 
Risen Lord, 
you made yourself known to the disciples  
by the Sea of Tiberias. 
Come among us now 
and make yourself known to us, 
as we share in your feast; 
for you are our God, 
now and for ever. 
Amen. 
 
Next week, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading is John’s account of Jesus’ relationship with his followers. Jesus is the good shepherd whose sheep hear and know his voice. The image to help us for next week’s theme is sheepdog. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  ​

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is John’s account of Jesus’ coming and standing among his disciples on the evening of Easter Day.  Thomas, who was not present when Jesus came, refused to believe without proper evidence.  A week later (the Sunday following Easter Day) Jesus came and stood among his disciples again.  This time Thomas was there and Jesus provided him with the evidence he needed.  Thomas saw and heard and touched the risen Jesus, and then he believed.  But Jesus said ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of hearing. In today’s picture from his book, The Windy Day, Teddy Horsley pricks up his ears to help him hear more clearly.  
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Risen Lord, 
you made yourself known to doubting Thomas. 
When we, too, are surrounded by doubts, 
help us to hear your voice; 
for you are alive and reign for ever. 
Amen. 
 
Next week, the Third Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading is John’s account of the risen Jesus’ appearance at the lakeside where he cooked fish for the disciples on a charcoal fire.  The image to help us for next week’s theme is having breakfast. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  

Today is Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection 
Christ is risen! 
Christ is risen, indeed, alleluia. 
The Gospel reading for today is Luke’s account of how the women (including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James) came to the tomb on the first Easter morning.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.  Then the two men in dazzling clothes spell out the implications of the empty tomb: ‘He is not here, but has risen.’  The empty tomb points to the Easter message of new life. 


For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of the Easter Bunny. In today’s picture from his book, The Sunny Morning, Teddy Horsley runs after the rabbits hopping on the path, as he makes his way to the Easter Sunday service in his local church.  


Lord Jesus Christ, 
you are risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia! 
Bring us to share the new life of your Easter resurrection, 
that we may live with you for ever; 
for you are risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia! 
Amen. 


Next week, the Second Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading is John’s account of Jesus’ coming and standing among his disciples on the evening of Easter Day. The image to help us for next week’s theme is hearing. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  

Today is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday introduces us to the events of Holy Week, beginning with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Each of the three synoptic Gospels tells the story in a slightly different way, but the key idea remains the same.  Drawing on imagery from the Old Testament, the Gospel writers make it plain that Jesus is entering Jerusalem, riding on a colt, as Messiah.  Many local churches now capture the Palm Sunday theme by arranging a procession through the streets.  Some of these processions include a donkey. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of donkey. In popular  imagination the donkey becomes involved in two major journeys in Jesus’ life, carrying him to Bethlehem (the place of his birth) and to Jerusalem (the place of his death). In today’s picture from his book, Lights, Teddy Horsley is seen alongside the donkey in Bethlehem.  
Lord Jesus Christ, 
when you rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, 
you were greeted with shouts of praise. 
Yours is the glory, 
Yours is the kingdom, 
Yours is the praise, 
now and always. 
Amen. 
 
Next week, Easter Sunday, celebrates the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus. The image to help us for next week’s theme is the Easter Bunny. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  
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Today is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The fifth Sunday of Lent initiates Passiontide and prepares the people of God for the events of Holy Week when Jesus will be arrested and crucified.  During Passiontide, we approach the death of Jesus in confidence of the resurrection.  In John’s Gospel, when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume, she prefigured his burial.  But all this was done in the very place where Lazarus had already been raised from the dead.  So, too, will Jesus be raised from the dead after his burial. 


For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of cemetery. In today’s picture from their book, Cross, Aled and Sian are looking over the cemetery wall at the gravestones and memorials.  


Lord Jesus Christ, 
by your cross you teach us 
that death is the gateway to life. 
Bless and comfort all those who mourn, 
that they may hold fast your promise 
of life eternal; 
now and always. 
Amen. 


Next week, Palm Sunday, reminds us of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is donkey. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.