Today’s Gospel

 

John 5:31-47 - Witnesses to Jesus

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Jesus said to the Judeans: “If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

“Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

“Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

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The Word of the Lord

 

 

The Apostles' Creed

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I believe in God, the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;
    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried.
    He descended into hell.

 The third day he rose again from the dead.
    He ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
    From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
    the holy catholic Church,
    the communion of saints,
    the forgiveness of sins,
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

 

The Lord's Prayer

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Our Father, who art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy Name,
    thy kingdom come,
    thy will be done,
        on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
    for ever and ever. Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

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In accord with God’s command that we hold

dominion over creation,        

let us pray for the church, the world, and all

for whom we are called to be stewards, saying,

God of all goodness, hear our prayer.

We pray that the love which passes ceaselessly

between the Father and the Son in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

may renew and deepen the life of each Christian

and draw us all into your unending life.

God of all goodness, hear our prayer.

For the leaders of the church:

for Sunday school children and youth;

for the elderly whose wise counsel is sorely needed in all ages;

and for all ecumenical endeavors

that seek to bring us closer to each other and to you.

God of all goodness, hear our prayer.

 

For our families, our households, and our communities,

that your life together—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—

may show us the like importance of each of us,

and so strengthen us in your grace and truth.

God of all goodness, hear our prayer.

We pray for the human species,

its nations and leaders,

that all the violence that fills the earth may cease

and your wisdom and goodness may govern all

so that the earth can live in peace.

We pray for all those who suffer

from human corruption,

from physical and mental disease,

from floods, winds, and other natural disasters,

that they may be restored and made whole

by those who do your will on earth as it is in heaven.

 

We pray for those whom we love, both near and far.

May all of your creation dwell safely

in the ark of your universal covenant.        

Blessed are you, God, Creator of the universe,

who, with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit,

live forever in your rainbow covenant         

with humans, the earth, and every living creature. Amen.

 

Doxology

Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever, for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

 

Hymn: