Seventh Sunday of Easter, 2026
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Saviour Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Easter 7, 17th May 2026
Welcome sisters and brothers and peace be with you. MAY the words on my lips and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
In today’s Gospel, John 17:1–11, we overhear Jesus praying. Not preaching. Not teaching the crowds. Not debating opponents … He prays.
What makes this prayer remarkable is that it comes just before His arrest, suffering, and crucifixion. In the shadow of the cross, Jesus does not panic. In the shadow of the cross Jesus turns to, and connects with, His Father.
CONNECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING! <Pause>
Jesus is approaching betrayal, suffering, humiliation, and death. Yet He is not overwhelmed by fear because He remains completely connected to the Father.
Through this prayer, I believe, Jesus shows us TWO truths that can change our lives.
First: eternal life is about connection, relationship, not merely religion.
Jesus says, “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Notice what Jesus does not say ...
He does not say eternal life is simply about obeying rules.
He does not say eternal life is merely about going to heaven after death.
Jesus says eternal life is KNOWING God.
In the Bible, “knowing” means far more than intellectual knowledge. It means connection, relationship, closeness, trust, intimacy.
Many people today know “about” God the way they know about a celebrity or public figure. They recognise the name. They know some facts. However, they do not truly “connect” with Him.
Jesus came not simply to give information about God but to bring us into connection, into relationship, into communion with God.
CONNECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING! <Pause>
This reminds us that our faith is not primarily about performing religious duties. It is about living in connection to the living Christ.
A person can attend a church for years and still keep God at a distance.
A person can say prayers without ever opening their heart.
A person can know Scripture verses and still never trust God deeply.
Jesus invites us into something much more. Jesus invites us to connect with and know the Father personally.
Once that connection, through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit within us, becomes real, faith stops being a burden and becomes a source of life. <PAUSE>
Second: Jesus prays for His people and that means you and me.
This may be one of the most comforting parts of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus says, “I am asking on their behalf.”
Think about that.
On the night before His suffering, Jesus prays for His disciples.
He knows their weaknesses. He knows Peter will deny Him. He knows the others will run away in fear … and still He prays for them. <PAUSE>
Oh what a joy and comfort it is to know that Jesus does not love “perfect” people and I, for one, am far from perfect !! Jesus loves:
Struggling people.
Fearful people.
Confused people.
Broken people.
… yes … He still prays for us today. <Pause>
Sometimes we imagine prayer as something we do to reach God, but today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus is already reaching toward us.
When we feel weak, Christ prays for us.
When we feel lost, Christ prays for us.
When our faith feels fragile, Christ prays for us.
As I said last week - we are not orphaned, we are not abandoned.
That matters because many people today feel spiritually exhausted. The pressures of life, uncertainty about the future in a world of bullying and bluster, conflict in families, financial strain, illness, loneliness - all of the things that can wear us down.
BUT HEAR IS THE GOOD NEWS :
Jesus knows.
Jesus sees.
Jesus prays. <Pause>
The disciples in today’s Gospel did not fully understand what was about to happen. Soon their world would collapse around them.
Yet because of their CONNECTION to Him, Jesus entrusted them to the Father’s care. He does the same for us today - because of our CONNECTION to Christ we are entrusted to The Father’s care too.
CONNECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!
Because Jesus tells us that our CONNECTION to Him means that:
We belong to God.
We are not forgotten.
Christ Himself prays for us.
Because of that CONNECTION, we can face any difficult days with hope.
Because Jesus remains CONNECTED to the Father, we can remain CONNECTED too, AND
CONNECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's sacrifice and goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to follow Him and be connected as one.
As Christians it is our duty and joy to share that invitation as we pray for the world to come to faith in Jesus Christ. AMEN.
<longer silence for personal reflection>
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. Lord of all, we pray for people who seek to follow Your way in their lives. Let our faith communities speak Your word of truth with confidence and in unity so that those who are searching and listening will be able to see and hear clearly Your message of love and peace.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. We pray for key decision-makers and leaders in the governments of the world and for all who have the power to bring about change. Mighty God; intervene and move within our nations especially in Eastern Europe and The Holy Land as the violence continues.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. We pray for our family members, friends, and all those around us who are not Christians. Please work in us so that we can share Your love, Your life and message with them and reveal Your love to them, so that they might know, follow and bear witness to you.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. We pray for those, who through illness, disability or infirmity find it difficult to pray for themselves. Help them to be aware of the prayer and love which surrounds them and those who care for them.
Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. Give us ears to hear and minds to understand the message of immortality for His followers, that we may look forward with confidence to that time when we will join You in the peace of eternity.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed brother Paul (Scotland), Ellie (USA).
We pray for all the faithful departed, may they now rest in eternal peace as they most surely have risen in glory.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries.
Make us worthy of the sacrifice and resurrection of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Jesus Christ prays for everyone to connect with The Father and be united as one. Help us to build our faith communities through the power of your Spirit; by the same Spirit enable us, in the weeks to come, to bear witness to Your love, beauty and grace that all those we pray for may come to the fellowship of the faithful.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
