28th April: Easter 5
online Holy Communion from St.Oswald’s.
Acts 8:26-40
The apostle Philip is guided to travel on the road south from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he meets an Ethiopian eunuch. Although he was barred from the Jewish faith because he was a eunuch, the man was studying the Jewish scriptures and asked Philip to help him understand them. Philip then baptised him, the first gentile to be accepted into the Christian faith.
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.’
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.’
Something to think about
The prophets (Isa 5:1-5, Jerem.2:21, Ezek.19:10-14, and Ps.80:5-18) had described the cultivation of vines and the role of the vineyard owner, so the disciples were aware of the need for pruning and for getting rid of surplus or damaged branches to ensure a good harvest. During his last meal with his friends, Jesus applied that image to his relationship with his disciples -they were his friends.
Next Sunday’s (5th) Readings:
Acts 10:44-48
John 15:9-17
Collect
Risen Christ, your wounds declare your love for the world
and the wonder of your risen life:
give us compassion and courage to risk ourselves for those we serve,
to the glory of God the Father.
Post Communion
Eternal God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life:
grant us to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth,
and to share his risen life;
who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Please remember in your prayers this week:
Those who are sick or suffering, especially Maggie & Nigel’s daughter Gill..
The recently bereaved, especially the friends and relatives of Mick Clews, Gerald Holmes, Beryl Mason and Mary Stretton.
Areas of conflict: the Ukraine, the Middle East and too many others.
Our local churches, as they face up to the problems of the future, such as the interregnum.
Our Ministry Team: Maggie, Nigel, Mike & Lynda; and their supports: Rosemary & Simon.