Sunday 17th May 2026
- May 15
- 4 min read
EASTER 7A
17th May 2026
A short act of worship and daily devotions
Opening Prayers
As you sit here in this space you call your own ready to meet the living God remember:
You are connected to people of faith worshipping in different ways and places.
You are part of a community of saints that have worshipped for generations.
You are joined with others across the world choosing to do the same.
Here in this special space where God has been for all time you are free to worship.
So, take a moment and give thanks in the quiet places of your heart.
For all you have
All you are
And all you might be.
Pause
If you feel able speak the following,
All I have, all I am and all I might be I offer to you as I worship: today and always Amen.
You may now wish to say the Lord’s Prayer in a version or translation with which you are familiar.
Reading: John 17:1-11 – Click for reading
Responding to the reading
Today’s gospel passage gives us something quite intimate: Jesus praying.
Not teaching, not healing, not debating, but praying. And what he prays for is deeply revealing. He speaks of glory, of relationship, of being known. But at the heart of it all is something simple and profound: connection.
Jesus says, “This is eternal life, that they may know you… and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Eternal life, here, is not just about what happens after we die. It is about knowing God now: a relationship rooted in love, trust, and presence. It is about living in a way that is connected to something deeper than fear or ego.
Then Jesus turns his attention to his disciples, the people he will soon leave behind. He prays for them, not that they be taken out of the world, but that they be held within it. “Holy Father, protect them… so that they may be one, as we are one.”
This is striking. Jesus does not pray for certainty, or success, or even safety in the conventional sense. He prays for unity. Not uniformity, but a deep, relational oneness rooted in love.
Perhaps for you today, this might speak directly into the tension you are feeling at the moment. We live in a world, and often in a church, that is divided, fragmented, quick to draw lines. And yet here is Jesus, praying not for separation, but for connection.
Discipleship, then, is not just about personal belief. It is about how we live together. How we hold difference. How we seek unity without erasing diversity. How we remain grounded in love even when we disagree.
This passage also offers a quiet reassurance: we are prayed for. Held in the care of Christ. Even in uncertainty, even in struggle, we are not navigating life alone.
So today, reflect on this:
What does it mean for you to “know” God, not just intellectually, but relationally?
Where are you being invited to seek unity: with others, with yourself, with God?
How might you live as someone who is already held in love, rather than striving to earn it?
Jesus’ prayer is not distant or abstract. It reaches across time and speaks to us. We are included in this prayer. We are held within it. May you live from that place of belonging, and may it shape the way you love, connect, and follow.
Hymn: 317 STF – At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow - YouTube
Blessing
The Church of Christ, in every age,
Must keep on rising from the dead,
And I must face that same task today,
This week, and in the weeks ahead.
Show me how to follow in the way of resurrection, O Lord of light, I pray,
Amen. ____________________________________________________________________
Prayers and Prayer Pointers For This Week
Monday 18th May
God of all grace, thank you that you accept me, just as I am.
Help me to use my own skills and knowledge to help make the world a better place, to pass on the grace I have received.
Show me what is mine to do, O God. Amen.
Tuesday 19th May
Today, we pray for all who are making long journeys, and for those who work to keep our roads and railways as safe as possible. You might like to think of someone you know who works in transport, or who is making a long journey this week, and take time to pray for them. If its appropriate, you could let them know you have been praying.
Wednesday 20th May
Think about how God is at work in the lives of everyone. You can see God shining out from all people.
Remember this with the next person you speak to, and give thanks for the glimpses of God you see in them.
Thursday 21st May
Creator God, great shepherd of the sheep, fill me with your hope as I pray. Holy Spirit, give me the strength and courage for this day, fill me with the peace I need, and the joy of being surrounded by your love. Help me to notice where your love is at work in the world, and to get involved where I can.
Lord of love, show me what is mine to do today. Amen.
Friday 22nd May
Today, for your prayers, you might like to focus on peace. There are live wars happening in our world and you may wish to pray about them, using a news website to help you learn about any that you might not be aware of.
Or, you may feel you need to pray for peace in your own life, or the lives of those close to you. For those experiencing relationship breakdown, violence, conflict or tension.
Prince of Peace, come amongst us.
Saturday 23rd May
Hold a moment of stillness, and pray for yourself today.
May you hear the prompting of God as you live your life this day, this weekend, this year, in Jesus’ name.