St Cuthbert’s Notes – Sixth Sunday of Easter – 10 May 2026
Music:
Introit Hymn 407 -Jesus, where’er thy people meet
Gradual Hymn 273 – Great is thy faithfulness
Offertory Hymn 798 -We have a gospel to proclaim
Communion Hymn 743 -There is a Redeemer
Post-Communion Hymn 19 – All my hope on God is founded
Collect
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you riches beyond imagination. Pour into our hearts such love towards you that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading: Acts 17.22-31
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said, “For we too are his offspring.” Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3.13-22
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
Gospel: John 14.15-21
‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’
~~~
Funeral Details for John Gooding:
The family of John Gooding have asked us to share the details of his funeral with the congregation of St Cuthbert’s: There will be a service here in Church at 12.30pm on Tuesday 19th May, followed by a reception in the church hall. The family has a private cremation ealier that day. Please continue to keep John and his family in your prayers at this time.
Evensong:
Our next Evensong Service is at 5pm on Sunday 24th May. Please join us if you can. All Welcome.
Prayers for Peace: Tuesday 26 May
Join us as we come together in prayer for peace in our hearts, our communities, and our world. All are welcome. Last Tuesday of each month at Noon in church.
Church BBQ: Saturday 27th June 2pm – 4pm
Join us to celebrate refugee week in June. Please let Joan or Judith know if you would like to join us. (Tickets will be available soon!)
Weekly Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank you for the wonderful love and support that you give us. Help us to reflect a little of that love through kindness to others, whether they are friends or strangers. May we seek to obey your commandment in this small way.
This is my commandment
That you love one another as I have loved you (John15:12) Amen.
Scottish Charity Number: SC007578
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