A PRAYER FOR EASTER (Luke 24)

Luke 24

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.

The tomb is empty.

We came to say goodbye 

to anoint your body

properly prepare you for your final rest.

We came in our grief to mourn you 

weep for the loss of our messiah and leader.

You’re gone.

The tomb is empty.

We saw you crucified on the cross 

watched you die a martyr’s death 

cried as they took your broken body down

and laid it in the tomb.

You’re gone.

The tomb is empty.

We saw the soldiers seal the tomb

place the rock in the entrance.

They stood guard so that no one

could disturb the grave or steal the body.

They’re gone.

The tomb is empty.

We look in

Who are these men

What are they saying

What does it mean?

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here; he has risen!

You’re not here

You have risen

You’re alive!

You’re alive!

What you have said came true.

Death is defeated 

the grave disarmed 

life has won!

You’re alive!

You have won

Your kingdom has come 

God’s will has been done 

Rome has been over come

You’re alive!

Now we are alive 

Alive to sing God’s glory 

alive to tell your story 

alive now and forever more

The tomb is empty

You’re alive!

Hallelujah!

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY

Isaiah 53

Who has believed our message

    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

    and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,

    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain

    and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

    stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

    and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

    each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

That can't be our savior

Can it?

Look at you

You don't look very brave or dangerous

Certainly not strong enough to take on

our enemies... our burdens... our needs

We need to look for somebody else

Someone stronger

Leaner

Tougher

Someone who can take on our oppressors and liberate us from their tyranny

That can't be our savior

Can it?

Listen to you

We don't hear anything?

Only silence... Nothing

No words of protest or anger

No shouts at his persecutors

We need someone who will speak up

Declare the time for revolution

Sound the cry of freedom

Utter judgment upon those who condemn us

That can't be our savior

Can it?

You are just giving up

Acting like a lamb being led to the slaughter

No objection

No complaint

No plea of innocence

We need someone who will speak in his defense

in our defense

Someone who will resist the hangman's noose

Who will not die in complicity with his executioners

Someone who will be defiant before the last nail is hammered in the cross

 That can't be our savior

Can it?

Yes, Lord Jesus

It is you who are our savior

You who are obedient

Even to the last

Obedient to what God has called you to do

Yes, Lord Jesus

It you who are our savior

You who through your faith

Shout even in your silence

God's love for humankind

Yes, Lord Jesus

It is you who are our savior

You are the conquerer

over the power of death

and the grip of the grave

Hallelujah

We are saved

Hallelujah

We will rise again

Hallelujah

We will live with you forever

Amen

A PRAYER FOR PSALM SUNDAY

Psalm 118

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

    From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27 The Lord is God,

    and he has made his light shine on us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

    up to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you;

    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.

We are marching

Marching on Jerusalem

We are following you

Jesus

Waving our psalms

and cheering you on

Yea Jesus

Praise for our King

Yea Jesus

Praise for our Lord

We have come to Jerusalem

to reclaim the Holy City

overthrow the tyrants

and set the prisoners free

We have come to Jerusalem

to crown you King

begin a new reign

for God’s Kingdom today

Yea Jesus

Praise for our King

Yea Jesus

Praise for our Lord

We have come to Jerusalem

to shatter the darkness

shine a new light

so the blind can see

We have come to Jerusalem

to blow our trumpets

announce the coming

of a New Day

Yea Jesus

Praise for our King

Yea Jesus

Praise for our Lord

Thank you

Lord Jesus for

baptizing us in your name

Thank you

Lord Jesus for

cleansing our sins

Thank you

Lord Jesus for

conquering death

Thank you

Lord Jesus for

the gift of eternal life

Thank you

Lord Jesus

Hallelujah

Amen

A PRAYER FOR PASSION SUNDAY

Isaiah 50

⁷ Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
   I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
   and I know I will not be put to shame.
⁸ He who vindicates me is near.
   Who then will bring charges against me?
   Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
   Let him confront me!
⁹ It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.
   Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
   the moths will eat them up.

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,

You help me

Even when I don’t ask

Even when I am proud and full of myself

Even when I have spoken or acted before thinking or waiting or praying.

You help me

I believed I was alone

No one beside me

No one behind me

No one at my back

You help me

When I have fallen

You pick me up

When I am wounded

You heal me

When I am surrounded

You rescue me

You help me

⁸ He who vindicates me is near.
   Who then will bring charges against me?

You protect me

Standing in the dock

I am not alone

Standing on trial

I am defended

Standing in court

I am pleaded for

You protect me

Though the tide breaks over me

You save me

Though the mountains fall upon me

You shelter me

Though the storms toss me about

You anchor me

You protect me

When accusations come

You answer them

When charges are made

You acquit me

When lies are whirled

You fortify me

You protect me

Therefore have I set my face like flint,
   and I know I will not be put to shame.

Because you stand beside and dwell within me

I can say and preach those Gospel words that you lay upon my heart

Because you stand beside and dwell within me

I can be strong in the face of temptation and resist the evil one

Because you stand beside and dwell within me

I can lead my people up to the Mountaintop and find a way across the desert

Because you stand beside and dwell within me

I will face into the swirling winds and know you plant me where I cannot be moved.

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR LENT 5. NT

John 12:1-11 (NIV)

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

How can we glorify you

Lord Jesus

Can we do it with our purses?

We can write a check Lord

Give to the food pantry

Be sure to contribute

so the less fortunate won't suffer too much

So many people that need our help

We can never give enough

But we try, Lord, we try

How can we glorify you

Lord Jesus

Can we do it with our petitions?

We sign them all

To save the trees and the whales

Make sure our congress people

know they know where we stand

and what they want to do

There are so many causes

Too many to fight for

But we try, Lord Jesus, we try

How can we glorify you

Lord Jesus

Can we do it at our meetings.

We serve on all the right committees

Attend the rallies

and make the calls

For peace and justice

filling up our schedules and commitments

Too many groups fighting for our energy

there never is enough time

Bit we try, Lord Jesus, we try

How can we glorify you

Lord Jesus

Can we do it with our prayers?

We meditate and reflect

on all the people and their needs

Remember all the names

from the lists in our bulletins

and the Prayer Chain

There are always more with needs

We grow exhausted and overwhelmed

But we try, Lord Jesus, we try

Forgive us

when we think it all up to us

Our gifts

Our involvement

Our time and talents

Our prayers and supplications

Forgive us that we want to be

leaders and not followers

Be heroes and saviors

not obedient disciples

and willing servants

Forgive us Lord for forgetting

that the Kingdom of God

doesn't come according

to our timetable

but in God's own time and place

Come, Lord Jesus

and preach Good News to the poor

Come, Lord Jesus

and give sight to the blind

Come, Lord Jesus

and liberate the oppressed

Come, Lord Jesus

and bring God's Kingdom

Come, Lord Jesus

Come now

Come always

Amen

A PRAYER FOR LENT 5 OT

Psalm 126

3 The Lord has done great things for us,

    and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes,[c] Lord,

    like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow with tears

    will reap with songs of joy.

6 Those who go out weeping,

    carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

    carrying sheaves with them.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord

and give us new life

We have sown rivers of tears

in this life of trouble

worn ourselves out

with worry and stress

We carve out 

settled patterns of work and play

that are ripped asunder

by disruptions, defeats and death

Restore our fortunes, O Lord

and give us new life

We have sown torrents of

anger and violence

to gain new sources of wealth

power and resources

We convert our young into

weapons of war

create bombs and bombers

to devastate and destroy

Restore our fortunes, O Lord

and give us new life

We have sown rows

of abuse and corruption

in our relationships

for power and control

We make one another

playthings for fun and frolic

ignoring feelings and vulnerabilities

of those we victimize

Restore us, O Lord

and give us new life

Show us, Lord Jesus

how to plant our lives

in faithfulness

Wash us in your love

shinning in our hearts

and lighting our paths

Show us, Lord Jesus

how to plant our hopes

in peace and nonviolence

Shower us with your vision

for a world without war

and a nation safe for children

Show us, Lord Jesus

how to sow fidelity

in all our relationships

Teach us to nurture one another

have compassion and comfort

for those we love and love us

Restore us, O Lord

and give us new life

that our weeping may turn

to laughter

and our mourning into

shouts of joy

Amen