Here’s a pastoral prayer inspired by the suggested
scripture readings for the Sunday after Easter, especially John 20:19-31. It
was posted on Literature and Liturgy.
Pastoral
Prayer
(inspired by John 20:19-31)
Risen
Christ, our eternal Savior,
Like
the disciples,
we
are gathered together the week after Easter:
wondering
whether it is true,
marveling
at the possibility,
and
daring to hope.
Like
the disciples,
we
are sometimes afraid,
sometimes
full of doubt.
But
in your extravagant generosity, your boundless love,
you
appear to us in our fear and love us in our doubts
and
grant us the oceans of your peace.
Thank
you for loving us as we are.
Teach
us not to hide from our doubt,
but
to recognize it as a door to mystery and to deeper faith.
After
all, the disciples’ fear became a visitation
as
they saw you among them, risen and triumphant.
Thomas’
doubt became a moment of revelation
as
he saw and touched you, and finally believed.
This
morning we pray for the many men and women in our society
who
have no faith at all.
There
are so many who live without hope,
without
knowledge of your resurrection,
without
your light in their lives.
Grant
us the courage to live as witnesses to your resurrection.
Risen
Christ, be light in our world.
We
pray for those in our congregation this morning
who
find it difficult to believe.
Lord
knows that they are not alone, but in the best of company:
even
Christ’s own disciples struggled to believe
all
that they had seen and heard.
Loving
Christ, it is your presence
that
removes all fear and erases all doubts:
so
come, and grant the doubting Thomases in our midst
your
presence & peace.
And
grant to all of us, living Lord Christ,
renewed
faith, great courage, and your boundless peace.
We
rejoice this morning with…{insert names}
Loving
God, we pray for….{insert names}
~
posted on Literature & Liturgy. https://jesusscribbles.wordpress.com/
