re:Worship: Easter 3 Year B

Showing posts with label Easter 3 Year B. Show all posts

Prayer: Witnesses

Here’s a beautiful prayer for the Easter season from John van de Laar’s Sacredise website.

Witnesses

(based on Luke 24:36-48, John 20:19-31)

How do we find the faith to believe the story of Easter, Jesus?

How do we grasp its truth?

We can only accept it;

refusing to reduce it to scientific debate

or historical literalism

kneeling with humility and awe beside the blood-stained cross

and the empty grave;

For then, we are your witnesses.

How do we understand the mystery of your death and life, Jesus?

How do we explain it?

We can only live it;

allowing it to permeate every grain

of this sand that forms us,

every thought, every priority, every act and every interaction,

For then we are your witnesses,

and you deserve nothing less from us.

Amen.

Prayer of Approach after Easter

Here’s a beautiful prayer of approach inspired by Jesus’ appearances to his disciples after the resurrection. It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Prayer of Approach

(inspired by Luke 24: 36-48, John 20:19-31)

Lord Jesus Christ, the light of your love shines on,

illuminating the places where you are present.

As the bewildered disciples pondered the stories of your appearance,

you penetrated the darkness of their fear and doubt with your word of peace.

You showed them the appalling marks of evil pierced on your hands and feet.

You opened their minds to understand

why you had to die to defeat such evil and death.

Increase our understanding, we pray,

and open our minds and hearts to receive you, Lord.
Speak your word of peace to us

and let your love shine on any dark areas in our lives.
May this worship which we offer in your name

be a worthy response to your love and your sacrifice for us. Amen.

— written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on the Liturgies Online blog.

Call to Worship: Witnesses

Here’s a call to worship for the 3^rd Sunday of Easter. It was written by Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies, and posted on LiturgyLink.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Luke 24:45-48)

We are witnesses,
to the love God has poured into us.
We are witnesses of God’s love,
sharing it with each person we meet.
We are witnesses to everyone we encounter,
little children like us,

sisters and brothers in God’s family.

~ written by Thom Shuman and posted on LiturgyLink. https://www.liturgylink.net/

Confession: Luke 24

Here’s a prayer of confession and words of assurance inspired by Luke 24:36-53. It was written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith.

Prayer of Confession

inspired by Luke 24:36-53

God, You have told us to trust in you with all of our hearts.
You have told us not to lean on our own understanding.

And so we try to trust,
but we get very nervous when we don’t understand.

We don’t understand what you mean by
“This bread is my body.”
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.”

We don’t understand who will betray you
or why
or what that will mean for us.

We don’t understand how death is victory.
We don’t understand post-resurrection life–yours or ours.
We don’t understand why you ask us to stay here,
And we’re afraid we will somehow miss the power

when it comes down from on high.

Silence

Assurance of Pardon

Jesus is gentle with our doubts.

The Spirit offers us peace in the midst of our lack of understanding.

The One who created us leads us step by step into deeper trust.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/2012/11/07/wednesday-worship-piece-being-disciples/

A Prayer of Lament: Psalm 4

Here’s a prayer of lament inspired by Psalm 4, written by Ruth Jarman. In it, she envisions “’the enemy’ being climate change or ‘the power that be’ that are causing it.”

Prayer of Lament

(Psalm 4)

“Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”

How long, O men and women,

will you turn the glory of the earth into dangerous pollution?

How long will we love the delusion of consumerism

and seek the false gods of money and possessions?

Help us to remember that you have set apart the godly for yourself;
that you will hear us when we call to you.

In our exasperation and anxiety do not let us lose hope;
when we have quiet times in the day,
let us search our hearts and be silent.
Help us to live our lives sacrificially and to trust in the Lord.

Many are asking,

“What is the point? The earth is finished.

Who can save us now?”

“Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.
You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.”

~ written by Ruth Jarman and posted on the Christian Ecology Link website.

http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/1055

Prayer of Confession: 1 John 3: 1-3

Here’s a responsive prayer of confession inspired by 1 John 3:1-3. It was posted on the Seasons Online website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by 1 John 3:1–3)

Beloved, we are God’s children now,

but what we will be in the fullness of our time

has not been revealed.

What we do know is this:

we will be like Jesus the Christ and saints of God.

Let us consider how Jesus was revealed among us

and pray to be more like the Christ in every way.

(Offer the reflections below or use some of your own.

Follow each statement with a moment of silence.)

Jesus embodied the unconditional love of God…

We pray, may we be more like Jesus.

Jesus fed those who were hungry…

We pray, may we be more like Jesus.

Jesus drew near to those living on the margins and excluded…

We pray, may we be more like Jesus.

Jesus brought healing and wholeness to those in need…

We pray, may we be more like Jesus.

Jesus hungered and thirsted for righteousness…

We pray, may we be more like Jesus.

Assurance of Pardon

Beloved, through the love shown to us by Jesus,

we can be sure that we are God’s children now.

The Spirit of Christ is among us in this gathering

and the nature of Christ is revealed within us.

We are becoming more and more like Christ each day.

Therefore, let us live joyfully as God’s people;

saints and instruments of God’s way.

~ from “All Saints Day (Year A),” posted on Seasons Online. http://www.seasonsonline.ca/files/all-saints-day_cong-life_yr-a.pdf

Litany: Every Day is Easter

Here’s a litany for the season after Easter, from Roddy Hamilton’s Mucky Paws website.

Every day is Easter

When Thomas touched the wounds
and set himself free
it was Easter day

When Peter’s three “yes’s” to Jesus
finished his three denials
it was Easter day

When Mary ready to embalm the dead
ran in fear from the empty tomb
it was Easter day

When the disciples looked from afar
at a breakfast of fish on the beach
it was Easter day

When Emmaus became synonymous with welcome
and the breaking of bread with strangers
it was Easter day

When Paul was blinded by the light
and recognised the voice niggling in his head
it was Easter day

When the hungry are fed at the table
the same table as the rich
it is Easter day

When weapons are beaten to ploughshares
and peace is a word to be shouted
it is Easter day

When the stranger is welcomed in community
and the lonely are restored to relationship
it is Easter day...

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

Prayer for Others: Unexpected Places

Here’s a prayer of intercession inspired by the suggested gospel readings for the season of Easter. It was written by Susan Miller and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.

Prayer of Intercession

(inspired by Luke 24)

You come to us

In unexpected places,

In a crowded room,

In a journey on a dusty road,

In conversation,

In the stillness.

You come in the midst of our doubt, our fear, our sorrow

You come in the power of the resurrection

No pain and suffering is unknown to you.

You bring us peace

And we pray for the places where there is no peace

Countries torn by war

Refugees seeking homes

Prisoners facing torture

You bring peace

Peace to the tensions and conflicts within us

To the regrets, the failure,

The broken relationships

The lost friendships

You bring peace

For you are a friend to us

When we are alone

When we are lonely

Unseen you are there

You bring us peace

And we pray that we too

may become peacemakers.

~ written by Susan Miller, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Prayer for Others: Healing and Comfort

Here is a prayer of intercession for those who are in need of comfort and healing. It was written by Michael Saward, and posted on The Jubilate Group website.

Prayer for Healing and Comfort

Eternal God, to whom all may come through your Son,
lay your healing hand upon all those who are sick.
Make your loving presence known to those who are lonely.
Give your strengthening power to those who are weak.
May those who lack be filled,
those who mourn be comforted,
those who worry be calmed
and those who seek forgiveness find it in Jesus Christ;
through whom we pray. Amen.

~ written by Michael Saward. Posted on The Jubilate Group website. http://www.jubilate.co.uk/liturgy/

Prayer of Intercession: After Easter

Here’s a prayer of intercession written for the days following Easter. It comes from the World in Prayer website.

Prayers of the People: After the Resurrection

"Go stand in the temple

and tell the people the whole message about this life." - Acts 5: 20

In these early days after the resurrection, we wonder what it all means.

We can relate to the women who fled the tomb with terror and amazement.

We understand Thomas and his need for proof that would come

only by touching the wounds and seeing the nail marks.

We understand the fear and confusion
that kept the disciples in the shadow cast by closed doors.

We also keep company with the travelers on the Emmaus road

who felt the strange burning of the truth and hope and love

weaving into the sadness that consumed them on their walk.

We find ourselves in the eternal movement
between fear and faith, doubt and conviction, wonder and worry,

and we trust that you are present with us, O God.

We trust that like the disciples we will be able to stand

and tell the whole message about this life that:

Love is stronger than hate
Life has the final word over death
Beyond what we can see with our eyes,

there is a bond of humanness that draws and keeps us together.

We watch with anxiety as the Korean peninsula reverberates with new tensions
and the fragile lines between North and South Korea

and the world wide community is strained once again.

In the midst there are also voices of reason and peace;

perhaps they speak in whispers, but they speak nonetheless.

May those whispers rise to shouts
that proclaim the way forward with words and not weapons.

As the machines of greed and war trample the world and its peoples,

we remember that there are seeds of justice and love and goodness and grace
that are planted and watered every moment of every day.

We give thanks for those who:

- rise early in the morning to prepare food

at countless soup kitchens around the world;

- search the night streets for lost children

and shepherd them to places of safety;

- keep watch amidst the sick and dying

in countless hospitals and in countless places;

- speak words of compassion in the face of hate.

It is a complicated and frightening world.
Strengthen us as we stand and bear witness to this whole life,

the life of the Risen One,

even Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

~ posted on the World in Prayer website. http://www.worldinprayer.org/

Benediction: Go Daringly

Here’s a beautiful commission and benediction by Bruce Prewer.

Benediction

(based on John 14:2-3, Romans 8:31, Philippians 4:7)

If the God who raised Jesus from the dead is for us, who dare be against us?

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Step out into the world in humble confidence:

there is nothing about to happen that God has not foreseen,

and no situation where Christ will not be there ahead of you,

preparing a place and an opportunity for you.

Thanks be to God.

The peace of God, which goes beyond all understanding,

keep your hearts and minds

in the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

And the blessing of God all-loving,

the Creator, Redeemer and Counsellor,

will be with you now and always. Amen!

— written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage.

Prayer of the Day: Easter 3

Here’s a beautiful prayer for the third Sunday of Easter from Thom Shuman’s Lectionary Liturgies blog.

Prayer of the Day

(based on Luke 24:36-48)

When we are blinded by anger,
you pour out your love
for all to see;
when we wonder
what tomorrow will bring,
you call us to trust in you;
when sadness fills our lives,
you plant gladness in our hearts.
God of Easter:
touch us with your grace.

You show us your hands,
so we may reach out
to mend the broken;
you show us your feet,
so we may walk with
those the world passes by;
you show us your face,
so we may know what
our sisters and brothers look like.
Risen Christ:
touch us with your compassion.

You open our eyes,
so we may see God's love;
you open our minds,
so we may welcome God's Word;
you open our lips,
so we may be God's witnesses.
Spirit of Hope:
touch us with your peace.

God in Community, Holy in One,
open us to your presence,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

— written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his excellent Lectionary Liturgies blog.

For more prayers on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right side of the page.

Prayers of the People: Easter 3 Year B

Here’s a prayer of intercession for the third Sunday of Easter, Year B. It was written by Jenny Adams.

Prayer for Others

For your world and your children,

we bring our prayers to you,

God of love.

For those creatures who are misunderstood,

for those place which are abused,

may there be loving care.

For those who have not known love,

for those who struggle to care,

may there always be another chance.

For those who live in fear,

for those who bring fear to others,

may there be justice and peace.

For those living with wounds,

for those confounded by death and loss,

may there be hope for new life.

For those who want to understand more,

for those who are content,

may minds and hearts remain open.

For your world and your children,

we open our hearts.

Hear our cries, and lead us,

through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, Amen.

~ written by Jenny Adams. Posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.

Pastoral Prayer: Luke 24

Here’s a pastoral prayer based on Luke 24 and I John 3. It was written by Nancy C. Townley.

Pastoral Prayer

(based on Luke 24:36-48, 1 John 3:1-7)

Lord of Dawn and Darkness,

how grateful we are for your loving mercies.

You saw our fear and doubt, our suspicion, our mistrust,

and you banished them from our lives,

replacing them with hope, peace, love, and joy.

You called us to be your witnesses, to all the world,

unafraid of what others might think or say about us.

We have been invited out of our darkened hideaways,

into the light of your world as emissaries of hope and justice,

peace and compassion.

Be with us, as we participate in ministries of healing and hope

through this church, in our community, region, nation, and world.

Give us courage and strength to be your disciples

in all the circumstances of our lives;

for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— written by Nancy C. Townley, and posted on the Worship Connection page of the Ministry Matters website.

Prayers of the People: Easter 3

Here’s a prayer of intercession for the third Sunday after Easter written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild.

Prayer of Intercession

(based on Luke 24:36-48)

Lord Jesus Christ, the light of your love shines on, illuminating the places where you are present. As the bewildered disciples pondered the stories of your appearance, you penetrated the darkness of their fear and doubt with your word of peace. You showed them the appalling marks of evil pierced on your hands and feet. You opened their minds to understand why you had to die to defeat such evil and death. Increase our understanding, we pray, and open our minds and hearts to receive you...

Lord, hear our prayer...

Bring to us O God, the sense of your living presence as we go into this new week. Renew in us the faith you want us to have, the faith that is not afraid to reach out in your name and to share the treasure you have given us, that treasure which is greater than silver and gold....

Lord - you know our hearts, you know our needs, and you know the hearts of those around us and their needs. We lift ourselves and them before you at this time...

Lord, hear our prayer...

Lord, we specially hold before you today…

(intercessions are shared)

Lord hear our prayer.....

Finally, O Lord, we ask that you would bless us at [local congregation] with vision for the future and reverence for the past. Guide us each day as we minister to one another and to world for which you gave yourself. Help us each day to bear witness to your name and to do that which you would have

us do. We ask it through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

— written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, and posted on his Kir-shalom website. Opening paragraph written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online.

For more prayers on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right side of the page.

Readers' Theatre: Luke 24: 36-48

Here’s a readers’ theatre setting of Luke 24:36-48, the suggested gospel reading for the third Sunday of Easter. It is based on a version from Nathan Nettleton.

Readers’ Theatre

Luke 24:36-48

Suddenly Jesus himself appeared, standing among his gathered followers.

"Greetings!"

he said,

"Peace be with you."

Taken by surprise, they thought he was a ghost, and were scared spitless.

Jesus said to them,

"What have you got to be afraid of? Why are you letting your doubts get the better of you? Here, take a look at my hands and feet. See for yourselves that it is really me. Reach out and touch me and you will know that I am made of flesh and bone. No ghost can claim that!"

As he spoke, he showed them his hands and feet. It all seemed too good to be true; so wonderful they couldn't believe their eyes. Their heads were bursting with joy and disbelief! Jesus asked them,

"Have you got anything here I can eat?"

They gave him a piece of grilled fish and he took it and ate it in front of them. Then he said to them,

"The things I have said while I was with you amount to this: everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms is to be fulfilled."

As he spoke they began to see how to read the scriptures with open minds so as to understand what God was saying in them. Jesus said to them:

"What was written will now be clear to you: that the Messiah is to suffer and then rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that the people of every nation must be told of the Messiah's call to turn their lives around and receive forgiveness for sin. You can get started here in Jerusalem. You have witnessed these things first hand, so you can tell everyone what you have seen and heard."

Call to Confession: Luke 24: 46-48

Here’s a call to confession based on Luke 24:44-48 and Hebrews 4:16.

Call to Confession

(based on Luke 24:46-48; Heb. 4:16)

You have heard what was written about Jesus in Scripture:

how he would suffer and die

and then rise from the dead on the third day;

how, through his death and resurrection,

the forgiveness of sin is now possible

for all who repent.

So let us boldly approach the throne of God,

where we will find grace and mercy.

For more prayers of confession/words of assurance, see the Confession/Assurance Index at the upper right side of the page.

Call to Worship, Prayer: Easter 3 B

Here’s an opening call to worship and prayer for the third Sunday of Easter. It comes from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009.

Call to Worship

(based on 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36-48)

Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Come and see the love God has given to us.
Come and see what it means to be children of God.
Come with this hope, that Christ’s presence is real.
With joy, we come to see the Lord.

Opening Prayer

(based on Luke 24:36-48)

Miraculous God,
come to us now,
even as your Son came
to those first disciples
on the shores of Galilee.
Speak your peace to our hearts.
Touch us with your Holy Spirit.
Reveal your word,
that we may hear your message this day,
and live as your disciples
in the days and years to come.
In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

For more prayers on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right side of the page. For more calls to worship, see the Call to Worship Index there, too.

Opening Prayer: Surprise Us

Here’s an opening prayer written by Peter L. Haynes.

Opening Prayer

We thank you, God, for drawing us to this place and time
and for interrupting us with your gift of life in Christ.

Whether we have heard the news many times over,
or are this day listening with brand new ears,
surprise us with your justice and righteousness,
that our lives might turn in the right direction;
startle us with your goodness and mercy,
that we might receive your empowering forgiveness;
stagger us with your hope and peace,
that our eyes will remain wide open as we leave this place,
wondering what you will be doing this week in our world and in us.
This we pray in the name of your Messiah. Amen.

— written by Peter L. Haynes. Posted on the website of the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren. http://rockhay.tripod.com/

For more prayers on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right side of the page.

Prayer of Intercession: Easter 3 B

Here’s a prayer of intercession based on the suggested scripture readings for the third Sunday of Easter from Paul Sauer on the Lutheran Forum.

Prayers of the People

(based on Acts 3:12-19, Luke 24:36-48, 1 John 3:1-7)

Lord Jesus Christ, Author of life, help us believe Peter's bold proclamation of your resurrection, your healing presence, and the suffering forgiver of our many sins.