Prayer for April 8-14, 2018 

Sermon Text: John 20:19-31

That we may acknowledge You with heartfelt cries of faith

Jesus, Risen One, we celebrate the new life that God generated in You and for us. We rejoice that You come among us when we are huddled together in fear. We rejoice that You reveal yourself to us and declare your peace to us. We rejoice that You breathe your Spirit into us to energize us for witness in the world. And we rejoice that You give us authority to forgive or withhold forgiveness as we rely on your Spirit for discernment and act in love.

Belief does not always come easy for us. Some of us resist the witness of our brothers and sisters and refuse to believe unless You give us a convincing sign. In spite of our stubbornness, many of us have encountered You in surprising ways that have humbled us and caused us to acknowledge You with heartfelt cries of faith.

We rejoice in the many signs that You did among your disciples and that You continue to do today. We rejoice that You have enabled us to believe and have blessed us in surprising ways. 

You are our Lord and our God! Hallelujah! Amen!

2 Prayers from Good Friday 

Scripture: John 18:15-27  

Jesus – Teacher, Friend, Savior – we cannot count the many ways that we have denied and betrayed You. We have turned against You and cast You aside because your mission did not match our personal desires or our corporate agenda. We have denied

knowing You when the perception of closeness to You has become a source of outside threat.  

Forgive us for our lack of trust and commitment to You and your way. Forgive us for our inconsistency, our infidelity, our timid faith, and fearful denials. 

Enable us to walk the way of the cross with You, today, and every day that follows. Amen. 

Scriptures: John 18:28-19: 42; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9  

God of all, we hope in You. Only You can bring clear vision when our eyes are flooded with tears. Only You can bring hope when all hope lies shattered. Only You can mend what has been torn by sin and grief. Only You can bring life when the last cry has been uttered and the last breath has been gasped. 

We hope in You, God of life because we have heard and believed that everything is possible with You. Take this day of ruin and transform it into something glorious, for your own sake. Amen. 

3 Prayers from Maundy Thursday, 2018

Gospel reading: John 13:1-17 

Christ Jesus, our Teacher it is astonishing to us that You would stoop to wash the feet of your disciples. You had such confidence in your role as God’s Chosen One, that You were able to humble yourself to serve. 

Give us such confidence in our relationship with God! Give us such humility that we are able to stop worrying about our status and stop competing with one another. Help us to stoop to each other’s needs in glad service. Amen. 


Gospel reading: John 13:18-30  

Jesus, your presence among us and your gifts to us reveal the condition of our hearts. Sometimes, when we are shown the depths of our resistance to You, the control our idols have over us, our lack of faith, or our lack of generosity to our many neighbors, this exposure scares and angers us and makes us want to reject or turn against You.  

At other times, You make us more aware of the vitality and love that You have instilled in us by your presence and instruction. Such moments comfort us and encourage us to continue in the way that You lead, the way of suffering and service. As we follow You with renewed hope we give You all our praise. Amen. 


Gospel reading: John 13:31-38  

Jesus, Son of Man, we do what we can to love each other with the kind of love that You have shown to us. Deepen our love. Enable us to be more consistent and not allow loving action to be limited by our fleeting emotions.  

Let us love each other deeply enough that our love spills over to many other people and becomes a convincing sign that we are yours and that You are God’s. May unlimited praise be poured out in your honor. Amen.

Prayer for April 1-7, 2018

Sermon Text: Mark 16:1-8

That we may be full participants in resurrection life

God of resurrection, we rejoice that You are able to bring life from death, and that You have done so in Christ Jesus, your beloved Son.

But we confess that change and newness often make us fearful. Even your messengers of good news and new hope cause our hearts to pound with terror and our minds to cloud with confusion.

Instead of declaring good news, as we have been instructed, we remain silent. We retreat to places of safety and attempt to console ourselves.

Somehow, even our fear and confusion become part of the good news of the gospel because we know that the story does not end there. We know that fear and confusion are overcome. We know the story does get told. And we know that many encounter Jesus and become participants in the resurrection life that You generate in your great compassion. 

We rejoice that others have shared the good news with us. Enable us to share that same news with boldness. “Jesus is risen!” Hallelujah! Amen!

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

SEVENTH SATURDAY

Lamentations 3:37-58 (the Book of Common prayer lists no gospel reading for the day)

Is this your word for us, Sovereign One? Are we left with this calamity, our hopes dashed on the stones of Golgotha? For what sin is He punished?

We cannot avoid suffering too. Have we chosen this by our long resistance, or our timid faith? Have You chased Him down, and us with Him, in order to bring ruin?

Do You keep your anger wrapped around You? Do You maintain a wall against all of our prayers? Are You not moved by our tears?

We could barely watch the slow agony of death. The cry of abandonment echoes through us as though it had torn us open. How will we endure the days and weeks and years in which our consciences pierce us as He was pierced? 

Our lives are ruins! Our grief is an abyss! We cry aloud to You, but we are left in the depths of our own darkness. Will You answer, or are we abandoned forever?

NOTE: This is the final post for Lent. There will be an Easter Prayer tomorrow.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

SEVENTH FRIDAY

John 13:36-38, 19:38-42

Jesus, our Teacher and Friend, many of us have followed You for a long time. We haven’t always understood where You were leading us, but we have tried to continue in your steps and learn from You.

In our history with You, we have failed You in so many ways that we are no longer tempted to make grand claims or promises. We are hesitant to say, “I will lay down my life for You!”

We may lay down our lives for You as we follow You in trust. We are willing, most days. But our confidence is in You, not in our own claims or our own performance. 

Strengthen our resolve to follow You no matter what trials or resistance we may face. Enable us to walk the way of the cross with You, in friendship and faith, for your glory. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

SEVENTH THURSDAY

Mark 14:12-25

Jesus, we hear your warning to your disciples, and we wonder, which of us will betray You? Which of us will disown and sell You out in order to achieve our own ends?

But, of course, each of us has already betrayed You. Each of us has put our own desires, agendas and security before yours. Each of us has foolishly rejected your teaching and cynically thrown You aside in resistance to the new life that You create among us.

Although we often push You aside or sell You out, You do not push us aside. You do not shame us before our sisters and brothers. You do not force us from the table of fellowship. But You do warn about the calamity that we bring upon ourselves by our rejection and betrayal. 

Still, You give yourself for us. You take, bless, break and give us the nourishing bread of your own life. You share the blood red wine of a new covenant. You share yourself with us to the very end. We receive your gifts in joy tinged with sorrow. Amen.