Prayer for April 19-25, 2020
Sermon Text: John 20:19-31
That we may thoughtfully exercise the authority that Jesus grants his disciples
God, we rejoice that You have raised Jesus
from death, and have defeated the powers of sin and death through him.
Alleluia!
We rejoice that Jesus comes among us, in
the midst of our chaos and fear, and speaks a word of peace that brings order
to our lives and deepens our trust in You. Alleluia!
We rejoice that Jesus comes with scars,
showing that he has lived in solidarity with us in this world of violence and
injustice. Alleluia!
We praise You that Jesus has imparted your
Spirit to guide and energize us for our ministry to each other and to the world
that You love so deeply. Alleluia!
We praise You that Jesus has shared the
authority that You gave him, so that we may speak a word of forgiveness to each
other, and to our many neighbors. And we thank You that your Spirit enables us
to discern the moments when it is appropriate to declare or withhold
forgiveness. Alleluia!
We rejoice that many have passed on the
good news about Jesus, without ever seeing him, but because they have, we are
able to take up the cry, “My Lord and my God!” and live our days with
courageous faith. Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Thoughts, and prayers from Pastor David Antieau at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Prayer for April 12-18, 2020
Sermon Text: John 20:1-18
That our whole lives may be shaped by our recognition that Jesus is alive
Hallelujah! Jesus is alive!
We rejoice that You have raised him from death, God of life.
We share the surprise of Mary who discovered an empty tomb on the first day of the week, the first day of new creation, but didn't know what to make of it, and thought it mean even deeper loss than she had already experienced.
Our hearts pound with those of Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved as we race to confirm what Mary has said. Yes! the tomb is empty! We rejoice without full comprehension.
We cry in grief and confusion, and struggle to answer when asked why.
We cry, "Teacher!" and try to clasp You when You speak our name, and we recognize that You, who are our deepest longing and deepest joy, are standing next to us.
We listen to your words about your return to the presence of our sovereign God and we rush to tell your closest friends and followers, "I have seen Jesus! I have seen the Lord!"
Our entire life has been given shape and meaning by that experience and declaration: "I have seen the Lord!" We rejoice in you! Hallelujah! Hallelujah. Hallelujah! Amen.
Sermon Text: John 20:1-18
That our whole lives may be shaped by our recognition that Jesus is alive
Hallelujah! Jesus is alive!
We rejoice that You have raised him from death, God of life.
We share the surprise of Mary who discovered an empty tomb on the first day of the week, the first day of new creation, but didn't know what to make of it, and thought it mean even deeper loss than she had already experienced.
Our hearts pound with those of Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved as we race to confirm what Mary has said. Yes! the tomb is empty! We rejoice without full comprehension.
We cry in grief and confusion, and struggle to answer when asked why.
We cry, "Teacher!" and try to clasp You when You speak our name, and we recognize that You, who are our deepest longing and deepest joy, are standing next to us.
We listen to your words about your return to the presence of our sovereign God and we rush to tell your closest friends and followers, "I have seen Jesus! I have seen the Lord!"
Our entire life has been given shape and meaning by that experience and declaration: "I have seen the Lord!" We rejoice in you! Hallelujah! Hallelujah. Hallelujah! Amen.
EXCHANGES ON THE WAY: LENTEN PRAYERS
Day 40 (last day): Seventh Saturday
Mark 15:42-47
It was over! No doubt!
But one who hoped in God's reign removed your body so it did not hang through the Sabbath or endure prolonged exposure to weather and scavengers. You were loved even in death: removed from the cross, wrapped and interred in a rock tomb. Some of the women who loved and followed You observed it all. They saw the end, saw the stone rolled against the entrance of the tomb.
It was over! No doubt!
Jesus, it is hard for us to linger in this moment. We want to rush ahead to what we know. But help us to sit with the loss. Help us to know the depth of the grief, emptiness, and despair that your first disciples felt when You were crucified and buried, and their hopes with You.
Enable us, for this moment, to lament the ways we failed You. Enable us to lament the failure of religious and political leaders who resisted and refused your way. Enable us to lament the death of dreams that did not align with God's will and God's reign. Amen.
Day 40 (last day): Seventh Saturday
Mark 15:42-47
It was over! No doubt!
But one who hoped in God's reign removed your body so it did not hang through the Sabbath or endure prolonged exposure to weather and scavengers. You were loved even in death: removed from the cross, wrapped and interred in a rock tomb. Some of the women who loved and followed You observed it all. They saw the end, saw the stone rolled against the entrance of the tomb.
It was over! No doubt!
Jesus, it is hard for us to linger in this moment. We want to rush ahead to what we know. But help us to sit with the loss. Help us to know the depth of the grief, emptiness, and despair that your first disciples felt when You were crucified and buried, and their hopes with You.
Enable us, for this moment, to lament the ways we failed You. Enable us to lament the failure of religious and political leaders who resisted and refused your way. Enable us to lament the death of dreams that did not align with God's will and God's reign. Amen.
Friday, April 10, 2020
EXCHANGES ON THE WAY: LENTEN PRAYERS
Day 39: Seventh Friday
Mark 15:33-41
Christ Jesus, it hurts to visualize You, there, lifted up^ before vicious and scornful watchers, sinking toward death as the weight of your body took away your ability to breathe. It hurts and shames us to realize that our sins were part of the weight that was sapping the last of your strength.
Your cry tears through our hearts. It tears through our complacency and indifference. It echoes around us. It resonates with the the deepest cords of our being: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"
We have cried that cry out of our fragility, grief, and sense of abandonment. We have cried that cry in moments of hopelessness that seemed like they would never end. But we have not cried it as innocent ones. We have not cried it as the "one man" who died for the people.* We have not cried it before a crowd of ravenous watchers.+
Forgive us for contributing to your pain. Forgive us for resisting You and choosing to be your enemies.# Forgive us for making you bear our shame. May we never forget your cry. Amen.
^ John 3:14
* John 11:50
+ Psalm 122
# Romans 5:10
Day 39: Seventh Friday
Mark 15:33-41
Christ Jesus, it hurts to visualize You, there, lifted up^ before vicious and scornful watchers, sinking toward death as the weight of your body took away your ability to breathe. It hurts and shames us to realize that our sins were part of the weight that was sapping the last of your strength.
Your cry tears through our hearts. It tears through our complacency and indifference. It echoes around us. It resonates with the the deepest cords of our being: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"
We have cried that cry out of our fragility, grief, and sense of abandonment. We have cried that cry in moments of hopelessness that seemed like they would never end. But we have not cried it as innocent ones. We have not cried it as the "one man" who died for the people.* We have not cried it before a crowd of ravenous watchers.+
Forgive us for contributing to your pain. Forgive us for resisting You and choosing to be your enemies.# Forgive us for making you bear our shame. May we never forget your cry. Amen.
^ John 3:14
* John 11:50
+ Psalm 122
# Romans 5:10
Thursday, April 9, 2020
EXCHANGES ON THE WAY: LENTEN PRAYERS
Day 38: 7th Thursday
Mark 15:16-32
What a bitter and ironic coronation the soldiers gave You, Jesus: the purple robe, the crown of pain, the words of acclamation coupled with striking and spitting and false worship. At times our worship may be no less of an exaggerated act, no less ironic, and cover no less violence to the "least" with whom You identify so closely that injustice and abuse of them is violence toward You.
Jesus, You knew the road You were taking. You knew that the way You walked and called your disciples to walk was one that included suffering and death. You knew that in order for your mission to be accomplished, You must be "lifted up."*
And so You were. Stripped naked you were nailed to a cross You were too weak from abuse to carry. You were lifted up, in public, where all who passed by might mock and abuse You and celebrate the shame that your family and friends shared with You.
Jesus, there is little likelihood that many of us would have acted in better ways than the politicians, priests, soldiers and passersby who brought You so much pain and grief. At the foot of the cross, most of us would have little idea about what we were doing,^ and no understanding of the result of our rejection and abuse. At the foot of the cross, we would hardly know what God had "laid upon You."#
* John 3:14
^ Luke 23:34
# Isaiah 53:6
Day 38: 7th Thursday
Mark 15:16-32
What a bitter and ironic coronation the soldiers gave You, Jesus: the purple robe, the crown of pain, the words of acclamation coupled with striking and spitting and false worship. At times our worship may be no less of an exaggerated act, no less ironic, and cover no less violence to the "least" with whom You identify so closely that injustice and abuse of them is violence toward You.
Jesus, You knew the road You were taking. You knew that the way You walked and called your disciples to walk was one that included suffering and death. You knew that in order for your mission to be accomplished, You must be "lifted up."*
And so You were. Stripped naked you were nailed to a cross You were too weak from abuse to carry. You were lifted up, in public, where all who passed by might mock and abuse You and celebrate the shame that your family and friends shared with You.
Jesus, there is little likelihood that many of us would have acted in better ways than the politicians, priests, soldiers and passersby who brought You so much pain and grief. At the foot of the cross, most of us would have little idea about what we were doing,^ and no understanding of the result of our rejection and abuse. At the foot of the cross, we would hardly know what God had "laid upon You."#
* John 3:14
^ Luke 23:34
# Isaiah 53:6
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
EXCHANGES ON THE WAY: LENTEN PRAYERS
Day 37: 7th Wednesday
Mark 15:1-15
It's always out of "self-interest" that we resist You, betray You, deny You, and abandon You Jesus. It's always out of self-interest, at least when we make a conscious decision about what we are doing. We are just as likely to slip away from You in unconscious ways because we have not allowed our hearts and minds to be thoroughly shaped by your word and your values.
You offer to transform our lives and our world completely, but we only want a measure of your involvement. We only want to cede a portion of our lives to your guidance. We may say otherwise, but we tend to give ourselves to You spasmodically, inconsistently. Most days You do not receive the devotion of all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are otherwise preoccupied.
Though we haven't sued for your death, as some of your opponents did, we resist your forgiving, healing, liberating way. We resist doing justice and acting kindly to all. We refuse to love our enemies.
Unfortunately, what we perceive as in our own self-interest often damages us and separates us from the blessing, joy, and peace that You offer. Forgive us. Help us to see ourselves clearly. Help us to see our true needs and perceive that it is by your grace that they are met. Help us to recognize our true gifts and use them in fruitful ways that transcend narrow self-interest and enrich the lives of others. Unite us fully with your mission of bringing every dimension of reality into congruence with God's will. Amen.
Day 37: 7th Wednesday
Mark 15:1-15
It's always out of "self-interest" that we resist You, betray You, deny You, and abandon You Jesus. It's always out of self-interest, at least when we make a conscious decision about what we are doing. We are just as likely to slip away from You in unconscious ways because we have not allowed our hearts and minds to be thoroughly shaped by your word and your values.
You offer to transform our lives and our world completely, but we only want a measure of your involvement. We only want to cede a portion of our lives to your guidance. We may say otherwise, but we tend to give ourselves to You spasmodically, inconsistently. Most days You do not receive the devotion of all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are otherwise preoccupied.
Though we haven't sued for your death, as some of your opponents did, we resist your forgiving, healing, liberating way. We resist doing justice and acting kindly to all. We refuse to love our enemies.
Unfortunately, what we perceive as in our own self-interest often damages us and separates us from the blessing, joy, and peace that You offer. Forgive us. Help us to see ourselves clearly. Help us to see our true needs and perceive that it is by your grace that they are met. Help us to recognize our true gifts and use them in fruitful ways that transcend narrow self-interest and enrich the lives of others. Unite us fully with your mission of bringing every dimension of reality into congruence with God's will. Amen.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
EXCHANGES ON THE WAYl LENTEN PRAYERS
Day 36: Sixth Tuesday
Mark 14:53-65
Jesus, Messiah, your instruction, action, and claimed identity all elicited major resistance from those who were most certain of their faith and of their roles within that faith. We have no doubt that would be true if you were walking among us today. Even many of us who claim to know you, claim to follow your way, would be likely to reject your identity, deny the truth of your instruction, and join in the violence against You,
Sometimes our hearts swell with barely restrained violence against people who believe differently than we do, or people who come from places that seem too foreign to us, or people that our nation and its leaders have identified as enemies. We have seen and heard many reports of violence from people who claim to be defenders of one faith or another, so it is not a great leap to imagine that something might trigger actual violence from us, though we are more inclined to let our governments enact violence for us.
Jesus, root every weed of violence from our lives. Let the truth you proclaimed work its way deeply into the soil of our being. Let it germinate and grow within our hearts and minds. Then, cause it to burst forth with the fruits of holiness: particularly fidelity, forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, and compassion. May your Spirit lead us to depths of faith that we have not yet experienced. Amen.
Day 36: Sixth Tuesday
Mark 14:53-65
Jesus, Messiah, your instruction, action, and claimed identity all elicited major resistance from those who were most certain of their faith and of their roles within that faith. We have no doubt that would be true if you were walking among us today. Even many of us who claim to know you, claim to follow your way, would be likely to reject your identity, deny the truth of your instruction, and join in the violence against You,
Sometimes our hearts swell with barely restrained violence against people who believe differently than we do, or people who come from places that seem too foreign to us, or people that our nation and its leaders have identified as enemies. We have seen and heard many reports of violence from people who claim to be defenders of one faith or another, so it is not a great leap to imagine that something might trigger actual violence from us, though we are more inclined to let our governments enact violence for us.
Jesus, root every weed of violence from our lives. Let the truth you proclaimed work its way deeply into the soil of our being. Let it germinate and grow within our hearts and minds. Then, cause it to burst forth with the fruits of holiness: particularly fidelity, forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, and compassion. May your Spirit lead us to depths of faith that we have not yet experienced. Amen.
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