Palm Sunday draws near and my thoughts are focused on Jesus entry into Jerusalem and the even more amazing entry into our hearts. I prayers this morning were inspired by these reflections and my growing passion to follow Jesus with all my heart and soul and being.
Let us enter the city with God today
Let us sing hosanna to our king
To the son of God riding on a donkey
With shepherds and prostitutes,
With the blind and the leper
With the abandoned and oppressed
Let us shout for joy at Christ's coming
And follow the One who welcomes the sinner and dines with the outcast
Let us touch and see as God draws near
Riding in Triumph towards the Cross
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="468"]
Jan Hynes, Entering the city[/caption]
More of Jan Hynes Holy week images here
More resources for Holy Week - these lists were updated in 2014
Resources for Palm Sunday:
Resources for Maundy Thursday:
Resources for Good Friday:
Stations of the Cross:
Resources for Celebrating Holy Week With Kids:
Jan Hynes, Entering the city[/caption]
More of Jan Hynes Holy week images here
More resources for Holy Week - these lists were updated in 2014
Resources for Palm Sunday:
Resources for Maundy Thursday:
Resources for Good Friday:
Stations of the Cross:
Resources for Celebrating Holy Week With Kids:
I already feel that I have entered into the spirit of Lent. It is a painful season, especially as I remember the death of those I knew in Christchurch. Here is another prayer to begin the season.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
All that is not of God must die
All that is crushed will be restored
All that is lost will be made new
God may we repent of ways that do not serve you
And admit to the tensions that tell us where we need to change
Christ is coming walking towards the cross
God may we see him clearly
Pouring out love
Pouring out mercy
Pouring out peace
May we kneel before him in humble adoration
May we take up our cross and follow
And walk with Christ into the ways of life
This year I was not sure if I would be able to write a prayer for Ash Wednesday. With the MSA website attacked by a virus that precipitated us launching a new website earlier than expected, plus the garden seminar at the Mustard Seed House tomorrow and Tom heading to San Diego for an important meeting, I have been much busier than anticipated leading up to this season. And writing prayers like this is always something that I find takes time for reflection and writing.
However this morning I realized that this is a task too important to let pass by or in Ann Voskamp's words too urgent to live fast. So I wrote this prayer for Ash Wednesday but plan to use it over the next week to help me focus on the season of Lent. So let us pray
God may we remember All of life is held together with nails Piercing flesh of the son of man May we remember and give thanks God may we remember The power of sin and death are forever ended Hung upon a cross and crucified May we remember and give thanks God may we remember The bread of life broken for us That we may eat and filled with abundance of life May we remember and give thanks God may we remember God's blood poured out for us The deep wounds of love suffered for us May we remember and give thanks God may we remember ashes on foreheads And kneel before the one whose love knows no end With humbled hearts and repentant spirits May we remember and give thanks God may we remember we are but dust And walk together into tomorrow's unkowns Breaking bars, building bridges, setting captives free May we remember and give thanks God may we remember and give thanks Let us take up our cross and follow Believing that in Christ all things work together for good May we remember and give thanks
i am sitting at home on a beautiful frosty winter's morning looking out at the snow covered, sun drenched mountains. it is already New year's day in Australia and my thoughts and prayers are still with my family in Sydney. However I am also ready to welcome in this new year with a sense of God's eternal presence and thought that I would share yet another prayer with you that came to me while we were travelling
God is the eternal rock
From year's beginning to its end
God is faithful
In each day God is present
In each action God comes close
Through all eternity
God is trustworthy
Yesterday, today and forever
Sustaining, enlivening, making all things new
God is the eternal rock
I am sitting in the airport in San Francisco waiting for our flight to Seattle. The new year is almost here and I have been reflecting on my hopes and expectations for the time that lies ahead. I find that his prayer, adapted from one I wrote last year, has really helped me to focus.
A new year coming and God is with us
In loving, in caring, in hoping and expecting,
God is with us and never lets us go
God live in us, God live with us, God live through us
God keep us faithful through the days that lie ahead
God keep us caring as we see the pain that fills your world
God keep us serving as we seek to do your will
God live in us, God live with us, God live through us
God keep us loving toward neighbours near and far
God keep us trusting through the uncertainties of life
God keep us sharing from your generous abundance
God live in us, God live with us, God live through us
Amen.
For those who love to both begin and end the day with prayer particularly during this season here are the prayers that we will be using over the next few weeks
Evening Christmas liturgy
Let we join in the dance of God this night,
And sing our praises to Christ our Saviour.
Let us celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth,
And shout aloud: Emmanuel, God is with us!
Pause to light the Christ candle and remind yourself of the many names by which Christ is known in the Bible. Allow time for each person to call out the names that are most meaningful to them)
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
You are King of Kings and Lord of Lord
Wonderful counselor, Prince of Peace,
Saviour, Restorer and Redeemer
You are the Lamb who was slain,
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
God of justice and truth how can we know you?
You are majestic and holy, abounding in love and faithfulness
You are the source of life, our provider
You walk beside us as companion and friend
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
God of glory, God of power you care for the vulnerable
Protector of widows and orphans,
Compassionate to the poor, comforter of the downcast
You heal all our diseases and bring us wholeness
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
God in whom we trust, you are always with usl
You are all things good, known yet unknowable
You are the way, the truth and the life,
We worship you
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
Read the evening psalms from the daily lectionary
Lord Jesus Christ, your name is proclaimed in all the earth.
You were God almighty yet you made yourself nothing
You came as a vulnerable child to live amongst us.
You were God all powerful
Yet you came as a humble servant
You were faithful as a son,
You went through death so that we might find life
Your blood was shed so that we could be redeemed
Your body was broken so that we might be made whole
Therefore God has exalted you and given you the name above all names
So that one day all peoples will proclaim you
As Jesus Christ the Lord
God who calls us all by name
Have mercy upon us
Christ who invites us to share life as one family
Have mercy on us
Spirit who welcomes us home together into God’s eternal world
Grant us peace
Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus, as members of your family, help us to proclaim your names in all the earth
Make us instruments of your life today
Through our words and actions help us to proclaim you as saviour and redeemer to all peoples
Lord make us instruments of your love today
Where there is war may we proclaim you as the Prince of Peace
Lord make us instruments of your peace today
Where there is despair may we proclaim you as the God of all comfort
Lord make us instruments of your comfort today
Where there is sickness may we proclaim you as the great physician
Lord make us instruments of your healing today
Where there is oppression may we proclaim you as the God who brings freedom
Lord make us instruments of your freedom today
Where there is hunger may we proclaim you as the God of abundant provision
Lord make us instruments of your generosity today
Jesus may we be proclaimers of your names through all the earth
Lord make us instruments of your kingdom today
The Wonderful Counsellor guide you,
The Mighty God protect you,
The Everlasting Father be with you.
The Prince of Peace inspire you,
And the blessings of God be upon you, now and evermore.
Amen
[caption id="attachment_5768" align="alignnone" width="350"]
nativity - Lu Lan China[/caption]
With Christmas just a few days away I thought that some of you might be interested in morning and evening prayers for the Christmas season. I thought that I would post these in separate posts so here are the morning prayers
God of joy and celebration
God of love and mercy
God of peace and righteousness
We sing aloud and dance with the angels.
The ruler of all worlds, the shepherd of creation
Jesus Christ has entered our world
Our Saviour Christ has come into the world,
Not in power, not in might, but in the tenderness of love,
He comes as the promise of life hidden in a mother’s womb.
In this season of God with us we celebrate with the angels
We are graced by the wonder of God’s presence
We are filled with the tenderness of Christ’s love,
(Pause to light Advent and Christ candles)
Love and faithfulness meet together,
Righteousness and peace kiss each other,
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
In this season of God with us we rejoice for God’s salvation has come
The redeemer of all creation has come to earth
And we catch glimpses of God’s Messiah healed world
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
This is the time we believe once more that perfect love casts out fear
That generosity transforms scarcity into abundance
That righteousness overcomes oppression with justice
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
We are graced by Christ’s presence and filled with his love
May we become bearers of God’s light,
And go out to transform our troubled world.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
Scriptures of the day from the daily lectionary
The whole earth shouts with joy to God
The world declares God’s praise.
Praise to the compassionate and gracious One,
Who sent the son to dwell among us.
Praise to the incarnate One, Jesus Christ our Redeemer
Who fulfills God’s covenant of love and compassion to all humankind
Praise to the indwelling one, the Holy Spirit the giver of life
Who proclaims God’s mercy and justice throughout the earth
Praise to the three in One
Praise to the One in Three
Praise to God on high
Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus you come
In the voice of the poor
In the hurting of the sick
In the anguish of the oppressed
Open our eyes that we may see you
Jesus you come
In the weakness of the vulnerable
In the questions of the doubting
In the fears of the dying
Open our ears that we might hear you
Jesus you come
In the celebration of the saints
In the generosity of the faithful
In the compassion of the caring
Open our hearts that we might embrace you
Almighty God whose great love and compassion came into our world in the person of your incarnate son, Jesus Christ, plant in every heart your concern and care for all humankind. May the light of Christ ignite our hearts and shine out brightly from our lives, proclaiming your salvation to all the earth.
May the light of God shine on us,
May the love of Christ shine in us,
May the life of the Spirit shine through us.
This day and evermore
Amen
nativity - Lu Lan China[/caption]
With Christmas just a few days away I thought that some of you might be interested in morning and evening prayers for the Christmas season. I thought that I would post these in separate posts so here are the morning prayers
God of joy and celebration
God of love and mercy
God of peace and righteousness
We sing aloud and dance with the angels.
The ruler of all worlds, the shepherd of creation
Jesus Christ has entered our world
Our Saviour Christ has come into the world,
Not in power, not in might, but in the tenderness of love,
He comes as the promise of life hidden in a mother’s womb.
In this season of God with us we celebrate with the angels
We are graced by the wonder of God’s presence
We are filled with the tenderness of Christ’s love,
(Pause to light Advent and Christ candles)
Love and faithfulness meet together,
Righteousness and peace kiss each other,
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
In this season of God with us we rejoice for God’s salvation has come
The redeemer of all creation has come to earth
And we catch glimpses of God’s Messiah healed world
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
This is the time we believe once more that perfect love casts out fear
That generosity transforms scarcity into abundance
That righteousness overcomes oppression with justice
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
We are graced by Christ’s presence and filled with his love
May we become bearers of God’s light,
And go out to transform our troubled world.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
Scriptures of the day from the daily lectionary
The whole earth shouts with joy to God
The world declares God’s praise.
Praise to the compassionate and gracious One,
Who sent the son to dwell among us.
Praise to the incarnate One, Jesus Christ our Redeemer
Who fulfills God’s covenant of love and compassion to all humankind
Praise to the indwelling one, the Holy Spirit the giver of life
Who proclaims God’s mercy and justice throughout the earth
Praise to the three in One
Praise to the One in Three
Praise to God on high
Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus you come
In the voice of the poor
In the hurting of the sick
In the anguish of the oppressed
Open our eyes that we may see you
Jesus you come
In the weakness of the vulnerable
In the questions of the doubting
In the fears of the dying
Open our ears that we might hear you
Jesus you come
In the celebration of the saints
In the generosity of the faithful
In the compassion of the caring
Open our hearts that we might embrace you
Almighty God whose great love and compassion came into our world in the person of your incarnate son, Jesus Christ, plant in every heart your concern and care for all humankind. May the light of Christ ignite our hearts and shine out brightly from our lives, proclaiming your salvation to all the earth.
May the light of God shine on us,
May the love of Christ shine in us,
May the life of the Spirit shine through us.
This day and evermore
Amen
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