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prayers of the people: risen Lord, hear our cry

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Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Risen Lord, hear our cry for help –
for those surrounded by the shroud of death
for those covered by the mantle of dying
for those hemmed-in by illness, visible or veiled
hear our cry for help…
for those weighed down with worries
for those carrying the burden of distress
for those overwhelmed by isolation
hear our cry for help…
for those who are weary
for those who are tattered and worn
for those who collapse from exhaustion
hear our cry for help…
Risen Lord, hear our cry of thanksgiving –
for the graciousness with which you hear
for the patience with which you listen
for the grace with which you care
hear our cry of thanksgiving…
for the ways you accompany us through deep valleys
for the ways you lead us to still meadows
for the ways you provide all we need
hear our cry of thanksgiving…
for transforming death in resurrection life
for blessing and breaking ordinary bread
for opening our eyes to recognize you
hear our cry of thanksgiving…
Risen Lord, hear our cry for communities of faith –
that we retain memory of being together
that we embrace unity in the reality of distance
that we foresee a future side-by-side, hand-in-hand
hear our cry for communities of faith…
that we sense purpose beyond ourselves
that we perceive the needs of creation
that we stretch ourselves to respond
hear our cry for communities of faith…
that our ways be formed by Your Way
that our lives be shaped by Your Life
that our love be Your Love
hear our cry for communities our faith…
And hear us as we pray together….
inspired by Psalm 116 & Luke 24:13-31a
submitted by Katherine Kussmaul, Saint Giles Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC

POP: Appearances

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God of Life,

On that first Easter our Risen Lord appeared to Magdalene, who stood alone — weeping — beside a garden tomb; and to a pair of downcast disciples walking the Emmaus road; and to a band of fearful followers, huddled at home behind locked doors.

On that first Easter Christ came to those who loved him — not in some sacred shrine, filled with trumpet blasts and shouts of ‘Alleluia!’ — but in quiet, tucked-away places, where the faithful sought refuge from a death-dealing world.

Having cast aside his own grave clothes, Christ came to unburden his disciples: to wipe away their tears, to set their hearts ablaze, to offer the gift of peace.

And so you come to us this day, while the shroud of death hangs heavy, while your people scatter for safety’s sake. You come to us, meeting us in ordinary places — the backdrops of our ordinary lives — to whisper the most extraordinary news: Christ is risen!

You come to us, Living Lord, to wipe away our tears, to set our hearts ablaze, to offer us the gift of peace.

And so we lift joy-filled voices to proclaim again and for all time: He is risen, indeed! Even in this season of fear, when anxiety is a constant companion; even in this season of uncertainty, when chaos seems to reign; even in this season of grief, when the forces of death seem determined to triumph, we rejoice. Especially now, we rejoice. For you have shattered the power of the grave and opened the way to eternal life!

As you come among us this day, open our hearts to your presence among us and grant us faith to believe the good news. Faithful God, we lift before you all who feel trapped in a ‘Good Friday’ world, all who cannot glimpse the brightness of Easter morn. Bring comfort to those who feel death’s sharp sting, and hope to those entombed by despair. Breathe reassurance into the hearts of those who cannot yet imagine a day when mourning turns to dancing, and send whispers of resurrection through rooms where fear still holds sway. Wrap these sisters and brothers in the steadfastness of your love, and fill them with peace.

Resurrected One, we know that Easter is not the end of the story. Christ goes before us still, leading us into a world that is desperate for good news. Though today we cannot go to the ends of the earth, or even to the streets of our neighborhoods, you still commission us to bear witness to this good news of overwhelming joy. Breathe your Spirit upon us so that we might live as a resurrection people. As disciples of the crucified and risen Lord, give us compassion in the face of suffering, courage in the face of injustice, and hope in the face of despair. Empower us, we pray, so that we might live as those who have seen the Living Lord.

We lift this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, who gave us words to pray: Our Father … 

My thanks to the Rev. Casey Wait, whose observations in a recent Facebook post regarding Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances were a source of inspiration for this prayer.

submitted by Rev. Sudie Niesen Thompson, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE

prayer: you were there, you are here

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Creator of Palms and Presence in Passion, you were there.

You were there for the triumphant entry –
riding a donkey and colt
(untied for sacred purpose)
on a road
covered with cloaks
padded with palms.

You were there to battle injustice –
ejecting merchants
overturning tables
toppling benches
rejecting the den of robbers
ensuring a house of prayer.

You were there to witness generosity –
the rich giving much
(a pittance from their abundance)
the widow giving all
(everything she had)
teaching discipleship.

You were there in a new commandment –
“Love one another –
Just as I have loved you,
you also should love one another”
Love the Lord your God with all…
Love one another as you hope to be loved.

You were there to forgive –
two who did not know
many who did know
Praying on their behalf
on our behalf
grace upon grace upon grace.

Creator of Palms and Presence in Passion, you are here.

Entering our lives in unexpected ways –
exposing injustice
welcoming generosity
fostering love
widening grace
inviting discipleship.

Entering our lives in more familiar ways –
companionship in isolation
spoken word in silence
laughter in restless longing
quiet in constant murmur
nourishment for every hour.

Entering our lives as you entered Jerusalem –
humble leader
adamant prophet
quiet observer
thoughtful teacher
steadfast servant.

Creator of Palms and Presence in Passion, you were there – you are here.

Grant us what we need
that we may receive what you offer
and share what you give.

submitted by Katherine Kussmaul, Saint Giles Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

prayers of the people: come to us

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Word of God, come to us as you came to Lazarus.

Come to the caves of our lives –
caves we have created,
and caves we have sought;
Caves to which we have been sent,
caves in which we now reside.

Come to the caves of our world –
caves of containment,
and caves of protection;
Caves of solace and anxiety,
caves that quickly become tombs.

Word of God, come to us as you came to Lazarus.

Call us back to life –
life created by you,
and life sustained by you;
Life in relationship with you,
life in service to others.

Call us back to life –
life that is hope in despair,
and peace in unsettled times.
Life that is joy in sorrow,
love beyond understanding.

Word of God, come to us as you came to Lazarus.

Unbind us and set us free –
liberate shackles of sadness,
and burdens too heavy to bear.
Release us from fear that inhibits
deliver us in your grace.

Unbind us and set us free –
call us to community,
and fuel us for connection.
Show us your way,
inspire us to walk with you.

Through the renewing power of your Spirit,
and grounded in the words you teach us to pray….

submitted by Katherine Kussmaul, Saint Giles Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

prayer for COVID-19: in the midst

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Holy One,
Bridger of Distance,
Connector of Beings,
hear our prayer….

In the midst
of non-stop news stories
about illness and scarcity,
press conferences and cancellations…
grant us quiet in our minds.

In the midst
of heightened anxiety
about caregivers and caregiving,
about health and hygiene,
grant us calm in our hearts.

In the midst
of opposing views:
close doors or stay open,
reach out or hunker down…
grant us peace in our spirits.

In the midst
of distance
in our families, our faith communities,
in all our relationships with others…
grant us connection in our separation.

In the midst
of our lives:
our gratitude and concerns,
our hopes and longings…
grant us an abiding sense of Your Comfort.

 

submitted by Katherine L. Kussmaul, Pastor, Saint Giles Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina