a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
A prayer of illumination for reading Acts 1:1-14 (Ascension/Easter 7A).
Submitted by Andy James, First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone, Queens, NY
Ever-rising God,
just as you lifted the eyes of the disciples
to the rising Jesus at his ascension,
so lift our eyes to you as we hear your holy word today,
that we too might turn our eyes toward the need of the world
and follow in your way through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
submitted by Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church, North Plainfield, NJ
Compassionate and Gentle God,
you have created us in Love to be your people.
As we gather for worship,
we are reminded that we have lost sight of this Gift
and forgotten how to really love you.
We have worshipped other gods,
put our faith in the riches of this world,
and impressed ourselves with misguided power.
We have looked for help in the wrong places
and ignored the extravagances you lay before us.
Send your Spirit to come and breathe its life-sustaining and life-altering presence into us
in these moments of worship.
Send your Spirit of renewal and transformation.
Send your Spirit that up-ends our lives and sets us on a new path.
Send your Spirit, O Lord.
Hear our prayers
and remake us in Your image once again.
We pray these things in the name of the One who rose from the grave.
submitted by Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church, North Plainfield, NJ
adapted from Psalm 66:1-8 in The Message
One: All together now—applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of God’s glory and set songs and rhythms to praise the Lord!
All: Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like this!” When your enemies see you in action, they slink off like scolded dogs. The whole earth falls to its knees—it worships you, sings to you, can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.
One: All together now—Take a good look at God’s wonders— they’ll take your breath away! Seas converted to dry land; travelers crossed the river on foot. Now isn’t that cause for a song?
All: Bless our God, O peoples! Give God a thunderous welcome! Come, let us worship God together in this place, on this great day!
submitted by Andy James, First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone, Queens, New York
connected to the gospel reading for Easter 6A, John 14:15-21
Gracious God, we love you,
but too often we do not keep your commandments.
We turn away from your path
and love our way of life more than we love you.
We love ourselves but forget to love our neighbors too.
Forgive our misdirected love.
Help us to respond to your love in new ways each and every day.
Strengthen us so that we may know your promises
and see your risen presence in Jesus Christ our Lord.
submitted by Scott Cervas, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Kentucky
a prayer of confession for the Second Sunday of Easter, RCL Year A
God, we are so much like the disciples that it isn’t even funny. We’re afraid…scared to go outside and live resurrected lives; scared to disconnect ourselves from systems that devalue other people; scared to challenge the status quo, because standing up to it will place us on the outside of our own comfortable, privileged, lives. Like Thomas, we want tangible proof, tangible results, and tangible rewards. And until you deliver, we will stay where we are. And where we are is exactly where we don’t belong. So please, forgive our complacency, and draw us to richer, fuller, resurrected lives, even now, as we offer our silent confessions…
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