Holy Saturday 

 

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered his prayers with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death. On this day, we pray in Jesus’ name: O Lord, do not be far away; O God, come quickly to help us. Remember your church . . . Keep us faithful to the gospel, proclaiming the good news of salvation even in the face of danger and death. O Lord, do not be far away; O God, come quickly to help us. Remember your world . . . Rescue this perishing planet, condemned by human cruelty; do not let it be destroyed forever. O Lord, do not be far away; O God, come quickly to help us. Remember all nations . . . Break the sword and snap the spear; trample the high walls and thorny fences  that separate neighbors and nations. O Lord, do not be far away; O God, come quickly to help us. Remember those who face death . . . Restore the lives of those who suffer, give hope to those who are despairing, and welcome the dying into your arms. O Lord, do not be far away; O God, come quickly to help us. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, who suffered and died for our sakes. Amen.

 

Bartlett, David L.; Taylor, Barbara Brown; Long, Kimberly Bracken (2014-12-31). Feasting on the Word Lenten Companion: A Thematic Resource for Preaching and Worship (pp. 280-281). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.

 

Holy Week Friday

 

We stand near the cross, O God— disturbed, distraught, discouraged. Yet we gather here as disciples, those whom Jesus loves. In the face of such suffering, show us the face of our Savior. In the shadow of such evil, show us the light of your grace On this day of great solemnity, let us stand as witnesses to your great love for all the world, revealed in the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

 

Bartlett, David L.; Taylor, Barbara Brown; Long, Kimberly Bracken (2014-12-31). Feasting on the Word Lenten Companion: A Thematic Resource for Preaching and Worship (pp. 258-259). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.

 

Holy Week Thursday  

 

God of love, during Holy Week, we give you thanks for this night Jesus shared with his disciples. Between the public parade and the public charade is this intimate hour. Though even now we do not fully understand, we long to follow his example: to serve as he served, to love as he loved. Jesus promised that if we know these things and do them, we will be blessed. Help us, then, to know and to do all that Jesus taught. Though we betray and deny, we still come seeking a blessing, for this much we do know:  we cannot live unless you bless us. Amen. 

 

Bartlett, David L.; Taylor, Barbara Brown; Long, Kimberly Bracken (2014-12-31). Feasting on the Word Lenten Companion: A Thematic Resource for Preaching and Worship (p. 229). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.

 

 

The Creation Waits   

I pray, O Lord, for the earth. Forgive us for the waste, the destruction, the disrespect. Heal the earth, O God. Heal the earth.

 

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” Romans 8: 20-21

 

A Prayer at Tree-Planting

 

Lord, it may seem odd

That I should pray here, now.

But when I plant trees

I’ve things to say to God.

 

These little trees are Yours,

You know, not just mine.

A redwood grove twelve inches tall

Is hardly anyone’s at all,

I suppose except by faith.

 

A man gets to wondering,

Between bulldozers and fears

Of war, why look ahead

A hundred, even thirty years?

 

I don’t know…except

As these trees grow

I hope my great grandchildren

Or someone’s boys and girls

Play hide-and-seek

Among the towering trunks

And chattering squirrels.

 

 

I hope they hear beauty

In the singing boughs

And birds. I hope they

Breathe clean forest air

And find Your peace.

 

~Richard J. Foster, Prayers From The Heart

 

Prayer for the Making of a Better World  

 

O Thou who compasseth the whole earth with Thy most merciful favour and willest not that any of thy children should perish. I would call down Thy blessing today upon all who are striving towards the making of a better world. I pray, O God especially—

 

For all who are valiant for truth:

For all who are working for purer and juster laws:

For all who are working for peace between nations;

For all who are engaged in healing disease;

For all who are engaged in the releif of poverty:

For all who are engage in the rescue of the fallen:

For all who are working towards the restoration of the broken unity of Thy Holy Church:

For all who preach the gospel:

For all who bear witness to Christ in foreign lands:

For all who suffer for righteousness’ sake.

 

Cast down, O Lord, all the forces of cruelty and wrong. Defeat all selfish and worldy-minded schemes, and prosper all that is conceived among us in the spirit of Christ and carried out to the honour of His blessed name. Amen.

 

John Braillie

 

~Richard J. Foster’s Prayers From The Heart

 

Give Us This Day 

 

“Give us this day our daily bread.” How do I pray those words, Lord? I live in the context of abundance. I simply do not worry about where my next mela will come from.

 

Perhaps I should pray on behalf of those who really and truly live from one meal to the next. And I do pray for them. Yet, action on their behalf is the real prayer for the poor—prayer in action.

 

I do need faith daily, Jesus, and strength and patience and wisdom and love and so much more. And real material needs, too. “Give us this day our daily baby sitter.” Is that how I pray for daily bread?

 

Teach me, Father, a life of daily dependence upon you for all things—even for the bread that is already in the pantry.

Amen.

 

~Richard J. Foster’s Prayers From The Heart