Prayer

God over all,

Every day in our world, aggressors go to war with indiscriminate violence, policies are enacted to privilege the few, and families are divided for often spurious reasons. Always it’s the children who suffer the pain of these disruptive decisions, which they have no part in. We hurt for their hurts, but this is not enough. Inspire us to advocate for the young, working to protect their freedom to grow, surrounded by love, belonging, and safety. Guide us in this most important work. In our families, our neighborhoods, and our world, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Author of life,

Today, at the break of day, we celebrate the awesome good news! The Author of Life, who breathed our air and walked in our shoes, dwelt among us and shared both our life and our death, still breathes today, on the other side of death! What an incredible thought, which we are right to cherish and draw strength from, today of all days. Death has been trampled by life. Let all who feel burdened by death have hope. Amen!

Prayer

God of Light,

This Easter weekend fills us with wonder and joy, as we celebrate life’s renewal and the present hope of resurrection. Many have been waiting so long for signs of new life. There are those who are hurting and others who grow weary in the wait. We pray for them and ask that the miracle of your marvelous light, bursting forth from the darkness today, will stand as a sign for them that death shall not have the last word. Fill each one of us with such hope that a world so often in darkness will be filled with light. Amen.

Prayer

Liberating God,

You show us each day and in so many ways that you are not far from our suffering. Rather you are close to the broken-hearted and draw near to those who are wounded by unjust oppression. As our Jewish colleagues enter their Passover feast, and as Christians embrace this Good Friday, we are all filled with wonder at the way your compassion for humanity becomes liberation. You freed a people enslaved and still do today, showing us how compassionate love can do miraculous things. Help us embody and extend that same love, extending your liberating compassion to others in need. In your name we pray, Amen.

Prayer

Wondrous God,

We are humbled by the thought of you washing feet. In fact, it’s almost too much to imagine. In that very moment, when you knew you had power over “all things,” you chose to perform this act of service!? This is true power, which does not show strength by putting down others or inflating oneself, but by taking the role of everyone’s servant. You taught us to do the same, so help us to do so. May we all have the grace to follow your lead, serving the world in the power of your selfless love. Amen.

Prayer

Transforming God,

We all go through times of preparation, as we get ourselves ready for some new adventure, decision ahead, or direction in life that we know will bring changes. Give us wisdom to know when it’s time to stop planning and time to get moving. Help us to trust you through the changes to come, believing by faith that you work all for our good. Amen.

Prayer

Giver of all that is good,

When our worlds get constricted and we lose our feeling for freedom, help us at least find the freedom to laugh. Let there be humor between us that can crack every tension and overcome wrongs. Heal us of patterns of thought, word, or deed that foster anxiety and despair. And instead let us work, play, and live in ways that spread life to others—expanding our spaces with joy and gladness for life, a life beside others, a life that’s ready to smile at the days we are given. Amen.