Easter is a way of living focused on what is possible because of the resurrection and not our overwhelming fears of failure, rejection, disappointment and death
Gracious God,
You, who gave us your Son,
Who conquered sin and death to rise again to renew creation in peace
Today we ask you to show us your way
We believe, even as we doubt, that Easter means the impossible is possible. Easter means it is possible to be forgiven and to love freely, it means that peace and justice are more powerful than violence and self-interest. It means other things too, and we ask for you to teach us what ‘thy Kingdom come’ means and asks of us.
We ask you to shape us – each of us, and us as a community – into a people that sees things differently, and is ok with that.
We ask for courage and enough foolishness to take the first step toward living a life of love
We ask – not for blinders, so that we are no longer reminded of the seriousness of failure, rejection, disappointment, and death – not for blinders, but for fellow disciples because it is better to do this together, for laughter and the ability to forgive ourselves, so that when we fall down we can get back up again, and for the freedom to share our gifts.
As we together envision what is possible in the wake of the resurrection, we bring a few special requests to you.
We pray for the victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, for Catholics around the world, and for the Vatican…remembering that the way of the cross is not one of self-defense and forestalling liability, and requires the church to protect the most vulnerable rather than the most powerful
We pray for those around the world, and those in our midst, who are homeless, asking that you keep them safe, and that we do whatever is possible to provide shelter and sustenance for those in need.
We pray for those here tonight who are carrying special burdens – for those who are sick, who need to be forgiven, who need to forgive, who are lonely, who are without work, who work too much, and for all who for whatever reason are not whole…and ask again for you to grow us into a community whose loving embrace is not unlike your own
And we pray as your son, Jesus taught us…
-prayed by Elizabeth Hein
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