Praying our Way around the World

 

Prayers for Sunday, April 3

It’s April.  But it is still Lent.  Flowers are awakening from their winter slumber, their fragile petals doing a morning stretch, seeking the sun and summer.  But it is still Lent.  Our fragile and repentant hearts are stretching toward your arms of forgiveness.  Most gracious, most merciful God, grab our hesitant arms and pull us into your enthusiastic embrace of grace. 

 (Prayer response:  Taize "Lord, Listen to your children praying")

It’s April.  But it’s still Lent.  Even though we know that the cross is empty, we will journey to Jerusalem and once again celebrate the greatest love story ever told.  But we are not the central characters in this story.  YOU are.  You are the one who receives the fragrant oil that will be soon be carried to your tomb of death.  You are the one who chastises Judas for his early betrayal that will be trumped by a betrayed kiss.  You are the one who will be mocked, spit upon, whipped, and grossly crowned in pain.  You are the one who will speak of eternity to a thief on a cross.  You are the one who will say, “It is finished.”  Because you are the only one who can declare that the world’s sin is wiped clean.  Sweep us all into that bottomless grace.

  (Prayer response:  Taize "Lord, Listen to your children praying")

It's April.  But it’s still Lent.  The calendars speak our dualities.  WE sail in safety with an abundance of food, water, electricity, and choices…while brothers and sisters in Ukraine hide or flee or struggle to survive.  WE turn the hands of our clocks and speak of sleeplessness…while others become caregivers of loved ones or sit in vigil as their beloveds are dying.  We laugh and mingle and applaud…and then return to our privacy, our loneliness, and our open questions.  We pray for our competent captain, team, and crew…while we pray for strength and freedom elsewhere.  God, dwell with us in our dualities, our inconsistencies, and our discomfort.  Gift us with your peace.

 (Prayer response:  Taize "Lord, Listen to your children praying") 

It's April.  But it’s still Lent.  We understand the restored joy which the Psalm describes.  We have experienced deep grief and disappointment.  We have glimpsed your miracles and have expressed, “The Lord has done great things for us.”  But there are so many, Holy God, who wander in good works, who lean on their own versions of understanding and knowledge, and who feel entitled to power.  Give us the patience and the words to be shining lights in the world’s naivete and darkness.

 (Prayer response:  Taize "Lord, Listen to your children praying")

It's April.  It’s Lent.  But Easter is coming.  Light shines in the darkness.  Fear overcomes joy.  Swords become plowshares.  Denigrations becomes celebration.  Those who are hurt are healed.  Attitudes turn to gratitude.  Those poor in privilege are blessed.   Hope lives.  Love wins.  And so we sing with gusto:

Music ends.

Final petition: names spoken aloud or in our hearts.  Place your hands on these hearts, dear Lord.  Remind them and their loved ones that they belong to you.  All this and whatever else you see we need, grant to us, dear Lord.  Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Benediction