Prayer to end the Good Friday Walk

God of life, today we pause to remember the power of death.
Today we tell the story of what happens when someone angers those in power.
Today we tell a story of betrayal by a friend, trial by empire, execution as a way of silencing the one who names injustice.
Today we tell a story that happened long ago in a land far away.
Today we tell a story that continues to happen today in places close at hand.

As we remember the story today help us to see its truth.
As we tell of Jesus' trial and execution remind us of those who are found legally guitly for doing and saying the right things.
AS we tell of the friends who are conspicuously absent from the cross remind us how easily we slip away when the struggle for justice becomes dangerous or challenging.
As we look at the cross remind us of the power of empire in any age, and remind us of our duty as people of faith to proclaim a different empire, a different kingdom, a new way of living together.

God of life, today we pause to remember the power of those in charge to run the world.
But even as we remember that power we remember that day follows night, hope replaces despair, and life will conquer death.
And now, as we prepare to break bread together with our brothers and sisters in faith, unite us in heart and mind.
May the sharing of this story and this meal bring us together in a sincere desire that your Reign of Peace and Justice become a reality “on earth as it is in heaven”.
May the food we will now eat strengthen us in body.
May the fellowship strengthen us in heart and mind.
And may we leave this gathering ready to challenge the empires of our world, even if such a challenge leads us to a cross outside the city gates.
We pray in the name of the one who taught us all to pray together,
Our Father, who art in heaven...

For the last 6 Sundays of Easter

OPENING PRAYER
God, in this season of Easter,
we come looking for new life waiting to be revealed.
In this season of rebirth,
we watch for spring growth leaping from once frozen ground.
In this time of worship,
open our hearts to hear your words of hope, open our eyes to see your deeds of life, open our spirits to your refreshing winds of change.
And when our worship is finished,
send us out ready to be agents of resurrection, transformation and new life.
We pray in the name of the Resurrected One, who taught his friends to pray these words…

Offering Prayer
Life-giving God, you have blessed us with abundance. In this season of growth we share from our abundance. May the gifts we give be signs of resurrection and transformation and life for the world. We offer them in Jesus’ name. Amen.

For April 12, 2009 -- Easter Sunday

EASTER PROCLAMATION
We journey with the women to the tomb,
Wondering what we will find there.
What we find defies all our expectations.
The stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty.
Christ is Risen!
Christ is Risen INDEED!
Alleluia! Let us rejoice with great gladness!
Alleluia! Let our praises fill the air!

OPENING PRAYER
God, we gather today to rejoice!
We have come to celebrate the power of life over death!
God, we gather today in wonderment.
The empty tomb confounds our wisdom, and breaks our world view.
God, we gather today with a touch of fear.
Fear of the death that comes before resurrection, fear of the transformed life that comes after it.
In this time together fill us with the promise of new life.
And may we leave this place renewed in hope, ready to proclaim resurrection to the world around us. Alleluia! Amen.