For Easter 3C

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

God of Grace, you ask us, “Christian, do you love me?”

And we reply vigorously, “of course we do!”

But then you ask again, “Christian, do you love me?”

And we start to squirm a little bit and mumble that yes we do but sometimes we have trouble showing it.

So you ask a third time, “Christian, do you love me?”

And we stare at the ground, saying quietly, “yes.” But we need help to live that love every day

God of Grace, we love you, we seek to live in your Way,

so we ask for your help, we ask for your patience when we miss the path, we ask for your guidance as we choose how to live as loved and loving people.

...time of silent prayer...

God is Gracious, God is Patient, God meets us where we are. God teaches us to live love by showing us that we are loved, accepted, forgiven.

We are an Easter people. Thanks be to God! Amen.

COMMISSIONING:

In response to our professions of love God says:

Feed my lambs, tend my sheep.

So we go out to live our love of God by caring about what God cares about,

loving the world around us, loving the people we meet every day.

Be bold, be strong, be courageous in the task.

We can do it for we know that God goes with us

Everywhere and always.

Amen.