Prayers of the People - Monday Evening, May 25

Pause at the end of each day. Enjoy communion with the living God: Creator, Redeemer, Holy Spirit. Listen for the voice of God in the scriptures.

Read

Psalm 44 - A Nation’s Prayer of Lament

Judges 17 + 18, Micah’s Idol and the Migration of Dan - continuing story of Ancient Tribes of Israel after Joshua, before Samuel.

John 20.1-18 - The Resurrection of Jesus

Meditate

The Resurrection Season, a time when we retell and hold close the stories of Jesus conquering death, comes to a close this week. Meditate on the stories of life mingled with the words of lament. Sit with your questions, write down your observations and acknowledge the tensions.

Pray

Bring your meditations to this time of prayer and let them guide you, or use the prayer we’ve written from Psalm 44: Lord, hear the prayers of your people.

We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us,what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, for you delighted in them.

Our King and God; you command victories. For not in my bow do we trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes, and have put to confusion those who hate us.In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.

Contemplate

In silence

Through song - “Don’t Cry” by Kirk Franklin

Seek God’s face, let Jesus surprise you like Mary:

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20.11-18

In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Lord, hear the prayers of your people. Amen

Artwork: Women, by Coyotitto // Tamara Natalie Madden

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Prayers of the People - May 25