Prayer for the Fifth Week of Lent

God Almighty,

We look to you as the source of all goodness.

You pick us up out of our sin and darkness
and place us into everlasting light.

Give to us out of your compassion and mercy,
so that we may go forth and share your love with others.

Shine your light on us and fill us.
Having been filled with spiritual food,
may we break bread with others
and share out of your abundance.

Amen

Prayer for the Fourth Week of Lent

Glory be to God
for the deep loam of the earth,
the dust from which we grow.

The whole world came alive
with just dust and the breath of God.

Even the dust is God’s handiwork!
He filled the void with dust
and formed it into the cosmos.

Attend you stars!
Listen you planets!
The world is God’s alone.

Amen

Worship for Good Friday

In my brief meditation “Dreaming of the Cross” yesterday, I mentioned that I have published outlines of Good Friday services before. Here are the services I have created with a brief introduction:

Stations of the Cross Service for Good Friday: A highly adaptable service featuring five major stations of the cross.

Seven Words Service (A) for Good Friday: A service feature the last seven phrases that Christ spoke. A different person would read each of the seven words.  A song (just verse and chorus) would be played after the reading.  The minister gives a 2-3 minute mediation on the word.

Seven Words Service (B) for Good Friday: Similar to Version A, this service is more linear and somber. It is broken up less. One reading opens the service, two songs would then be played; two more readings, two more songs, three more readings, then in the dark the minister would preach a 15 minute meditation followed by communion.

I will be publishing my new service based on “The Dream of the Rood” once it is finalized.

Dreaming of the Cross

Some of the most popular posts on this site lately have been Good Friday services I have written a couple of years ago. It’s that time of year again, to look ahead to Good Friday and plan.

This year, I am dreaming of the cross. Specifically, the Old English poem “The Dream of the Rood” (rood means cross in Old English).

Take Beowulf style epic poetry and combine with Christus Victor theology and what you get is “The Dream of the Rood.”

I am working on a service that incorporates contemporary translation of the poem with excerpts of Scripture that look at Christ’s victory over sin and death.

On the worst of days, it is well worth remembering the amazing victory Christ claimed.

How do you share the victory of the cross on one of the darkest of days?

Prayer for the Third Week of Lent

God Almighty,

You are the healer of the heavens
and the earth.

You fill the void with your resounding voice.

Your good news covers the earth
like the dew.

Your people will not go hungry
when you are their only food.

Your people will not go thirsty
when you are their only drink.

Amen

Prayer for the Second Week of Lent

God Almighty,

We are a penitent people, prone to wander, prone to sin.
We walk as if we have no light.
We are led astray as if we have no path.

Call us back to you and your saving grace.
Be our comforter and guide.
Heal us with the power of your Holy Spirit.
Let us find healing in your death and resurrection,
for you are the king of kings,
you are the Prince of Peace
and the Son of justice.

Amen