Prayer for the Seventh Week of Easter

God Almighty,

You sent your Son to conquer sin and death.
Through his death resurrection and resurrection
he sits at your right hand
and has claimed all authority in heaven and on earth.

May we live our lives as citizens of Christ’s kingdom
spreading the mercy and grace of Christ to all
and building his kingdom on this earth.

Amen

Prayer for the Sixth Week After Easter

God Almighty,

The warmth of the earth
does not compare to the warmth of your love.

You indwell the heavens.
The whole world is invigorated
by your power.

The grass grows and the birds sing
because of your grace.

Amen

Early Morning Walks

I woke up at five thirty to the sound of my neighbor leaving.

Rain was slowly dropping, not yet decided whether it would be a proper rain or a drizzle.

Only a few birds stirred.

My mind began to race.

I had a very busy day at work ahead and a busy weekend.

I laid there, barely any light coming through the window, and thoughts continued to barrage my mind. I couldn’t get back to sleep.

I got up.

I was out the door by 5:40, tennis shoes on, heading for the park with a hoodie on and my Dodgers hat.

There was one jogger on the whole circuit. He passed me from different directions each time. He was using the figure 8 course, and so he would run by me then a few minutes later come up from behind. He wore 80s style shorts that looked like the swimming trunks I wore when I was 5 and an old school Nike headband. I waved hello. He nodded.

I clutched my Nalgene in one hand and my prayer beads in another. I had not been outside this early in several weeks, and my pre-caffeinated mind struggled to put the words together.

I thumbed the beads. People I hadn’t prayed for in several months came to mind, and I used each bead to pray for them.

I prayed over all the thoughts running through my head.

Then I walked home to face the day.

Prayer for the Fifth Week of Easter

God Almighty,

You have sown resurrection in the world as many seeds.
Through us may your Church grow.
Through our words and actions may the kingdom come.

As the flower blooms and the fruit grows,
may your Spirit grow our faith, hope and love,
that in all we do you may be glorified.

Amen

Prayer for the Fourth Week of Easter

God Almighty,

We are a broken people.
You alone can make us whole.

We are a scattered people.
Only you can bring us together again.

May our brokenness be used to further your kingdom
as we scatter to our jobs, our families and our friends
to share Christ with all.

We return to you a broken people made whole
through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We return to you a scattered people united as one body
through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Prayer for the Third Week of Easter

God Almighty,

You give us new grace each day
through the death and resurrection of your Son.

In the new life of the resurrection
we find the center of our lives:

Christ is the radiant light
shining love, compassion and mercy
into our bodies and souls.

In this same way give us the strength
to display the light of Christ to others.

Amen