Please see this previous post for an introduction to this prayer series.

Suggested Spiritual Practice: Silence

Read this meditation on “Dying with Christ” by Father Richard Rohr and practice silent/contemplative prayer in whatever manner you prefer.

Music Links:

·         “Were you there” from Three Mo’ Tenors

·         “Beneath the cross of Jesus” acapella

·          “Stay with me” Taize

Call to Worship:

With the glory of Palm Sunday past, and the victory of Easter not yet come,
Let me sit with my breaking, my broken heart.
In this world that is at once beautiful and holy and tragic,
I long for a safe and sacred space to sit with my grief and my questions.
Jesus Christ, holy friend,
I know that you are here with me.
Let me be here with you. Amen.

Scripture readings:

• Monday: Psalm 31:9-16
• Tuesday: Philippians 2:5-11
• Wednesday: Isaiah 50:4-9a
• Thursday: Luke 22:14-53
• Friday: Luke 22:63-23:25
• Saturday: Luke 23:26-49

 Time for silent, written, and/or spoken reflections

 Further Reflections

• Monday: “My Broken Hossana”  by Debi Thomas
• Tuesday: “Becoming Human” by Brian Volck
• Wednesday: “In which Peacemaking Looks Like Confrontation” by Grace Sandra
• Thursday: “Jesus has a Last Supper (Gay Passion of Christ series)”
• Friday: “Jesus before the Sanhedrin” by Joanna
• Saturday: “Reflection on Good Friday” by Joanna

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Holy God,
For all that is beautiful,
For all that brings joy,
For all that is good,
I give you thanks.

For all that is broken,
For all those who grieve,
For this world’s deepest aches,
I ask your mercy.

For your life entering ours
In the person of Jesus of Nazareth,
For his beauty and brokenness,
His joy and his grief,
His goodness and pain,
Because of this, God, I trust you
With the most tender places of myself.

Continue this prayer by offering your personal joys and concerns.

Amen.

 Closing Quote

“The gospel of Jesus is not a rational concept to be explained in a theory of salvation, but a story about God’s presence in Jesus’ solidarity with the oppressed, which led to his death on the cross. What is redemptive is the faith that God snatches victory out of defeat, life out of death, and hope out of despair.”
― James H. Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree

 

Benediction

As you live into this holy week, be open to receiving whatever is offered.
Through rejoicing, through confusion, through disappointment, through pain,
Know that God, in Christ, has gone before you;
That God, in the Holy Spirit, goes with you. Amen.