Prayers of the People, Seeing is Believing... but... : 2nd Sunday of Easter

Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2014, Readings: Acts 2:14-41, Ps 16, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31

   Thomas, the one who wouldn't believe without tangible proof, gets much of the attention here. And yet we seem to forget that the rest of the disciples also dismissed the accounts of Jesus being alive. Thomas only said what they had been thinking before they themselves saw Jesus. How much convincing would you have needed? How much do you still need? 
    On this Low Sunday (after the build-up and then the "high" of Easter Day), are you ready to live into and proclaim the Good News? 

Let Us, God's People, Pray

Leader:   ~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  How often have we walked through the penitence of Lent, the celebrations and passion of Holy Week, and Your miraculous Resurrection, and taken it all for granted because it happens for us every year?  Let us now truly REJOICE, as if for the first time, with the knowledge that You have suffered, died, and Resurrected for each of US. Thomas saw and believed, let us simply believe. 
                    You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us
Repsonse:   Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah! The wars and conflicts continue from Your own earthly life. The great and powerful leaders are much the same. Grant us courage to renew our faith in the eternal rather than the temporal, while we work to challenge our leaders to provide a just, merciful, and equitable life for all of Your people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  Give refuge to those who are very ill, frightened, or worried and to those who give them care. Soothe their hearts and hold them all in Your healing embrace. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  Our joy at Your resurrection is tempered with our grief at the loss of those we love.  We cling to our faith that they are with You in the miracle of their own resurrections into Your eternal promise.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  Refresh those who guide us in Your Church and renew their delight in preaching the Good News of the miracle of our salvation by You and the message of Your pure love for us all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

The Celebrant adds: Jesus, our Living and Eternal Hope, all praise, and honor, and glory is Yours who was freed from death to free us from sin.  Help us follow Your path of life and know the fullness of joy in Your Presence.  We ask this through our Loving Creator, who with You and the Glorious Spirit reign, one God, forever and for eternity.  Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter: He's what? Oh, right, sure..., Easter Saturday

Readings: Acts 4:13-21, Psalm 118:14-18 or 118:19-24, Mark 16:9-15,20

But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table...  
                                               [Mark 16:11-13, 14a]

O Jesus,
      Some days I question everything. I can definitely understand why the disciples didn't believe the reports they heard that You had been seen alive. We're all a skeptical lot. Even though You told them, even though they loved and trusted You, still, it was beyond their experience and their realm of possibility. And now, today, more than 2000 years later I believe it when I read it - after all, these accounts have lasted for all this time. But I need help sometimes. While I can imagine You sitting at my table, when my heart hurts or my head isn't on straight, imagining doesn't always relieve me. Today, I'm fine, my faith is strong and so is my willingness to proclaim the Good News. Tomorrow or next week? Please, in those times, remind me to read again, to believe, and to proclaim that You are risen! Indeed! amen.


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter: Gone Fishin', Easter Friday

Readings: Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 116:1-8 or 118:19-24, John 21:1-14

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast."    [John 21:10-12]

 A glorious morning for fishermen. This time a week ago it was fear, horror, and devastating grief. And now, the One who was lost is miraculously preparing breakfast on the beach. What would you give for one more breakfast with....

Dearest Fisher of People,
        Fishing advice and breakfast after You've come back from the dead - what an amazing way to care for Your friends!  And, as just one of the guys You show us how easy it is to be with You whether casually on the beach, walking down the road, or just having dinner. A moment of ease before our real work begins anew. Thank You for reminding us that we can always rest and share breakfast or lunch or any moment with You, and be renewed for the work You have given us to do. Please, help us experience Your peace inwardly so that we may bring it to all we do and all those we meet.  amen.




Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter, Now Appearing... : Easter Thursday

Readings:  Acts 3:11-26, Psalm 8 or 114 or 118:19-24, Luke 24:36b-48

Has it only been one week since we remembered the Last Supper, the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter? We stripped the altar, left in silence and, some, waited in vigil and prayed with Jesus. Now we are hearing about You meeting with the disciples after Your resurrection. What was that first moment like?


Dear Jesus,
     Time goes so quickly I can barely keep track of it.  It doesn't seem possible that it has been a full week since we were reading about the Last Supper with all of its complexities. And, of course, the Resurrection is the most significant event for any Christian. But in reading about Your appearances to the disciples, I want to know what those moments were truly like in their time. It's hard for me to capture the essence of that immediacy of Your presence. I can imagine it, I can think about it, I can picture it, but I don't quite know how to experience it. Each day that passes takes my attention farther away from all that I felt just days ago in Holy Week. Of course I must pay attention to my every day life, but I also want to keep You as the focus in each day. Help me experience You. Keep me from being swept up in the insignificant.
       Dear Jesus, with You in my waking, in my walking, and in my sleeping, all that I am and all that I do will be a reflection of that experience.  Give my soul Your perfect health and guide my heart toward Your perfect love.  All this I ask through God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. amen.








Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter, Go for a walk?: Easter Wednesday

Readings:  Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 105:1-8 or 118:19-24, Luke 24:13-35

Road to Emmaus by Daniel Bonnell

And [Peter] took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. (Acts 3:7-8)
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As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:28-31)


Dear Jesus, our Risen Lord,
    How many times have I walked downcast on a lonely road of life, feeling alone and sad and never recognized that You were with me?   How many other times have I been elated, happy, (momentarily) care-free and never recognized that You were with me?  And here I am, right now, praying to You as if You were 'way out there somewhere when You are with me, right here, right now.  Can we go for a walk?  I have a lot to talk to You about.....amen.



Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter, Lost and Found: Easter Tuesday

The Gospel of John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene 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.

O My God in Heaven,
       I can feel Mary's despair, I've known it so deeply it is yet in my bones. But I am heartened by Jesus' return to her, to all of us. The Living Hope that is the Son of God is mine, an eternal gift from You. Help me to transform my grief into joy in the knowledge that all whom I have lost are found again, alive in Your eternity, and when my earthly days are complete, I will be with them and with You forever. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord. O My God in Heaven, thank You. amen.  




Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter, All Your Eggs in One Basket?: Easter Monday

Readings: Acts 2:14,22-32, Psalm 16:8-11 or 118:19-24, Matthew 28:9-15

Now what? 

          What a week!  From big celebrations to fear, torture, death, and then RESURRECTION!  So all our work of Lent and Easter are over and we can get back to normal while we finish up the peeps, jelly beans, and what's left of the chocolate bunnies, right? 

  

Holiest Risen Lord!
          Where do we go from here?  Life seemed so much simpler when Easter was just a day for a big dinner like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Suddenly I feel as though I have more to do, more to be. It's a huge responsibility, following You. People might get the wrong impression of You if I do something that isn't Christ-like and actually I'm not sure I'm up to the task.  But okay, it's a new week, it's a new season, maybe even it's a new me as in "new creation."  I'll give it a go. All of my (faith) eggs are in one basket, Yours. I believe that You are all I need but I could use some help here, please. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life, You know how I feel. amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.