Communion Prayer November 2,2014

Dear Lord,

Creator, Word, and Love,

You spoke creation into existence.

Chose to walk this earth in human form,

And to dwell with us now.

As we take this bread and wine,

We follow our Savior's command

To do this

"In remembrance of Me."

Bless this congregation

And make those in it the servants you need.

Let us work together in your love,

To make the world around us what you want

For we are your hands in this place.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.

Prayer for Holy Tuesday

Abba, Jesus called you,

Daddy, we would say.

Creator, sustainer of all, 

Where were you that Holy Week

So long ago?

Escorting the Son of Man

As he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey,

Weeping beside the Servant as he struggled toward The Skull,

Kissing death as the Lamb hung on the cross.

Watching as the Word

Was silent in the tomb.

Christ exalted you above himself.

Even as he opened the kingdom's gates

To let all enter. 

In the Lamb's sacrifice earth and heaven met.
The  Bread of Life was broken
Yet warms from within today. 
Only by caring for the least
Can we repay the suffering of The Christ of God,
Who was and is and will be
The great I Am.   

 Amen

 -

Easter Prayer

O Risen Christ,
Who has conquered death,
Praise to you,
The Lamb of God.
May your message spread everywhere.
May your love reign on earth
And in heaven.
Let us partake of your bread and wine
In remembrance of you.
Let us acknowledge the Suffering Servant,
As we become servants to others.
Protect us from ourselves.
Help us to protect others.
For you are the beginning and the end,
The Prince of Peace.
Amen

Photo by size8jeans

Servant of All

Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever will be great among you; shall be your servant; and whosoever of you will be chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came, not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus struggled
To make his disciples understand;
He did not lead them
To the kind of greatness that they desired.
His was the path of the suffering servant.
His disciples would not comprehend
His sacrifice until the resurrection.
We look back two millenia
To the crucifixion,
To his suffering,
Because it is so incomprehensible.
But we must focus on the resurrection
Just as his early followers did.
We must remember
That he calls us
To the path of servanthood.

Photo by david55king

Prayer for Wisdom

Dear Lord, Master of the universe,
Giver of life,
Praise you above all.
May your will be accomplished,
Now and through eternity.
Give us understanding;
Give us wisdom.
Forgive our foolishness,
As we forgive the foolishness of others.
Drive away the grip of ignorance.
Give us the gift you gave Solomon,
A tiny sliver of your wisdom,
So that we can be your useful servant.
Amen

Love and Service

"And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love."

Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians,

But do we really hear his words.

Are we so eager to be better than others,

That we forget that we are commanded to love above all?

Do we desire judgment for others,

But not ourselves?

I fear the answers to these questions.

Christ told us we must be servants,

Not masters.

He washed his disciples feet

To remind them of the grandeur of servitude.

Perhaps we should realize that

The people we pay the least often do the most:

Care for our children; care for our elderly.

Let us love them.

Coveting

Ahab coveted another's land.
Jezebel ordered the death of an innocent man,
So that Ahab might have what he wanted.
God punished them both.
Do I covet what others have?
I say no to that question
But in my heart is doubt.
Doubt that I am as pure in heart and mind
As I should be.
Oh, I would never murder or condone murder,
But would I put my well-being before others?
I fear that answer.
Let me remember that in your kingdom,
The last shall be first
And we must be servants of all.