Readings: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 or Genesis 8:6-16; 9:8-16; Psalm 111 or 118:19-24; Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
In faith, let us pray to the Lord, saying….
Hear us Risen Lord,
Our resurrection and our life.
Blessed are you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! We will give you thanks with our whole hearts, studying and delighting in your marvelous works. In your great mercy, you have sent redemption to your people. We rejoice in your resurrection triumph and add our voices to the unending chorus that declares the praise, glory, and honor due your holy name.
Silence
Hear us Risen Lord,
Our resurrection and our life.
Lord Jesus, we hear the story of your meeting with your disciples after your resurrection. We imagine their joy at encountering you, triumphant and victorious over the grave. O Lord, though we have not seen you, we love you. Count us part of those who have not seen and yet have believed! Grant your church grace to be people of faith, people who believe in the living hope of your resurrection, people who believe in our promised inheritance of your salvation, people who say again and again, “Jesus has triumphed! Jesus is exalted!” We pray for your church throughout the world, grieved by various trials. May the tested genuineness of our faith result in praise, glory, and honor at your revelation. May we stand firm, faithfully declaring your gospel, truthfully giving witness to your living, resurrection power.
I invite you to pray for perseverance in the midst of trials for the church throughout the world.
Silence
I invite you to pray for the work of the church throughout the world, remembering especially people who do not yet believe the truth about Jesus.
Silence
Hear us Risen Lord,
Our resurrection and our life.
O Lord, you know the world in which we live. Our minds and hearts are bombarded by stories of violence and hurt, starvation and suffering, war and enmity throughout the world. You dwelt among us and lived the suffering of the human condition. You took upon yourself the weight of injustice and evil. You see all the world in this moment and no instance of pain escapes your attention. Praise you, Lord Jesus!
Help us to see as you see, Lord Christ, to fix our minds even in the face of suffering on you. We consider your cross, Jesus, and how hopeless it appears, and we marvel at your transforming power that brought about victory and new life from such a moment of darkness and despair. How we praise you, Lord Christ! We will say it again and again, “Jesus has triumphed! Jesus is exalted!” We trust in your everlasting triumph and look to you with hope. Grant us your grace to live well today in the midst of all this suffering. Teach us to live in a world so torn asunder. Help us to see how we can serve the suffering, the hungry, the imprisoned, and the sick in your name, Lord Jesus.
I invite your prayers for those who suffer throughout the world and for those ministering to them in Christ’s name.
Silence
Hear us Risen Lord,
Our resurrection and our life.
O Lord, you are mindful of all our ways. You know the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, our daily joys and difficulties, the cares that weigh us down and the things that delight our hearts. Lord of all the earth, highly exalted one enthroned above the heavens, how can it be that you desire to hear from us? How is it that you invite us to commune and pray with you, the Creator and Sustainer of all things? Help us to seize moments this week to come away and be with you, to remember your presence with us in every moment of our day, no matter our circumstances saying to ourselves again and again, “Jesus has triumphed! Jesus is exalted!” We offer our lives to you, Lord of all, desiring to surrender every corner of our person to your lordship:
I invite you to cast all your worries and concerns on the Lord.
Silence
I invite you to pray for those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit.
Silence
I invite you to commit the work of your hands to the Lord.
Silence
I invite you to ask for discernment in all your decisions this week.
Silence
I invite you to offer up any other prayers and intercessions.
Silence
Hear us Risen Lord,
Our resurrection and our life.
We think of the women at your tomb, Lord Christ, those who first saw you after your glorious resurrection. We imagine that locked room, where Thomas saw your wounds with his own eyes. We think of the millions of our brothers and sisters throughout the ages who, though they have not seen you, together have believed and proclaimed your victory. We join our voices with theirs to say it again and again, “Jesus has triumphed! Jesus is exalted!” How good it is to be part of your church, stretching back to those first believers and spreading throughout the corners of the world. Thank you Lord for those who have gone before us, those who have died in the faith. Our hearts are encouraged by their faithful examples and we remember them now, trusting that they are in your care.
I invite your thanksgivings to God for those who have died in the faith.
Silence
Hear us Risen Lord,
Our resurrection and our life.
Merciful God, we believe that we are sinners. We trust your word, which teaches us that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. We believe that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Silence
Leader & People:
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
in your compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown,
things done and left undone;
and so uphold us by your Spirit
that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Oratio Contemplativa 