Resurrection

Darkness.
Foggy despair.
Tears from broken love direct faltering steps
To find emptiness
It is empty!
Not there but there
Not dead but alive
Not eclosion, nor emergence
Better – resurrection!
Existence altered
Tragedy transformed
Life from darkness
Light from despair
Hope released!
Resurrection!

Loved by the Father: John 16:16-33

Our Father, in heaven,
We are so privileged to call  you that.
Jesus is with you.
He will come again.
Now, because we are loved by you,
We are blessed to be able to ask!
Help us, when we are scattered
To remember that we can ask.
To remember that we are not alone
And to remember that Jesus has overcome the world.
Amen

John 17 - The thing (and things) that really matter

Father glorify your name, even as you glorify your Son.
Father keep us
Father sanctify us
Father make us one
Empower us to go into the world
even as we are not part of it
For your glory alone
Amen

The Holy Spirit, Sin, Truth and lots of other stuff

 John 16:4b-15

Our Father

Thank you that Jesus is ascended and that the Spirit of Truth has come
We pray for him to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment
I pray for him to convict me of sin, righteousness and judgment
Forgive us for not being earnest about sin
Forgive us for trying to do the work of the Spirit ourselves
Thank you that you have given us truth in your Son
And that we can know your son through your word
May we seek after him with all our hearts and souls
Amen

Hate. Love. Chosen, the Holy Spirit and lots of other stuff

 John 15:18-16:4a

Our Father,
It astonishes us that the world would hate you and your Son.
We are also surprised when the world hates us.
Keep us from falling away.
Keep us strong in the face of hatred.
Ever remembering your warnings.
Seeking to bear witness for you.
And straining forward to the day when we will be with you for all eternity
Amen

Full Joy

John 15:1-17 

Our Father,
Keep us in your Son.
Prune us,
Don’t cut us off.
May we bear abundant fruit for you.
Keep us abiding when we have little strength.
Give us the courage to ask boldly
That you may be glorified.
May we keep your commandments
Especially the command to love.
May we be defined by love.
May we be a people of love.
May full joy be in us.
May we marvel that your son calls us friend.
And has chosen us to bear abiding fruit
Amen

Overcoming Trouble and Fear

John 14:15-31

Our Father,
We marvel that you would deign to dwell with us and in us through your Spirit.
Thank you that as a result we can live.
May our love for you bubble out of us
May our love for each other bubble out of us
May our love for the lost bubble out of us
May our love for the world bubble out of us
Thank you for the peace that you give which is made possible through your presence.
In Christ’s name we pray.
Amen.

Smelly feet, towels, basins and the secret of blessing

John 13:1-17

Father you have given Jesus all things
He uses his authority to serve us in his death
Oh may that attitude be ours, may it permeate our thinking and flow from us
Give us joy in service
And bless us we pray
Amen

Judas, Betrayal, Predestination, Human Responsibility and lots of other stuff

John 13:18-30 

Our Father
We have eaten the bread of betrayal and lifted our heel against you.
We have stood at the fire and denied that we ever knew Jesus.
Forgive us
Strengthen us
Restore us.
May we receive the ones you have sent
May we receive your Son
May we receive you.
May we never again betray you.
Keep us from the night.
Amen

Really Living

 
Deuteronomy 6:1-12

Father,
Help me to listen to you.
Help me to love you.
Help me to overflow with you.
Inhabit my hands and my eyes.
Inhabit my home and my speaking
May I never forget you in the blessings you provide.
Instead turn my self-love into God love.
Amen

This is my Beloved Son - listen to him

Mark 9v2-10

Our Heavenly Father
Your love for us is steadfast
You have given us your Beloved Son
Enable us to hear him
To trust what he says
To listen to him
To do what he calls us to do
Amen