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

Easter - Resurrection - John 20

Father, 

Thank you that it is true.

And that it changes everything forever.

Thank you that we can live by believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.

Please may today be the watershed moment where the cross and resurrection become embedded in our souls; 

And our hearts turned from fence-sitting mediocrity to radical love for you.

Amen

Easter - John 19:23-42

The eternal dies;

The omnipotent is emptied;

The omnipresent is no more;

The omniscient is unknowing;

The immortal dies;

For us!

Easter - John 18:28-19:22

Our Father,

I have crucified the king;

But I do not feel the weight of my offence.

I have not recognised his majesty.

I have not expected his return.

Father have mercy on me.

Christ have mercy on me.

Spirit have mercy on me.

I declare that Jesus is king.

May that be truth to me; not meaningless words.

Take my thoughts captive under your rule.

May my speech be seasoned by his authority.

May my heart be submissive to him alone.

And may my actions sing of my crucified king.

Easter Sunday

Father,

What a blessed relief to not have to carry that which is my due;

To be given freedom in place of punishment;

To be granted amnesty in the place of justice;

To be granted sonship in the place of alienation.

And to have these for all eternity is sweet bliss…

Thank you for the suffering servant, raised from the dead today.

Amen              

Good Friday

Father you exercised considerable restraint as your innocent son died in our place.

   Give us restraint not anger.

   Grace not revenge.             

   Peace not hatred.

   Meekness not arrogance.

   Mercy not vengeance.

As we worship you alone…

Isaiah 53/Palm Sunday/Easter

Father, to be great is to serve;

to be first is to be slave of all.

Your son came as the despised servant

To give his life as a ransom for many:

  May we know that;

  Rejoice in it;

  Revel in its liberation;

  Embrace its challenge;

  Repent of our self-absorption;

  Follow your example;

  And glory in your character.

For Jesus Christ sake.

Amen

Easter Blessing

May God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead, open to us the gates of everlasting life.

May God the Son, who in bursting from the grave won a glorious victory, give us joy as we share the Easter faith.

May God the Holy Spirit, who filled the disciples with the life of the risen Lord, empower us for witness and fill us with the peace of God.

May the rule of God the Trinity remind us not to be afraid but instead to go and live in peace rejoicing that Jesus Christ is risen.

Amen