God is my shield, who saves the upright in heart.

[From Worship Resources Year A: Advent 2013 up to Advent 2014, Herald Publishing House, p.129]

God of the cross and empty grave,
We find the words of praise leaping off our tongues as we celebrate the joy of Easter. The story is so familiar, and yet we rejoice anew because we once again find hope in the resurrection promise of new life.

God of redemption,
Forgive us for clinging to the idolatry of our own personal salvation. Forgive our complacency when we narrowly focus our thoughts and energy around self-centered grace and self-absorbed spirituality. Your love for this complex and troubled, yet amazingly diverse and beautiful world is beyond our limit of comprehension. Your love is inclusive and offered unreservedly to all your beloved children. Forgive us when we construct limits to your love as we exploit our differences, cling to our prejudices, and bask in self-righteousness rather than celebrating diversity and growing in shared and sacred community.

God of abundant grace,
Our hearts swell with gratitude and we want to live our praise out loud. Move us from judgement and complacency to joyful service and unconditional acceptance of others. Inspire our thoughts and engage our minds, our hands, our feet, and our voices to proclaim and to live the good news that he who was dead is alive again. Help us embody your unbounded love and reflect your ever-living presence in our lives and in our world.

God of all living,
We long for our peace that will be realized when all life has been made whole, when humankind cares about a just and equitable distribution of Earth’s resources, and when each one is touched by your love and moved beyond self-service. We ask this for the sake of the world that you loved so much that you sent your Son, Jesus, so the world through him might be saved. In the name of Jesus, who lived and died and rose again, we pray. Amen.

Prayer Phrase

“See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Weaving a Life

Hold, or imagine yourself holding, a piece of patterned cloth. Examine it carefully. Notice overlapping threads, mingling colors that form the design. Write a journal entry or meditate about the threads and patterns of your life. What design do you see? How does the life pattern you are weaving create justice and wholeness in God’s world? What new pattern is God calling you to weave?

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.