Please feel free to join us in the prayers prayed in worship Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024:
Loving Christ,
from the beginning until now,
you have never stopped saying YES.
You were there in the beginning,
when the world was created,
and to all that was made you said YES.
In all our travelling and travail,
even in the deepest depths,
the grace of your YES has never stopped abounding,
YES to freedom,
YES to those whom the world has cast out,
YES to justice,
YES to healing,
YES to peace,
YES to love,
YES to life.
Help us to say YES to you
in all the ways you say YES to us.
For your great love,
we give you thanks and praise.
Knowing that you are already at work mending this world,
we pray for the hurts you are healing, whether far or near.
We pray for the people of Gaza, for an end to the indiscriminate killing,
for the restoration of systems that bring what is needed for life,
food, water, shelter, medical care;
for the return of hostages;
for an immediate and permanent ceasefire;
for the safety of the people of Rafah;
for an end to genocide.
We pray that you will show us the work that is ours to do
in dismantling every system that oppresses,
especially entrenched systems of American racism.
We pray that you will help us heal the world we have wrecked,
give us hearts for healing, wisdom to walk gently on this Earth,
to live compassionately in this time of climate unravelling.
We pray for those who are hungry, for food enough and more,
for those who are unhoused, shelter,
for those who are ailing and hurting, healing,
for those who mourn, comfort,
for those who are lonely, companionship.
As we stand on the threshold of Holy Week,
we thank you for your abiding YES to our humanity,
for all the ways that your Word becomes flesh in the midst of us,
for all the ways you bring us into life.
In communion with all those who have ever called on you,
we pray the prayer that Jesus taught, saying:
Our Father/Mother, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Photo credit: Romina Farias, used with permission via Unsplash