Morning Prayers
March 31-April 6, 2024
Easter, Year B
Sunday March 31, Easter
Rest as a Rule of Life
This is a day for rest and renewal of body, mind, and spirit.
Early Mary found You, Christ our Friend, in the garden
As we rise today, let us find You here
Present to us, surprising us with hope.
Amen.
Daily Prayer for a Rule of Life
May our lives be a prayer
May God work through our prayers
May our work be an answer
To God’s will working through us
May we rest in God’s love
May God’s rest feed our souls
May our table be open
May we welcome friends and foes
May the poor be our neighbors
May our neighbors be blessed.
Amen
Lectionary Readings: Sunday, March 31, 2024: Resurrection of the Lord John 20:1—18 or Mark 16:1-8; Acts 10:34-43; Ps 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Cor 15:1-11
Monday, April 1, Easter
Table as a Rule of Life
This is the very day GOD acted—
Let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, GOD. Salvation now!
Oh yes, GOD—a free and full life!
Psalm 118: 24-25 MSG
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
Resurrected Christ
We speak words of thanks and praise this morning
For the full life You give us:
For breath as we wake,
Companions to walk alongside us through the day,
Physical provision for our daily living,
And hope of the new creation.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Reflect on the words of scripture and what it means for weak
and broken bodies be raised in glory.
Silence
Intercessions
Living Christ, this full and free life
Is one also marked by pain in our bodies.
We remember today ourselves and those we love
Those of us who suffer in body or mind
Those who ache for the hope of exchanging brokenness for glory,
Exchanging weakness for strength
We pray for those we have yet to welcome into our community
We ask that this table of fellowship
Holds holy space for the pain of those who will join us.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
Life-giving Spirit, nurture our bodies and spirits
As we love you and neighbor today.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Genesis 1:1-19; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Tuesday, April 2, Easter
Table as a Rule of Life
God created human beings;
He created them godlike,
Reflecting God’s nature.
Genesis1:27a MSG
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
Thank you, Holy One
For these bodies You have created for us
Bodies that You have called “good.”
Thank you for the stories that our bodies hold
Thank you for the stories the bodies of our neighbors hold
As we enter this space of prayer, we acknowledge the stories that have formed us.
We offer thanksgiving for Your presence that fills every kind of storied body.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Reflect on the words of scripture and the transformation
of our storied bodies through the resurrection.
Silence
Intercessions
Creator of what is good
Living Christ, triumpher over death
Quickening Spirit of new life—
Today as we reflect on the reality of death in our lives,
in our communities, in our world,
We pray for a glimpse into the freedom of life without death
Freedom from the sting of loss.
As we share together the concerns and needs of our community,
Help us to have imaginations that expand to the hope of life
untouched by death.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
May the hope of Christ be present with you in each moment of this new day.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Tuesday, April 2, 2024: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Genesis 1:20-2:4a; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Wednesday, April 3, Easter
Table as a Rule of Life
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb.
Mark 16:1-2 NLT
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
As we step further away from Easter, Creator God,
we center our hearts on You this morning.
We praise You for the signs of new life we see in vibrant colors of spring.
We hear You in the gentle rain that nourishes the ground.
We touch You in the seedings that have taken root in the soil.
We praise You for the stirring of our bodies towards outdoor gatherings,
For opportunities to share our produce or patios with others.
For nourishment both our souls and bodies receive
from the soil, trees, and sun.
Creator God, we praise You.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Song of Solomon 3:1-11
Reflect on the words of scripture and the eagerness of the Shulamite woman and the women who loved Jesus to find the one they loved.
Silence
Intercessions
Living Christ
In our eagerness to find You
We remember that we find You, together
We experience Your presence alongside each other
We honor You with collective gifts of praise
In the fervor of our love for You
And in the fragility of our love for You
We join hands on our journey to find You in life’s garden.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
In our actions and in our words this day, may we remember to open our hands and hearts to welcome others to join us in seeking Christ.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Wednesday, April 3, 2024: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Song of Solomon 3:1-11; Mark 16:1-8
Thursday, April 4, Easter
Table as a Rule of Life
God created human beings;
He created them godlike,
Reflecting God’s nature.
Genesis1:27a MSG
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
Holy One, as we look to the faces that surround us
We see Your image
In the eyes of our friend
In the eyes of our neighbor
In the eyes of our antagonist
We rejoice in Your presence
In ourselves
In our neighbor
In our enemy
In all creation.
Look at your neighbor and say, “You reflect God to me.”
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Psalm 133
Reflect on the words of scripture and the harmony
we are welcomed into as kindred of God.
Silence
Intercessions
Living Spirit, we ask for Your movement in places of disharmony:
In our inner spirit where there is unrest
We welcome Your presence.
In relationships marked by distrust and unforgiveness,
We welcome Your presence.
When tempted to grasp for control in our community,
We welcome Your presence.
In the disorganization and corruption of our government,
We welcome Your presence.
In the harm of global wars and rivals between nations,
We welcome Your presence.
In the chaos the earth and air is experiencing at the hands of humanity,
We welcome Your presence.
Living Spirit, we treasure today the expensive, extravagant,
and costly nature of harmony.
Sending Forth Prayer
As we enter this new day, may our words and actions reflect
the harmony we desire to see present in this world.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Thursday, April 4, 2024: Psalm 133; Daniel 1:1-21; Acts 2:42-47
Friday, April 5, Easter
Table as a Rule of Life
How wonderful and pleasant it is when the children of God
live together in harmony.
Psalm 133:1, paraphrase
Silence
Be still and aware of God
in the presence of this community.
Prayers of Gratitude
Holy One, as we reflect on this week
And anticipate the activities and rhythms of the weekend
We praise you for these mornings of prayer
For this sacred space of growing together,
Of welcoming the Spirit and each other into our stories and pain
Of pursuing harmony with each other as we pursue Christ
Thank You, Holy One for this community from which we draw strength.
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
Acts 4:23-31
Reflect on the words of scripture and the kind boldness you desire for sharing the good news of Christ in our turbulent world.
Silence
Intercessions
Living Christ, we draw from the strength of our community
And look outward to our world
We join those early Christ followers in asking
For Your strong hand of healing to stretch out in power
We pray for acts of reconciliation and goodness to be done in this world
Miraculous restoration we cannot yet imagine
Acts that can only be done through Your power,
And our faithfulness in joining Your work of love.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
As we enter this new day may our eyes be open and our spirits filled with boldness to join God’s work of transforming love in our world.
Daily Lectionary Readings: Friday, April 5, 2024: Psalm 133; Daniel 2:1-23; Acts 4:23-31
Saturday, April 6, Easter
Table as a Rule of Life
One again I’ll go over what GOD has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished,
and give a long, loving look at your acts.
Psalm 77:11-12 MSG
Silence
Be still and aware
of God’s presence
in your body and breath.
Prayers of Gratitude
What has God done?
Our good God has given us new life in Christ!
What has God done?
Our good God provides us with daily nourishment!
What has God done?
Our good God gifts us with fellow pilgrims on the spiritual journey!
What has God done?
Our good God is present with us in this new day!
What gratitude do you bring today to share?
The Lord’s Prayer
A Reading
John 12:44-50
Reflect on the words of scripture and on how your life is filled with light in knowing Christ.
Silence
Intercessions
Living Christ, we welcome Your light in our lives today
Shine the warmth of Your presence
Into these areas of need and concern we share
Open our eyes to new ways of seeing the challenges that we face
Open our minds to creative understanding of problems at hand
Open our hearts to love deeper those we are at odds with
Living Christ, shine Your light on our path today.
What needs and concerns have we heard and or seen this week that we bring to the community for prayer today…
Sending Forth Prayer
God be in your head,
And in your understanding;
God be in your eyes,
And in your looking;
God be in your mouth,
And in your speaking;
God be in your heart,
And in your thinking;
God be at our end,
And at our departing.
Adapted from God Be In My Head, Davies
Daily Lectionary Readings: Saturday, April 6, 2024: Psalm 133; Daniel 2:24-49; John 12:44-50
Peace be with you.