Jesus, our crucified
friend, and brother and Lord,
Today we are
witnesses to the story of the awful and wonderful events of good Friday,
the story passed from
generation to generation;
the story of
your love
giving
itself for us, once and for all.
On this day
we remember that you know what it is to suffer
And so we
lift to you the places of suffering in our world today.
We lift to
you places of war and unrest where people fear for their lives and don’t know
where to turn.
We lift to
you the places where people are hungry, where there isn’t enough to go around.
We lift to
you the millions of people who are displaced and longing for a safe place to settle
and build a life, to make a home, each one known and beloved to you.
We bring to
you those people we know personally who struggle with daily pain – physically or
mentally or spiritually - or those who
live with uncertainty about their future because of sickness.
Merciful Saviour,
even as you hung from the cross you were urging your disciple and your mother to look
after each other. As we remember this we bring to you those in our community who
are on the outer, who crave love, who long for a sense of community and safety,
a place where they can flourish.
May we, your church, be a place of welcome and belonging - a place to call home.
May we, your church, be a place of welcome and belonging - a place to call home.
The day you handed
over your power and let yourself be killed
Was the day
that changed the course of history
And still
has the power to change everything,
to change
everything in our lives, to change everything in our world.
May we,
because we know you and love you and follow you, be a part of this change, be a part
of the healing that this hungry world longs for.
In your name,
Jesus, we pray. Amen
