Prayers for Sunday May 20, 2001

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Invocation or Call to Worship (Based on Ps 67)

May draws us out of ourselves into the endings of school, the middle of the year, the turn towards summer. Graduations come in big and little ways, and we move on. Move on with us, O God, and let every step be a part of your new and holy time, that time promised from the beginning.

Prayer of Confession

We confess we do not see it. We do not feel it very often. We loose quickly Your vision of the future You have for us all. We seem only to be able to focus on the easily understood and the plans for next week. We fail to see that by living in hope we build a city of hope, a New Jerusalem. Instead we live in a world of constant hope for a temporary solution to bring peace to the Old Jerusalem. Help us, O Lord, to look for a New Jerusalem today. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

We give these gifts in hope. We hope that they will bring some comfort. We hope that they will bring some good. We hope that these gifts will help someone believe in the good news. We hope that by giving hope we will strengthen our own hope. We pray in the name of our hope Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

For the hope that lives in the hearts of the poor, the debts that are relieved nightly in AA meetings, the jokes that are told in cancer ward waiting rooms, we give you thanks, O God. Remind us that such steadfastness is Your steadfastness to us.

Remind us that no matter the trial or test, You will not leave our side, nor that of the poor or the bereft. You, O God, are with us for the long haul....and we pray we can be with You the same way. Amen. Amen.