Sunday Prayers: Luke 24:36b-48

Finding God’s joy in our everyday

Call to Worship

One: How many miracles have we already seen today?
All: Light at the touch of a switch, glass to hold our drink. Our world is full of wonder.
One: Where did we encounter joy?
All: Daffodils swaying, squirrels leaping, birds soaring. Nature delights to be alive.
One: Where might we have seen God?
All: A smile from a stranger, bursts of laughter, music vibrating with love. God abounds in plain sight.
One: In this time of worship, let us recognize the joy of God in our lives.
All: Let us give thanks for the glory of God who rejoices in us.

Opening Prayer

Understanding God,
Our lives are a jumble of activity and turmoil; a mix of people to care for and places to get to; of tasks to do, and plans to make. We weigh ourselves down with worries and stress, and we let them overshadow your divine wonders in each day.

Open our minds to experience your love for us. Help us see the joy of your creation around us. Help us feel the joy of your forgiving love within us. May we celebrate moments of joy with you and praise you for all your goodness to us.
Amen.

Offering Prayer

God of endless creation and compassion, of new beginnings and forgiven hearts, help us recognize the abundant welcome of your love. Inspire us to find you in our days and share your love with those around us. Encourage us to care for each other and our world. May the act of our giving this morning remind us that we journey with you by our side. Now and forever, Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Loving God,
We pray for your help with all the pain that gets in the way of our experiencing your joy.
Our hearts are heavy over the violence in the Middle East. We grieve the loss of life, the torture, the destruction that have devastated the lives of so many in Israel and Palestine. We pray for an end to retaliation and threats of reprisals. We pray for understanding and calm amongst the politicians whose decisions could harm the world. We pray for peace.

We pray for those struggling to make ends meet, for whom rising prices and uncertain income are jeopardizing homes and creating upheaval. We pray for compassion and support for those faced with difficult decisions. We pray for hope.

We remember those killed or injured in the knife attack in Sydney, and we pray for victims of violence around the world. We give thanks for those who work for healing, who offer shelter or who protect the vulnerable. We pray for peace.

We pray for the choices we will make this week, some weighty, others commonplace. We pray that in our choices we will grow closer to you. We pray for patience and kindness to care for each other and the world around us. We give thanks that we can always share our burdens with you and that you recognize our needs. We pray for love.

Loving God, shelter us in your tender care.
Amen.

Benediction

Go out from here awake to the joy of God in the world. Delight in each new creation and remember that God delights in you. Make each day a fresh start for following God and loving each other, sustained by God’s eternal grace. Amen.