Permission to podcast /stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-731789

Welcome

Prayer,

Creator God, as we start this journey with Jesus, open us up. Open our hearts and minds and eyes to see clearly where we are; where we have been and where we are going. Bring us together and guide us as we once again recall this story of Jesus’s passion. Open us to the understanding that darkness lets us see the light. That seeds are needed to grow the tree. That new life comes with death. Give us strength to face what is to come.

As we recall what Jesus endured, help us reflect on our own experiences. Our experiences of betrayal, of abandonment and assault. Give us strength and give us peace as we walk this path. Remind us to breathe, and to pause and to move forward. Help us to let go and be. Amen

Scripture- Mark 14:32-72

Prayer

Loving God, we often neglect or deny your presence. We succumb to fear or shame. We deny your discipleship. Help us to stand up for what is right. Grant us the courage and the sight to see what your world needs and to stand with you in times of trouble and anxiety.

Open our ears that we may hear your truth and hear the cries of your world. So that we may speak your truth and act with kindness and love. Open our hearts to your wisdom; a wisdom and peace that values life over expediency and fear. A wisdom that reminds us of the greatness of your creation and the sacredness of all life. One that calls us to put that creation first and to overcome the fear of loss; loss of privilege or comfort or power or the anger and hatred that can come with the advent of change.

God of peace and love, help us to reflect on what brought Jesus to the cross. The fear, the anger and the thirst for power and desire to hold on to wealth and strength; even if it meant someone must die. Help us to see what that truly means in our own life and in the world in which we live. Give us the peace and patience to sit with these questions that we may truly see what you are telling us in this moment.

Amen

Scripture – Mark:15:1-41

Ministry of Music – Ellie Bloomfield, Were You There

Scripture – Mark15:42-47

Prayer

God of mystery and comfort,

Sit with us now, as we consider these words and this story. Help us to truly hear of Jesus lonely on a cross. Help us to reflect on his fear and agony. Open our hearts to these images and words that we may be changed by what we hear. Guide us, comfort us; help us to be better people for what we have learned. Help us to find strength and hope in this story, that we can resist the powers of hatred and fear, that value power and death over mercy, love and life. Give us patience to truly sit with the understanding of what Jesus endured, what Jesus did and said, out of love for your creation. That his values of love, and grace and mercy were so great that he lived it event unto death.

Go with us, walk with us as we move into this weekend, until we meet again, opening our hearts and minds, ears and eyes to the words you speak throughout your creation.

Amen