Prayers around the Cross
PJ: We are gathered today on the occupied territory of the Sana and Tonkawa People who have stewarded this land for generations.
Leader1: Welcome to Prayer around the Cross, a worship service with prayer, simple singing, and communion.
PJ: The songs we sing tonight are simple phrases and may be brand new to you. For each song, Ethan, the worship leader, will sing it through once at the beginning. We will repeat each song several times. As we do so, let the words deepen into your spirit and let them guide your prayer.
Gathering Song
PJ: A reading from the Gospel of John When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
Leader1: “Peace be with you.”
PJ: After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again,
Leader1: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
PJ: When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
Leader1: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
PJ: But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him,
Leader2: “We have seen the Lord.”
PJ: But he said to them,
Leader2: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
PJ: A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
Leader1: “Peace be with you.”
PJ: Then he said to Thomas,
Leader1: “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”
PJ: Thomas answered him,
Leader2: “My Lord and my God!”
PJ: Jesus said to him,
Leader1: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
PJ: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
PJ: Here, all are equal.
Leader1: There is no test to pass,
PJ: No “right kind of Christian” to be.
Leader1: All that matters is that you are here.
(Pause)
Leader2: All are one in Christ.
PJ: God is not bound by our differences.
Leader2: All are one in Christ.
Leader1: Where we push people apart, God draws us together.
Leader2: May we be grateful
PJ: For community and for people who love us, just as we are.
Leader2: May we be grateful
Leader1: That none of us are above any other.
Leader2: May we be grateful
PJ: That God believes that we are all worthy of love
Leader1: For God has loved us this far, and God’s love will carry us on.
Leader2: May we be grateful to You, O Christ, for proving God’s love to us.
(Pause)
PJ: Tonight, we are called to the cross, the symbol of Jesus’ transformation.
Leader1: We are called into an abundant life with God,
Leader2: We are called to let our hearts be changed, to be nourished, to be transformed.
PJ: Tonight, you are invited to the cross.
Leader1: When you are ready, come to the cross, light a candle, and pray.
Leader2: At the cross, you may be close to another member of the community. If you choose to pray at the cross, the members of the community that are sitting near you are invited to pray silently for you – and with you.
PJ: Those near you may lay a hand on you as they pray with you. This is a physical connection that shows the spiritual connection that we are all united as children of God. All are invited to also sing their prayers.
(Pause)
Leader1: Come when you are ready, for the God who is always faithful is eager to be with you in prayer.
Prayer at the Cross (with 2 songs)
Communion: PJ
Words of institution followed by welcome to the table and directions.
Communion Song
Post Communion Blessing: PJ
Sending Song
PJ: And now a final blessing.
Leader1: Go now in the righteousness of faith and live by God’s just demands. Let nothing claim your devotion above the Lord, and count nothing of value above knowing Christ. Press on towards the ultimate prize, of being one with him.
Leader2 And may God’s perfect word revive your soul; May Christ Jesus be your savior and your rock; And may the Holy Spirit strengthen you to press ever onward.
(Pause)
PJ: Stay for a while in prayer here at the cross,
Leader1: Or, take your pillow and go, joining in community with those present.
PJ: No matter if you choose to stay or to go, we ask you to do so in silence.
Leader2: And in God’s peace.
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