Prayers

Dear friends in Christ,
during Lent we have been preparing for the celebration
of our Lord’s death and resurrection,
and in our imagination we have come as far
as the gates and Temple of Jerusalem.
On this day of (Or, As we remember) his crucifixion,
let us walk with him the way of the cross,
and find it no other than the way of life and peace.

Heavenly Father,
look upon the family of your people,
and as we gather to hear again of the cross of your Son,
enlighten us with your Holy Spirit:
that we may hear, understand, and respond
to the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Based on Luke 23.32-48

Lord Jesus, as you were crucified for us,
help us not to be like the people who just stood watching,
nor the rulers who sneered at you,
nor the soldiers who mocked you,
nor the criminal who insulted you;
but help us to be like the other criminal
who wanted to come into your kingdom,
and like the centurion
who recognised that you were a good man;
for you are our Lord and our Saviour
and you deserve our love and our lives.
Amen.

Based on Isaiah 53.3-10

In the shadow of the cross, let us confess our sins to God.

Lord, our conduct has brought you disappointment,
but Jesus carried our sorrows on the cross.

Lord, our deeds have infringed your laws,
but he was pierced for our transgressions.

Lord, our thoughts have been shameful and disgraceful,
but he was crushed for our iniquities.

Lord, we have failed to esteem your ways,
but he was despised and looked down on, for us.

Lord, we have gone astray like lost sheep,
but he was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

Lord, we have made excuses for our sins,
but he did not open his mouth in protest.

Lord, we have deserved death,
but he was cut off from the land of the living.

As you have made his life a sin-offering for us,
forgive us and cleanse us by the blood of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Based on 1 Corinthians 1.18 –2.16

God chose what is folly in the world’s eyes
to save the world:
let us pray for the world for which Christ died,
the Church to which he has sent his Spirit,
and the individuals he calls to respond to his cross.

Almighty God,
look on those whom the world counts wise:
researchers, philosophers, teachers and students.
Amid many competing religious claims,
may they examine afresh the evidence
for the claims of Christianity;
and surrounded by competing world views
may they perceive your wisdom in the folly
of making salvation accessible to all by free grace.
Open the eyes of the ‘wise’
to the wisdom of the cross.

Almighty God,
look on those whom the world counts religious:
readers of many different sacred books,
followers of prophets and teachers.
Amid many claims to truth,
may they hear again the witness of the New Testament,
and from a choice of many possible paths
may they identify the narrow way that leads to eternal life.
Open the eyes of the ‘religious’
to the wisdom of the cross.

Almighty God,
look on those whom the world counts influential:
politicians, managers and directors,
those who decide the fate of many.
Amid many distractions and claims on their time,
may they pause to hear afresh,
the story of Christ and him crucified;
and instead of the bottom line may they see the priority of
righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Open the eyes of the powerful
to the wisdom of the cross.

Almighty God,
look on those who have troubles or afflictions;
who suffer war, sickness, bereavement or other hurt.
Amid the pressures and pains,
may they lift their eyes to see
the one who bore pain for us all;
and beside them in their sufferings
may they find the Christ who died
that they might have life in all its fullness.
Open the eyes of the needy
to the wisdom of the cross.

Almighty God,
look on us:
not many of us are eloquent or strong or of noble birth;
yet you chose us to shame the world.
Search our hearts by your Spirit,
help us to see your wisdom afresh,
to discern your ways and to perceive the glory
you have prepared for us
by the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Open our eyes, Lord God,
to the wisdom of the cross.
Amen.

In a week when passions run high –
confusion, anger, fear, doubt:
help us, travelling Christ,
to go with you on the road.
Give to us the Spirit of adventure so that
where there is confusion, patterns may emerge;
where there is anger, love may spring up new;
where there is fear, calm may prevail;
where there is doubt, we may find faith again.
Amen.

Almighty, ever-living God,
you are great and you are mighty.
As we reflect today on the cross of Jesus,
we pray that you will fill us with your wisdom and understanding
to see how greatness and might
can be shown in gentleness and forgiveness.
Amen.

You turned everything upside down, Lord.
You saved us by being weak, not strong.
Help us to see the ways in which we can stand alongside others
and sort things out calmly and gently.
Amen.