Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 21, 2021
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12 or 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
Our gracious, eternal God, we pause and acknowledge your presence now and always in our lives. We acknowledge our deep needs to learn how much you love us and to learn how to receive your love. We confess that it is easier to think that you are against us when we sin and do wrong.
It is easy for us to fall into behaviours which are self-condemning and set up barriers which keep us from being bathed and healed by the power of your love for us.
Remind us that you love us so dearly. Remind us that your covenant with us has always been to embrace us rather than to punish us.
Penetrate our barriers and our false pride whenever we become overcome by self-condemnation.
Take us by the hand, lead us in your ways.
Put your law within us and write it on our hearts.
Help us to know the truth of the words you spoke through Jeremiah that you “will remember our sin no more.”
We pray also for our human family. We so often do not have the vision to include everyone in it. We witness so much brokenness and violence.
We pray for peace in all corners of the earth.
We pray for less bitterness among groups, factions, tribes, and nations.
We pray for those whose lives are lived in poverty.
We pray for those for whom the doors of opportunity are closed.
Remedy the wrongs of this world. Give us the vision of a world in which we demonstrate our covenant with you by also demonstrating your love toward our neighbours. Give us the will to work for the day when all peoples of the earth have food, education, and opportunity to fulfill themselves. Help us to provide healing for the brokenness of all your children. Amen
March 21, 2021
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12 or 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
Our gracious, eternal God, we pause and acknowledge your presence now and always in our lives. We acknowledge our deep needs to learn how much you love us and to learn how to receive your love. We confess that it is easier to think that you are against us when we sin and do wrong.
It is easy for us to fall into behaviours which are self-condemning and set up barriers which keep us from being bathed and healed by the power of your love for us.
Remind us that you love us so dearly. Remind us that your covenant with us has always been to embrace us rather than to punish us.
Penetrate our barriers and our false pride whenever we become overcome by self-condemnation.
Take us by the hand, lead us in your ways.
Put your law within us and write it on our hearts.
Help us to know the truth of the words you spoke through Jeremiah that you “will remember our sin no more.”
We pray also for our human family. We so often do not have the vision to include everyone in it. We witness so much brokenness and violence.
We pray for peace in all corners of the earth.
We pray for less bitterness among groups, factions, tribes, and nations.
We pray for those whose lives are lived in poverty.
We pray for those for whom the doors of opportunity are closed.
Remedy the wrongs of this world. Give us the vision of a world in which we demonstrate our covenant with you by also demonstrating your love toward our neighbours. Give us the will to work for the day when all peoples of the earth have food, education, and opportunity to fulfill themselves. Help us to provide healing for the brokenness of all your children. Amen