Day 39 of 40 (Days of Prayer)

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Today is Friday of Holy Week.
Good Friday
...the day of Jesus' crucifixion, death, and burial.


 Today we especially pray for:




Christians who are persecuted for their faith

"Were You There?" 

 Stations of the Cross are open today from 9am to 9pm
(experience and pray Jesus'  last Seven Words from the cross)Start in the chapel at First UMC Ocala
--Prayers for Holy Week--
 
Morning Prayer
God of resurrection mornings,
This is the day that you have made. Let me rejoice in it. 
And this is the week to remember that you made the ultimate sacrifice.
Let me live into it.
Shape me, today, by the story of the cross.
Keep me humble and mindful and servant-hearted,
 bearing all things, yet rejoicing still.
In You, I live. Amen.



Mealtime 'bread' Prayer
(adapted from Prayers Plainly Spoken by Stanley Hauerwas) 
God, you created us hungry; we need to eat, which reminds us that we are creatures. And you sent Jesus into our creature-ness as the bread of life and the host of our Communion with you. Give our eating purpose, make us participants in your sacrifice and service to all your creation. Thank you for making us hungry. 
May we eat in peace. Amen.

 
Evening Prayer


As this day comes to a close,
I remember the last few days of Jesus’ life: He worked to cleanse the temple, he washed feet, suffered rejection from friends, and faced the cross until it was finished.
He was obedient to the end.
God, I don’t want to face that kind of suffering, but I do want to be faithful and obedient…
So I offer myself to you:
Not my will, but Yours be done. Amen.




#PictureLent Word for the Day: Replace

As we live this Holy Week,
May we return to you with all our heart!
As we live this Holy Week,
Reveal yourself in the ordinary and give us eyes to see.
As we live this Holy Week,
May our lives reflect more of you, and less of us!
As we live this Holy Week,
Forgive us for all the ways we reject you-and the ways
we deceive ourselves.
As we live this Holy Week,
May we remember your faithfulness through ages past!
As we live this Holy Week,
Replace that which feels old, stale, and dead with something
new and surprising.
We live this Holy Week in you, O God. Amen.

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