First-Friday contemplative service

I led the first-Friday service of contemplative song and prayer this evening. The theme was "Christ, our peace."

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PSALM 29

Holy One,
how powerful is your voice!
How majestic!
You speak—
and thunder echoes over the sea.

You speak—
and mighty cedars are splintered.
You speak—
and mountains leap like young calves.

You speak—
and fire flares into being.
You speak—
and earthquakes shake the desert.
You speak—
and the wind strips forests of their leaves.

In your temple, the crowds cry, “Glory!”
Even the vast oceans are subject to your rule.
Mighty One—give us strength!
Speak peace to your people!

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EPHESIANS 2:13-14

You who once stood far away
have now been brought close
in Jesus Christ.

He is our peace.
He has united us
by bringing us all together
into his own body.

Thus he has broken down the walls
and the hostilities
that once divided us.

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JOHN 16:20-22, 33

Jesus said to his disciples:

When a woman is in labor,
she is in anguish.
But when her child is delivered,
her anguish is forgotten
because of her joy at seeing her child.

So it is with you.
Now you grieve.
But when you see me return to you,
your hearts will be filled with joy—
a joy that no one can ever take away from you.

I have told you this
so that you may be at peace.
In the world, you suffer.
But do not despair—
I have overcome the world.

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PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Jesus, lover of souls—
we lift up to you
people who are in need of peace.

We lift up to you individuals and families
who are in grief or distress.
Holy One—speak peace to your people.

We lift up to you individuals and communities
who live under the threat of violence.
Holy One—speak peace to your people.

We lift up to you communities and nations
divided by hostility or conflict.
Holy One—speak peace to your people.

Jesus—
you were lifted up on the cross
so that you could draw all people to yourself.
We do not know how it is to be done,
but we pray for the day
when all will be reconciled to one another in you.

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CONCLUDING PRAYER

Christ, our peace—
all around us
there is darkness,
and turmoil,
and pain.
But again and again,
you whisper to us by your Spirit:
“Do not despair.
I have overcome the world.”