Prayers for Worship
Easter 2
by Ron Gordon

John 20: 19-31

Collect:
 

Risen Lord Jesus giving peace to your troubled and fearful disciples, 
may we, like them, know the power of your resurrection and trust deeply 
in your gift of peace which brings fullness of life and endures forever.  Amen.

Prayer:
 

God and Father of Jesus and through him, our God and Father, we worship you in gratitude 
for all you have given us in Christ:  in his life, his words and deeds, and in his trials and sufferings 
and his bitter death. You did not allow that to be the last word about the one 
who carried your offer of life to us all. You raised him from death and vindicated his life 
and the offering of himself. Holy is your name and you are blessed for ever and ever.

Jesus, our God and Brother, we delight in all the gifts you bring us especially in the gift of peace 
you give us to share with the world and make real for all people in fullness of life. 
By your being raised you banished the bogeyman of death and set us free to live with you and for you. 
By the breath of the Spirit you constantly revive and renew us as your people in the world. 
You ask that we offer the forgiveness of sins to others and engage in your work of reconciliation 
amongst all people. Holy is your name and you are blessed forever.

Spirit of the living God, the breath of Jesus, our source of strength and holy companion, 
you equip us to be ambassadors of Christ in our daily lives, to show forgiveness and to express love. 
You awaken our faith and confirm us in our task to live with Jesus and for others. 
Holy is your name, and you are blessed forever. 

You, O God, are greatly to be praised for the ways in which you have shown yourself to humankind 
through the ages, and supremely in Jesus of Nazareth. Help us grow as those who love and serve you 
in his name and with the aid of his Spirit. For you are holy and blessed forever.   Amen.

© 2009 Ron Gordon (used with permission)

doubts are doors
by Jenn Gordon
 
John 20:19-31

doubts are doors
enticing entry

where walls of certainty arrest
doubt deals a quest
that cannot be denied
unless
unless I touch
unless I touch the one who died

so,
what kind of barrier is death
when doors of fear and doubt
refuse to keep your presence out

when grieving hearts
meet open wounds
and find their questions echo
in the empty tomb

what kind of barricade is this
whose seal was stamped
with the betrayer’s kiss
only to break
when morning’s light
denied dominion to the night

what kind of death is this
robbed of a final word
peace-repeating,
Spirit breathing,
ever to be heard

(Comments to Jenn at jennieg@labyrinth.net.au.)