Prayers for Worship
Proper 14
by Ron Gordon

John 6:35, 41-51

Collect:
 

Eternal God you fed your pilgrim people in the desert through Moses, 
and gave us Jesus as the bread of life coming to us from you. 
Grant us to know him as the source of eternal life nourishing us 
through our communion with him and all who belong to him. 
We pray, give us this bread now and always.  We ask in his name. Amen.

Prayer:
 

Lord God, you are the one who comes to us, in creating power; 
through Moses and burning bush, and bread in the wilderness; 
through the words of the prophets; and in Jesus himself, 
as the bread that came down from heaven to nourish his people 
in eternal life: you have come to us that we might come to you. 
Your grace is open, unlimited and free and you welcome us 
to your table of life eternal. Glory to you forever.

Lord Jesus, you call us to the insight of faith which is not bound 
by literal images but can look behind pictures to see the truth you offer. 
Help us risk trusting you, to taste and see that you fill us with newness 
of life which endures forever.

Lord the Spirit, confirm in us, we pray, the desire to be nourished 
on that which does not perish, to know and believe Jesus and his word, 
and to be grounded in eternal life.

Our Father in heaven, give us our daily bread, real physical food to keep us alive; 
give us your bread of life, your gift of Jesus, to keep us in your kingdom 
of eternal life, so that come life or death we always belong to you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

© 2009 Ron Gordon (used with permission)

come and believe
by Jenn Gordon
 
John 6:35, 41-51

firstly we  must move
towards you
            unable to fed by proxy
we must face your way
            bodily orientated in the direction
of you
and walk, run, creep, skip, shuffle
or be carried to where you are

then, in order to feed, we must believe
that you will provide all we need

and not look elsewhere in bargain catalogues
            where discount deals for bulk orders
            ensure tomorrow’s cheap supply
or rubbish bins of dark discarded dreams
where food is fast and never what it seems

and when we stand before you
with open hungry hands
in order to be fed
your broken body yields the feast

living bread

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