An order of service for the second sunday after Easter

An order of service for the second Sunday after Easter

Call to Worship

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20)

We need your presence on the long road, Lord.
The road between fear and hope,
the road between the place where all is lost
and the place of resurrection.
Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus,
we are in need of your company!
Jesus, stand among us, in your risen power,
let this time of worship, be a hallowed hour.

From www.leadingworship.com

Bible Reading   Luke 24:13-35

¹³ Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.^[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” ¹⁹ He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,^[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.^[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” ²⁵ Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah^[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

²⁸ As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us^[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” ³³ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴ They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection

Coronavirus. That about the only thing we hear about these days. It’s on the news, the radio, the newspapers, and the topic of most conversations. Staying at home, self-isolating, maintaining social distance ensure that coronavirus remains part of all that we do - and even all that we are. There’s no place that we can get away from the reality of it.

Into that scenario, imagine if you met someone who asked you why people needed to stay 2 metres apart from one another, why there were queues outside supermarkets, why people were working from home and not in offices as they usually did, etc, what would your reaction be? You would probably look at the person strangely and ask: “are you the only one who is unaware of what is happening?” “Do your really not know why things are the way they are?” “Are you the only one who has not heard about the Coronavirus pandemic?”

That was the situation the disciples on the road to Emmaus found themselves in. They were talking about what had happened in Jerusalem (v.14), namely the crucifixion of Jesus and the other related events – the darkness over the land (Matt 27:45), the tearing of the temple curtain (Matt 27:51a), the earthquake (Matt 27:51b) and all the other strange events (Matt 27:52-53) that happened surrounding the death of Jesus.

Then Jesus falls in step with them. Luke says of this meeting: “Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (vs.15b-16a). This ‘stranger’ then asks them: “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” (v.17) hence their reaction: “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” (v.18b). We know that crucifixions in Jesus’ day were not uncommon. However, there was something different about Jesus’ crucifixion that gripped the attention of the whole city. It could be because, as the disciples said, “…we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (v.21).

In the rest of this fascinating encounter, the two disciples tell Jesus what they were discussing (vs.18-24); Jesus then interprets these events from the scriptures of Israel (v.27). They invite him to their home (v.28), he accepts, breaks bread with him (v.30) and at that point they recognize him (v.31). Luke describes the moment like this: “Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (v.31).

In this incident, Luke’s reference to ‘eyes’ at the start and at the end of this encounter is significant. It serves as the key to unlocking the heart of this story. In v.16, we read: “…their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” In v.31, we read “their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.”  So what happens between their non-recognition and recognition of Jesus? How were they able to move from non-recognition to recognition? What happened in that encounter that facilitated that shift?

Two factors were involved in bringing about that shift. First, it was the witness of the scriptures. The disciples were deeply impacted by what had just happened in Jerusalem. They were struggling to move beyond the events of the last few days. They were stuck…. And then, at that point, Jesus opened the scriptures to them. He showed from the scriptures that that whatever had happened, God was involved with it. They may have thought that their hopes of redemption and deliverance were dashed to the ground, but Jesus showed them that God had not abandoned his people. The scriptures were witness to this. Page after page of the scriptures, in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (v.27) they were reminded of the comforting hope that they had in God who was a constant presence with his people. That hope which the risen Christ offered to those sorrowful and confused disciples on the road to Emmaus is as real now as it was then.

In the midst of our hopelessness, and almost preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic, the same scriptures remind us of a God who loved the world so much that he sent Jesus to suffer and die. The same scriptures encourage us to put our trust in a risen Lord, who is all powerful, a God who is with his people at all times and in all circumstances. When we go to the scripture for comfort and solace, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit our hearts too can burn within us. The disciples experienced this: “Were not our hearts burning within us^[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” ” (v.32). But this can happen only when we go back to the scriptures - especially at a time like this to hear God’s comforting words speaking to us.  

Secondly, it was the breaking of the bread. It was customary for the guest to be invited to share around the food which the host provided. When Jesus did this, there was something about the manner in which he did this that struck a chord somewhere deep within the hearts of the two disciples. Luke describes the event: “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” (v.30), Compare that with the last supper Jesus had with his disciples: “While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body” (Lk 26:26). Or take the time when Jesus feed five thousand people: “And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd” (Lk 9:15). Those four verbs relating to bread: ‘took’, ‘blessed’, ‘broke’ and ‘gave’ must have instantly reminded the disciples that they had seen those actions before, in ways that made the power of God real in their lives. And that was it! At that very moment, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus for who he really was, in his risen power.

The risen Christ comes to his people in the breaking of the bread. Unfortunately, under the circumstances, at this time of lockdown and church closures, it is not possible for us to break bread together and meet around the Lord’s table. But we can still hold on to that truth. The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion is a means by which know we can encounter the power of the risen Lord and recognize his powerful presence in our lives so that our eyes are opened.

The witness of the Scriptures and the Breaking of the Bread. The word and the sacrament. These two entities are what made the difference between not recognizing Jesus and recognizing him. It is my hope and prayer that as we struggle through this painful and life-changing reality that we find ourselves in, we will find hope and comfort in the scriptures and in the breaking of the bread so that we too recognize the power and glory of the risen Lord.

Amen

Prayers

...Under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. Psalm 91:4-6 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You and ask You to sustain us by Your mercy, Your grace, and Your power. We continue to trust in Your gracious promise that “no weapon that is fashioned against” us, our families, or our churches “shall succeed.”
We take refuge under Your protective wings. Your faithfulness is our shield. By Your great strength, protect our hearts and minds from the grip of terror. Empower us, oh God, so that fear will not paralyze us or define our lives.
Great multitudes are affected by this appalling pandemic, and so we lift them up before You in prayer. Heal those battling this disease and comfort those who have lost loved ones. We know You alone are our Healer.
As 2 Chronicles 7:14 urges us, we identify with the sins of our nation and ask for Your forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Spare us from this “pestilence.” Cleanse us from our sins. Heal our lands.
With one heart and one voice, we stand together in unity, asking You, Almighty God, to protect our cities, our nations, and the world from COVID-19.
We pray this in the powerful Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(from https://www.unite714.com/weekly-prayer)

Benediction

Go now as witnesses of God’s eternal presence.
The risen Christ has made himself known to you
in the breaking of bread,
so set your faith and hope on God,
fulfilling your vows and living in genuine mutual love.

And may God hear and respond whenever you call;
may Christ Jesus make himself known to you in all things;
and may the Holy Spirit open your eyes and set your hearts on fire with love.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
...In the name of Christ. Amen.

© 2002 Nathan Nettleton, Laughing Bird Liturgical Resources 

An order of service for the first Sunday after Easter

An order of service for the first Sunday after Easter

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, the light of your love shines on,
illuminating the places where you are present.
As the bewildered disciples pondered the stories of your appearance,
you penetrated the darkness of their fear and doubt with your word of peace.
You showed them the appalling marks of evil pierced on your hands and feet.
You opened their minds to understand why you had to die to defeat such evil and death.
Increase our understanding, we pray,
and open our minds and hearts to receive you, Lord.
Speak your word of peace to us and let your love shine on any dark areas in our lives.
May this worship which we offer in your name be a worthy response to your love and your sacrifice for us.

Amen.

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on the Liturgies Online blog.
http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/

PRAYER OF CONFESSION*

Even though we have come through the joy of Easter and the triumphant Easter songs, yet we doubt, Lord. Like Thomas who walked the Judean countryside with Jesus, we still have trouble believing in the resurrection of Jesus. We easily slip back into the darkness of doubts. We move the joy of Easter into the past and continue in a downward path to confusion. Shine your bright light of joy upon us. Lighten our dark path. Help us to believe, even though we have not seen you, touched your hands and side. Help us to proclaim Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

Do not fear, dear friends. Jesus is among us, offering us new life and hope. Nothing can prevent God's love for us. Rejoice, for you have been made new in Christ. Amen.

* “Ministry MATTERS”  By Nancy C. Townley

Bible Reading: John 20:19-31

¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

 ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

 ²¹ Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

 ²² When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

 ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

 ²⁴ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

 ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

 ²⁶ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

 ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."

 ²⁸ Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

 ²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

 ³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

 ³¹ But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

The resurrection happened a week ago. The disciples were still struggling with the magnitude of the event. After all, the unthinkable had happened. A dead man was alive again! How could that be?

The disciples had witnessed the horrific crucifixion, they saw that the Roman soldiers made sure that Jesus was dead. They watched from afar when they took his battered body down from the cross and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb and rolled a large boulder across the entrance. As if that were not enough, the stone was sealed with the official sign of Rome and an armed guard was placed around the sealed entrance. No one could get in, and certainly, no one could get out. So on that first Easter morning, when the women who encountered the empty tomb became the first witnesses of the resurrection and told the disciples whom they had seen, the disciples didn’t believe them (Mark 16:11). It was too unbelievable!

But then, in today’s gospel, the risen Christ come and stands among his disciples and shows them the marks of the nails and the spear (v.20), and they rejoiced! They didn’t understand how this happened but when they saw these marks, they believed that it was indeed Jesus. And that’s an important fact that we often overlook. The reaction of the disciples when they first heard about the resurrection was disbelief. It was only when they saw Jesus that they believed. But for some unknown reason, tradition has picked up only on Thomas’ disbelief. He has become the example of all those who are disbelieving, all those who are sceptical, all those who doubt, hence the phrase: ‘Doubting Thomas.’ But as we saw, this designation is neither accurate nor fair, because all the disciples initially doubted not just Thomas.

That said, there are at least three things that we can reflect on from Thomas encounter with the risen Jesus.

First, let us think about Thomas’ disadvantage. Unlike the other disciples, Thomas was a late-comer to the scene. We know that when Jesus came and made himself known to the disciples and showed them the nail and spear marks (vs.19-20), Thomas was absent: “But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came” (v.24). Thus, when he did eventually meet up with the disciples, he was at a disadvantage. Think about it. All that the disciples were talking about was their encounter with the risen Jesus: “… the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord.” (v.25a). The dead Jesus was now alive, they had seen him, and that would have dominated their conversation. Thomas felt left out. It was so unfair. Such a tremendous event had occurred and he had missed it. He was at a disadvantage.

Have you ever felt that you are at a disadvantage? Have you felt that everyone else has good things happening to them, things working out to their advantage but you are the underdog? You are the one at a disadvantage? That was Thomas’ experience. Even someone as close to Jesus as Thomas felt like that. He felt left out. Such feelings are real and part of our human experience. But what happened then?

Second, Thomas’ disadvantage brings us face to face with Thomas’ doubt. Because Thomas felt that he had been left out, that his friends had had a better experience than he himself (they had seen Jesus alive again and he hadn’t), his natural response was to minimise their experience, to challenge their experience, and to doubt the very truth of what they were saying to him. Hence, we see his almost knee-jerk reaction when they tell him about Jesus’ visit. He says: "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe" (v.25b). As I said earlier, it is easy to villainize Thomas for saying this and making him into Thomas the Doubter or Doubting Thomas. But remember, he didn’t have the experience that all the other disciples had. They had already had the proof he was requesting (v.20a). They too doubted before they had the proof, but we never talk of a doubting Peter or a doubting Andrew….

Thomas’ disadvantage caused him to doubt. We do that too. Our struggles cause us to question the fairness of life. We doubt that anything good can happen to us because it hasn’t yet happened. We let our despair get the better of us. We become sceptical, critical and hardened. We doubt the power of God to do great things anymore, because we now believe that we are not important anymore to God. If God really loves us, why does he ‘leave us out’? Why has my life turned out like this when everyone else has moved on? Doubt too is part of our humanness. It is easier to question and to doubt than it is to believe.

If the narrative ended on this note, it would have been a very sad state of affairs indeed. But thankfully, it doesn’t. The third and final truth we encounter is Thomas’ devotion. In an instant, his questions, his doubts are dispelled and we hear him crying out: "My Lord and my God!" (v.28b). The reason for this transformation is the direct intervention by the risen Christ. He comes again, and it is as if this second appearance is exclusively for Thomas: “Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."” (v.27). The important thing to note in this encounter is that Jesus met Thomas where he was – with his doubts and questions, in that place where he was feeling very sorry for himself, nursing the unfairness of it all, holding on to his disadvantage. And it is that hurt, that disadvantage, that pain, that doubt that Jesus addresses: “you want tangible proof, Thomas? Here it is. Touch and see.” We will never know whether Thomas actually touched and saw. But we do know that because of that encounter, his doubt changed to devotion. He knew instantaneously that Jesus met him where he was and his disbelief turned to belief.

We can be encouraged by this encounter. The risen Christ knows exactly what we are going through, what we are experiencing, what we are struggling with; he knows our questions, he knows our doubts and he comes to us and stands alongside us and invites us to encounter him. May we too, like Thomas, be able to rise up above ourselves and cry out with true and heartfelt devotion: “My Lord and my God!” The risen Christ never leaves us in our struggles. He reaches down to us and raises us up to him. In him we have fullness of life. In him we have hope. In him the clouds of despair and doubt are scattered, for he is our Lord, he is our God.

Amen

  

Prayer

This morning we come to you as people here who are filled with doubts; when we look at all that’s happening around us,
we wonder where you are and whether you are listening to our prayer.
When we are confused and even doubt the purpose of our life,
when we are faced with feelings of meaningless and despair,
when we have that sinking feeling,
give us the wisdom to turn to you.
Lord we want to believe, help our unbelief!
Give us faith, small as a mustard seed,
so that we can be your faithful people,
believing in your power to save,
believing in your power to reign supreme,
believing that we can share this good news
with everyone we meet.
We ask all this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

~ situationally adapted version of a prayer written by Carol Penner, and posted on her Leading in Worship blog.
http://carolpenner.typepad.com/

BENEDICTION *

Go from this place in peace and joy to serve the Lord.
We rejoice in the good news we have heard and go to serve God in all that we do.
May God's blessing continue in and through you to others
May God's love also pour into your heart this day and always. Amen

* “Ministry MATTERS”  By Nancy C. Townley

A Easter Reflection

AN EASTER DAY REFLECTION

Today is a very different Easter Sunday. With all the restrictions in place on social distancing, Church buildings have to be closed on this special day. Christian communities around the world are in lockdown, along with the rest of the countries in which they live. We feel helpless, powerless and hopeless. Surely Easter shouldn’t be like this. But for the greater good, it needs to be like this. Therefore, we must ask ourselves, what does the resurrection mean to us at a time like this? How can we be encouraged by the truth of the resurrection?

When we recall the first Easter and the women who visited the tomb early that morning, we think of the mixed emotions the mixed emotions they must have felt: Sadness (at Jesus’ death), questions and doubts (about who would move the stone), a sense of devotion (which is why they went so early to anoint the body in the first place), surprise (at seeing the angel) and fear (at seeing these strange sights, especially the risen Jesus). It was a strange experience for them. A very different Sunday morning, just as it is for us, with all that’s happening around us with the coronavirus pandemic. We can identify with many of their emotions.

But as they come, as they try to make sense of what’s happening around them, the first words that angel speaks to them are significant. The angel says: “Don’t be afraid” (Matt 28:5b). In fact we are told that the Roman guards had become like “dead men’ for fear of what they had witnessed” (v.4). When these women came to the sealed tomb, they came as vulnerable, grief-stricken women, expecting to be confronted by hardened soldiers. Then there was an earthquake (v.2); They saw an angel (v.2), an empty tomb, and a missing body. They had every reason to fear. But they hear the assuring words: ‘don’t be afraid.’ Today, we know that Christ is risen but fear exists. Fear at what’s happening around us. Fear for our health, fear for our lives, fear for our loved ones… but when confronted with the power of God seen in Christ’s resurrection, may the words: “don’t be afraid” give us peace, for we know that death has been conquered. We believe in a powerful God.

The next words that the women hear are in the form of an invitation: “Come and See” (v.6). See what? Well, they came expecting to see the entrance blocked but they saw the stone had been moved; they came expecting to see soldiers but they an angel instead. They came expecting see a dead body but they found an empty tomb….and then the angel says that he knows what they were looking for (v.5). What are we looking for?  Are we looking for answers? Why is this happening? When will it stop? How do we understand the situation we find ourselves in?  May we hear the words of the angel: “Come and See”. Come and witness for yourself the power of God. A God who is so powerful that nothing can stand in his way, not even death. But to know this, to be strengthened by this, and, most importantly, to believe this, we need to come and see for ourselves.  

And the last instruction of the angel flows out from assuring them not to be afraid and to come and see for themselves; what they witness is so wondrous that it could not be kept to themselves. They witnessed the power of God. They witnessed the Risen Christ. They witnessed the defeat of death. And now they had a responsibility, an obligation to share that truth with others. The angel says: “Go and Tell!” (v.7). Be witnesses to the Risen Lord!! Shout it from the roof tops! Our God is a powerful God. The soldiers could not stop him. The grave could not hold him back. Death has lost its power. Christ is risen. Go and tell others about this. That was what the angel said to the women.

And as we look to the power that flows from the empty tomb, we share that news. We are people of hope. The forces of sickness and death can rage around but they cannot break our spirit or rob us of our peace. May we rediscover the wonder and amazement and mystery for that first Easter. May we experience afresh the power of God. May we allow that power to fill our hearts and minds with the truth that God is control. Don’t be afraid. Come and See. Christ is Risen. Go and tell.

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Good Friday

The Seven Words from the Cross

On Good Friday, we focus on the crucifixion of Jesus. It was a brutal and horrific form of execution in the ancient world.

It was a slow and lingering death. 

In reflecting on that event in Christ's life, we are struck by the abundance of God's love, who sent his son to die for us, that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. 

It is customary to reflect on the seven words of Christ while he was on the cross. This year I came across a set of prayers based on each of the words. I hope you will find them useful as we prayerfully stand at the foot of the cross and ponder the love, the mystery and the grace of God manifest in our dying Saviour.

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”Luke 23:34

O God in heaven,
give us patience
that we do not strike back
with revenge for any false accusations
or ridicule we endure from your enemies.
Guide us to remain faithful to your Word,
to follow your divine will,
and to forgive all who have done us harm;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

2. “Woman,behold, your son!” John 19:26

O God,
your Son displayed compassion
for his grieving mother
when he placed her into the care
of his beloved disciple, John.
Take us into your care with compassion.
Guard and shield us
from all the assaults of the evil foe
and from all enemies and persecutors
who seek to take Christian lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

3. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

O God in heaven,
from this vale of tears
we poor sinners cry to you,
“Lord, remember us in your kingdom.”
When our last hour comes,
comfort our hearts with your life-giving promise,
“Today will you be with me in paradise;”
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

O God, heavenly Father,
you have drawn us all to yourself
through the anguished suffering of Jesus Christ,
who cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”. For the sake of your Son,
do not forsake us
when we bear our heaviest crosses and afflictions,
but reach out to us
and uphold us with your fatherly grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

5. “I thirst.” John 19:28

O God,
in the parched suffering of your Son Jesus,
he cried out, “I am thirsty.”
Move us, your people,
to hunger and thirst for your righteousness.
Kindle our hearts with your divine love,
that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers
will be able to separate us from your love.
Make us hunger and thirst to serve each other willingly;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

6. “It is finished,” John 19:30

O God in heaven,
according to your will in Jesus Christ,
all is finished for our salvation.
May our lives be filled
with deeds of gratitude according to your holy will,
and not following our own understanding;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Luke 23:46

O God in heaven,
help us faithfully follow our Lord Jesus Christ.
When you call us poor sinners from this world,
lead us to submit our souls to you,
and to pray with confidence in our hearts,
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
even when our voices cannot speak.
Then receive us at last
into your gracious hands;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Joachim Mynsinger of Frundeck (1514-1588) from Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, wie auch Gebete von Melanchthon, Bugenhagen, Matthesius, Habermann, Arnd und andren Gott- erleuchteten Männern, Evangelischen Bücher-Verein, 1866, p. 371-372, #603