Sunday Prayer

God of Celebration, God of our hosannas, can it really be here already? Palm Sunday begins in a few short hours. The children will wave their palms in procession, the choir and others behind them, and we will all rejoice.

Guide my steps in that procession and in all of our worship today. Help me to resist the temptation to race ahead of this day into the week ahead. Don't allow my mind to wander to plans for Thursday night, or Friday's worship. God, I need your help to keep me present to each moment.

Jesus knew that. He was aware of the suffering that the coming days would bring, and yet he lived in the celebration of the moment as he entered Jerusalem. In our church today we won't hear the Passion story, it will be told on Friday. So for now, we wave the palms and sing and reflect on the meaning of this day.

Be with all of the searching faithful people who sit in those objects of torture we call pews. They come to hear a word of hope, inspiration, or maybe just to catch enough of a glimpse of your goodness to keep coming back. May our worship, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be life-giving for all who encounter you here this day. Amen.