Easter Sunday - April 4, Psalm 118: 1,2; 14-20
Your steadfast love, O God, needs reaffirming--especially on this day, when all the clouds that obscure our normal vision and faith are broken through by the resurrection of your Son from the dead. Let Israel say it. Let the house of Aaron say it. And let all those who fear the Lord say it, beginning with us.
Songs of victory abound among your people all over this world today--praising, honoring, and exalting all that your right hand has done for our salvation. All because of you we shall not die but live.
Open to us, with the psalmist, the gates of righteousness he longed to enter, that we too may enter into them and give thanks, For you have delivered us in our day of trouble, and set us to building on a cornerstone that cannot be shaken. It is all your doing, Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Amen.
Second of Easter - April 11, Psalm 150
Can our praise of you, O Lord, ever measure up to your worthiness of receiving it? Will the worship expressing it in your sanctuary this day reflect all your mighty deeds in nature as well as in human history?
Help us in our worship--both private and public--to pull out all the stops on the instruments we use to praise you. Free us by your grace to offer you a truly many-throated laud, riding on the sounds coming from all the instruments gathered to accompany our thanks.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Amen.
Third of Easter - April 18, Psalm 30
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come;
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Under the shelter of your wings, your saints have dwelt secure,
sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.
How dare we think otherwise about our lives, dear Lord, given all you have done and still are doing among us? Evil rides high on the swelling tides all around us, but we have found safely in the harbor of your love. You have heard the supplications of all your people over ages in time, and you hear us still.
Help us, then, to be strong and let our hearts take courage as we wait on you in your presence. Amen.
Fourth of Easter - April 25, Psalm 23
You are, indeed, the Good Shepherd, O God, for your are forever guarding our ways, causing us to lie down in green pastures, leading us beside still waters, and restoring our souls.
How wonderful it is to know in the midst of life with all its perils that you are present to guide us, teach us your will, and supply our every need!
How wonderful it is to know in the midst of life with all its perils that you are present to guide us, teach us your will, and supply our every need!
Even when we walk through the valley of death you are with us. Your rod and your staff, they comfort us,.
Surely we can trust you through all the days ahead for us. Help us this very day to affirm that by choosing to dwell in your house, by your side, our whole life long. Amen.
