Easter Intercessions 2009

David Moore

Introduction

The prayers of intercession this morning take their tone from the sculpture you passed on your way into worship this morning.

The sculpture comments upon attitudes toward Mary Magdalene and her place in the memory of the Church and reflects upon the uncomfortable aspects of resurrection.

Mary Magdalene become synonymous with, on the one hand, gross sentimentality, and on the other, the dubious nature of womans sexual morality. And so, by this crude and unjustified categorisation, the very first witness to the resurrection was perpetually sidelined!

However you might wish to reflect the fact that the meaning of the name Magdala in the Aramaic, is Tower eg strength, refuge.

End of each prayer:

David Moore: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

Mysterious God, concealed in creation and revealed in Jesus, we have waited patiently and earnestly for this day - the day when we approach the open grave and discover once again for ourselves, not that it is empty, but that Christ is risen.

DM: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

Lord Jesus, even as we focus on Mary Magdalene, the first person to know that you were alive, and even though the words ‘Christ is Risen’ is like honey upon our lips, we also carry the shame and regret that Mary become a byword for sentimentality and immorality and that her degrading continues to shadow our lives.

We ask you, our Risen One, to burst open the graves within us this day, so that as women and men together, we may honour you by truly honouring each other. Help each of us grow, free us from all that holds us back, egg us on with renewed supplies of courage, humility and grace.

DM: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

Risen Christ open the graves which exist within our own community at Cornerstone, free us from all that constricts, that the ecumenical flame may burn with renewed freedom, diversity and delight. May this Church be a place of welcome, gladness and new life for all people.

DM: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

Open the graves which exist within our world, that we may harness and express the grandeur and intensity of your purpose for all people.

On this great day of liberation, it is in sadness and shame we whisper our prayers for Palestine, those with HIV-Aids, the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Italy, those in poverty, the hunger, caught up in warfare, the shame of the arms-trade, bankruptcy, repossession. We know deep in our heart that our levels of comfort and reward feed off the injustices which others suffer.

Risen Christ as you hear the echo of our voice in your empty tomb, remind us again that you are not there but alive and active in the world.

DM: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

Most earnestly we pray you to fill in the graves we currently dig for future generations - though our senseless and wilful misuse of the planet.

May the Christ, the one who rises, rise among us and within us, so that as individuals and as a community, we may discover both hope and actions to contribute to the future, that we will learn to live sustainable lives of imagination and joy.

We give thanks for the dogged persistence of Friends of the Earth, the Soil Association and the great tapestry of ‘green’ campaigners. Keep us faithful in small things but persistently hungry and willing to do more.

DM: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

For the sick within our community at Cornerstone; for all of those whose life and well-being weighs heavy upon our hearts; we especially remember today a family of young children whose dad was buried in MK this week.

Risen Christ you greeted the grief-stricken Mary and turned her life around; affirming her as the Tower she already was, be with all those in need a Tower of Strength at this time.

DM: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

DM: We believe. Glory, glory
Women: Christ is Risen.
All: Glory, Glory, Glory

Amen