CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious and Surprising God, how glad we are to be together this morning, gathered to worship, gathered to sing, gathered to praise your holy name, and gathered to place our petitions before you. Our hearts and minds are still lingering in the wonder and mystery that was Easter morning and the unfathomable blessing revealed in the resurrection of Jesus. And yet, wondrous Lord, we confess that we become deflated and anxious when we are confronted with the reality of our own mortality. We are shaken from our resurrection reverie, quite suddenly, when loved ones are injured and friends fall ill. All at once we are afraid. Blessed Savior, we understand that even after the resurrection you had to help your disciples believe. We pray that you will soothe rattled nerves and hurting hearts today as you sought to soothe your disciples on this day, so long ago, by the Sea of Galilee. In your name we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
Some folks had some questions to ask in response to my Easter Letter which might have given the impression that I wanted to hire Mary Poppins to resurrect our children’s ministry. I do wish Mary was available. Folks wanted to know how many hours this Jane or Jack Sunday School Superintending, Christian Education Directing, Program Coordinating, individual would be working? How many children would be served? And last, but not least “What would he or she cost? My hope is that “more” children will be served; “enough” hours will be worked and the cost — “manageable.”
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Glorious God, Jesus taught us that whatever we ask for in prayer, we ought to believe we have received it. We believe, O Lord, that while our children are with us, we ought to be telling them the Good News of God, all the time. May the gifts we offer this morning empower our ministry to the all of the children in our care and around the world. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
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