
Saturday Morning Prayer for Eastertide (Daily Prayer for All Seasons)
Collect for the Saturdays:
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Opening
Alleluia! Risen Lord, come be with us,
and teach our hearts to live in you. Alleluia!
Prayer
Jesus, divine companion: As the day unfolds, give us strength to understand and eyes to see, as you teach us to walk the soft earth, related to all that lives. Amen.
Praise
A Song of Wisdom (Wisdom 10:15-19, 20b-21)
Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors *
a holy people and a blameless race.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, *
withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.
To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, *
and led them by a marvelous way;
She was their shelter by day *
and a blaze of stars by night.
She brought them across the Red Sea, *
she led them through mighty waters;
But their enemies she swallowed in the waves *
and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.
And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name *
and praised with one voice your protecting hand; F
or Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute *
and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born people.
Scripture
Mark 12:18-27
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.’
Jesus said to them, ‘Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.’
Meditation
Prayers
Risen Christ, open our hearts to your grace and truth.
May we walk in newness of life.
Teach us to love others in the power of the Spirit.
May we walk in newness of life.
Here, the people may add particular intercessions or thanksgivings.
Strengthen us as witnesses to your love.
May we walk in newness of life.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer
God our Deliverer, by water and the Holy Spirit we have been buried with Christ and raised to the new life of grace: Give us inquiring and discerning hearts, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.
Going Out
Alleluia! Risen Lord, come be with us,
and teach our hearts to live in you. Alleluia!
