Living God,

Some Sundays we come dragging in to the worship gathering
with a head that is battling doubts.

Are You there?
Why did You…?
Why didn’t You…?
Has this all been a waste of our time?

Some Sundays we come dragging in to the worship gathering
with a heart running on empty.

Tired from seeking.
Exhausted from serving.
Worn out from sacrificing.
Can we possibly carry on?

Some days we come dragging in to the worship gathering
with a life depleted by people.

People with their problems.
People with their imperfections.
People with their insensitivity.
Would it be OK to just isolate ourselves?

Some Sundays we come dragging in to the worship gathering
struggling with faith, hope, and love.

But today we remember that Friday
when the chosen scattered
and the sky grew dark
and the ground shook
and the tombs opened
and the veil in the temple was torn
and the Prince of Peace was terminated.

And we think of the faith, hope, and love
struggles of all who had followed Jesus.

And we remember that Sunday
when early in the morning they realized
Jesus was alive and nothing
would ever be the same.

Today we remember the cross
as we ready our hearts and our heads
for our time together Sunday.

We prepare to gather together
with expectancy and anticipation
that Jesus is still alive
and He will meet us there
in a room full of people
who gather in spite of
hopelessness,
doubt, and
discouragement.

Together we will proclaim:
Jesus is alive!

Ready our hearts, O God!

We pray in Jesus’s name,
AMEN

Bob Clark