 April 2, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Devadhar and members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Were You There? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh Lord, I am trembling when I think of you on that Cross. I am deep in despair and sorrow for how you suffered. I tremble when I think of how often I have denied you, ignored you, blamed you. I tremble when I think of you on that Cross for me. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh Lord, I am trembling when I think of your body racked with pain. I tremble when I think of how you were tortured and mocked. How could they have missed what you were trying to offer them? How many times have I missed what you have offered to me? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Oh Lord, my soul weeps for your suffering and mistreatment. My soul trembles for the suffering of our world, pierced by virus, greed, and racism. Lord, I am trembling in my sorrow. I am overcome. Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Oh Lord, I am trembling in these dark hours as I live into your suffering. There is no light without you. How many times have I cried out to you this year with my own suffering, wondering if you are here, if you care? I tremble, Lord, knowing that you are no stranger to suffering. You are here. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh Lord, the tomb is dark and terrible. There is no hope in that tomb. I am trembling Lord, for you, for me, for our troubled world. All is lost ...Or is it? Prayer by Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Brannen, Superintendent Katahdin District John 18:1-19:42
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 April 1, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Will you harbor Me? By Ysaye M. Barnwell Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? Would you harbor a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew; a heretic, convict or spy? Would you harbor a runaway woman or child; a poet, a prophet a king? Would you harbor an exile or a refugee; a person living with AIDS? Would you harbor a Tubman, a Garrett, a Truth; a fugitive or a slave? Would you harbor a Haitian, Korean, or Czech, a lesbian or a gay? Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? Maundy Thursday: Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19 & I Cor. 11: 23-26 O holy One, we come before you with a mixture of feelings and a need of confession. We hear of the sufferings of Jesus, yet we try to resist hardship for ourselves. Forgive us our foolish and selfish ways. Awaken us from slumbering spirits, and call us by name. For you alone give us life, and provide all the resources with which our lives can be meaningfully sustained. We stand in special need of an extra measure of wisdom, grace and love. Help us to see your love for all people, so that we may become more loving ourselves. We perceive ourselves to be your human children, all sisters and brothers in one great family, regardless of the distinctions which create such wonderful variety among us. As we gather around the table of life, help us to make room in our hearts for all of your children; one bread one body. Forgive us for permitting the differences that make us unique, to become stumbling blocks of division. Forgive us for not always using the gift of life responsibly. Save us from narrowness, and show us the way to mutual respect and trust. Show us the way to a perception of one another that transcends gender, race, or nationality. Nurture us to a maturity that wants for others, every healthy experience that we desire for ourselves. Take away from us all prejudice, pride, and hatred. Give us strength to grow toward a more perfect expression of love to all people, in all places, at all times. Through penitent spirits for our own provincialism, enable us to find ways to demonstrate the way of love through the expression of our own life. Strengthen us as we walk in the paths of integrity. It is in the Spirit of the one who showed us the great value and power in love that this prayer is offered. Amen. By Rev. Dr. David V. Calhoun, Seacoast District Superintendent  March 31, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer The doors to Gallicantu (where Peter denied Jesus and the cock crowed); taken on a 2018 pilgrimage to the Holy Land by Rev. Megan Stowe. Wednesday of Holy Week is known as Spy Wednesday, the day in which Judas went to the Chief Priests, promising to lead them to Jesus. The prayer today is focused on Mark 14:10-11, 18-21. As Sunday School children, O Jesus, we were taught to hate Judas, Greedy, conniving, a turncoat. History used his example to encourage anti-Semitic sentiment to bubble over. But as I came to the door at Gallicantu, I understood things differently. I walked through the door, and there you were, Jesus, with your finger outstretched, Pointing to me, asking me, “will you be the one to betray me?” As a child, I was convinced that I wouldn’t betray my Lord. And yet, there have been times I’ve behaved badly. There are times when I judge other’s behavior, ignoring my own character flaws. Or stayed silent when I should have spoken up. There were times I was paralyzed by fear, rather than emboldened by your Spirit. There are times when I don’t love my neighbor or myself. I have been complicit, And yet … Jesus, you still chose to share a meal with him. You prepare a banquet table for me. As I walked through the doors at Gallicantu, The weight of my sin surrounding me, Repenting as I left that place, forgiven and redeemed. Help me as I go on my typical daily activities. Focusing my attention to you. Being with the people in the margins. Loving who you love. Amen. By Rev. Megan Stowe, Commonwealth West District Superintendent March 30, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer On this day of the Holy Week, Our eyes yearn to turn toward the Easter morning yet our hearts remain shattered in the numbing darkness of hatred, violence, and senseless death … and we wait … in the tomb. O God of the Holy Week Will you show up and tear down the veil in every heart that keeps from seeing, celebrating and sharing your Holiness dwelling in every heart regardless of which skin color they have, which language they speak, whom they love, and which past they have? Will you remove the shroud of gun violence, death-dealing racism and white superiority that have wrapped this nation dead to your dream of peaceful and just Kin-dom? Will you wipe away tears from all faces, tears not just from their eyes but from their souls that have endured the degrading insults and the patronizing discrimination? Will you roll away the stone of hierarchy, greed, and domination that has kept your creation in the tomb of poverty, pollution, and war? O God of the Holy Week Our souls ache in the tomb of “how long?” Our spirits are tired of the tombs that this world makes to keep all from cut off from you and from one another as your children? Will you enter into the tomb in our soul and prepare and share a table with us? Will you swallow up all fear-mongering and death-dealing things that all may only to know how live and love? On this day of the Holy Week, Our eyes are still gazing toward the Easter morning yet our hearts are still shattered in the darkness in and around us … and we still wait … yet with the gladness to have our tomb companion, Jesus Christ, and with hope in the tomb-breaking power of Resurrection, nourished by your Table around which you call and welcome all people for a feast of life, love, and peace. Amen. Rev. We Hyun Chang, Commonwealth East District Superintendent Inspired by Isaiah 25:6-9? March 29, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Mark 14:22-23 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. Good Morning God, Today it begins, marking our memory of long-ago acts. Travels between city and village. Long talks over meals with friends. The blessing and breaking of bread and friendship. The blessing and sharing of a cup. Sharp words exchanged Prayer in the garden. Accusations. Physical abuse. Public choices. Lynching. Loss. Tears. Regret. How does it always come to this? How will we remember the story’s last act? The choice of an innocent victim willing to rend the curtain and expose our false sacrifice narrative. Violence does not redeem or heal. Love redeems and recreates. Do not let us forget. May your cup of blessing sustain our walk through this week’s difficult remembering And through our days of difficult living With arms open to resurrection. AMEN By Rev. Karen L. Munson, DMIN, Many Waters District Superintendent  March 26, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Spirit of the Living God, Fall Afresh on us! We praise your name and give you thanks for you are with us always in both the mountain tops and the valleys of our lives. This past year has been a difficult year for many of us. Those days of being physically distanced and isolated from family and friends have made us ever mindful of the many blessings that we too often have taken for granted. Help us to recognize that every moment, every hour, every day, is crafted by you. Life can be tough right now. We need you to open our hearts and fill us with your grace that we may see the opportunities to witness to your presence in them. May the gift of your presence in and around us be shared with all through our living and through our loving in all circumstances. “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Amen! Submitted by Rich Hughen, Interim Conference Lay Leader Inspired by Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29  March 25, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer God of miracles You called on a young woman to rise above her own expectations to rise above the expectations of her society to rise above doubt and fear. She said yes. Answering your call was the right thing to do. Answering your call is the right thing to do. We say yes. Amen Luke 1:26-38 By Beth DiCocco, Director of Communications  March 24, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer “O Lord as the seasons change and we rejoice with the pandemic slowing and life returning to the world please bless us as we shout to the heavens. God Bless us all.” By John Cardillo, Conference Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services  March 23, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Mark 11:1-11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'" They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. O fearless Creator, you never stop inviting us, calling us, to follow your direction. You expect our cooperation and invite us to be generous. I am inspired by the bystanders in Mark’s gospel who do not hesitate to lend their colt to “the Lord” when it is needed. And yet I am aware of my own resistance to letting go of my “stuff” so easily … could be my own wealth, or privilege, power … even my own expectations or selfish desires. What do I have to give up for you to turn it into a vessel of your love? What do you need me to offer for your plans to come to fruition? What do I need to surrender in order for the pandemics of racism and COVID-19 to be squashed so that new life can be possible for all? Continue to call out to me with what the Lord needs in order for your beloved community to become the kingdom of God on earth. By Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson, Director of Connectional Ministries/Assistant to the Bishop  March 22, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer As I reflected on the tension of the coming Palm & Passion Sunday, this poem of holding together and pulling apart in these days we are living came to mind. It is from “readings from the book of exile” by Pádraig Ó Tuama, © Pádraig Ó Tuama 2012, pp. 77-78. Hold yourself together and pull yourself apart Remember that this has passed before and that there will be more days of plenty…eventually. Pay attention to your feelings keep those feelings sharp. Try to hold yourself together and pull yourself apart. Keep your eyes on the prize that you might never gain. Don’t ignore whatever pain is blooming like a flower that you never planted. Occupy your hands with kindness. Remember you can see, even though this blindness is remarkable. Mark the places that you’re feeling mark the spaces where you’re needing held mark the evenings that are dark and mark the afternoon of coping. Mark the morning that you waken finding mourning has been taken to a different part of heartland. Remember what has passed before. Pour your body like the sacramental wine pour your blood with loving. Submitted by Rev. Rick McKinley, Director of Congregational Development |
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