The Loving Hands of God
Service Prayers for the Second Sunday of Easter
April 3, 2016
Psalm 118:14-29	John 20: 19-31

Call to Worship 
Leader:		God’s strong and loving hands are outstretched to all Creation.
All:		Let the world stretch forth and grasp God’s hands with joy.
		God’s open hands are as the gate of righteousness.
		Let us enter in to God’s abundant life and give thanks.
		In God’s hands are new life, strength, and salvation.
		Let us be thankful and sing unto our God with gladness.

Prayer of Invocation
O Risen Christ, be with us this day. 
We recognize your wounded hands; 
they tell us that you know what it is to struggle and suffer, 
and to prevail in the power of love.
We grasp those hands, that they may lead us together 
into a deeper place of peace.  
Our week has left worries, answerless questions, blatant injustices, 
and unexpected disappointments.  
We are weary.  
Come, O Risen Christ and receive our burdens 
as we empty our cares into your loving hands. 
Extend to us your joy.  
Give us imagination enough to pursue your abundant life!
Pour into us the freshness of your new life; 
for you are our strength and our might. 
How wonderful you are for your loving-kindness toward us. 
Amen! Alleluia!

Prayer of Confession
Most gracious God, the Earth is yours with all of its fullness.  
your Creation is beautiful and complex in ways beyond our imagination. 
If we follow its magnificent design, it leads us to You.

Yet we have been so distracted following wrong directions 
of the contaminated hands of the world—
hands that have cut off, torn down, burned up, 
dug under, held back, built around, and moved out 
the gifts of the Earth, created for blessing. 

We have lost our way and your Creation groans for us to turn back to You. 
We have been too complacent as we have witnessed 
the covetous few control too much at the expense of the desperate hungry multitudes. 

Forgive us for not exercising the strength of our hands 
for the good of your Creation.  
Give pardon for allowing our hands—gifted by You—
to rest idling by our sides.  
We seek the guidance of your hands 
to point us to your brightest light, salvation, and 
new life for your suffering Earth.  
Through your Son, Jesus Christ, the Way.           Amen. 

Words of Assurance
Risen Jesus, You are our salvation. 
Your forgiveness causes us to rejoice in your glory.  
Your nail-scarred touch has endowed within us fullness of grace.  
We lift our hands in thanksgiving, 
strong as the upraised branches of your majestic trees.  
Praise You for the power of your mighty hands upon us, 
for they reach into the depths of our hearts.  
You are marvelous!

Invitation to the Offering
The bounty of God’s grace has blessed us in so many ways.  
God’s love was manifested in the ultimate gift of Jesus, who is the Christ.  
Let us demonstrate our love through the sharing 
of our tokens of time, talent, and finances that God may be glorified.

Offertory Prayer
From our hearts and from our hands, 
we humbly and gladly present these gifts to you, 
O God, that they may be used to serve you and to bless your people, 
through Jesus Christ our Savior. 	Amen! Alleluia!

Benediction
*Please take the hand of the person next to you.
By the power of your Spirit, O God, 
imbue us with the power of the Risen Christ’s wounded hands.  
May that power make us one in You. 
May that unity cause us to love as mightily as You.  
May your love move us to use our hands as You do--
to do works of care and justice for your beloved Earth and all its people— 
works that heal, free, plant, hug, write, show, speak, and grow.  
Give us grace and strength for abundant life!
For this is the day that God as made, let us go forth, rejoice, and be glad in it!
Amen! Alleluia!

The Loving Hands of God: Service Prayers for the Second Sunday of Easter was written by the Rev. Vivian M. Lucas, Director, Franklinton Center at Bricks: United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries.  

Copyright 2016 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.