Tag Archives: Easter

Easter Morning Worship Prayers

03 Saturday Apr 2021

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Invocation

Divine Dawn of Redemption, as the tomb has opened, we peer into the future. Like in the garden long ago, so much around is still unknown. Yet you have refilled our souls with hope. Even when fear lingers, your peace-filled spirit surrounds us, bringing us the confidence to continue to move forward. May we embrace this new era of resurrection with steadfast faith, even when anxiety and amazement disorient us. Amen.

Blessing of the Gifts

Holy One, with gratitude, we celebrate all gifts we have been given and the gifts we share with the church and our community.  May the treasures, talents, and time we share build a world in which all people experience resurrection and renewal.  Amen.

Benediction

As we enter a world where resurrection is possible,
Nudge us forward when the unknown is overwhelming.
Empower us when anxiety and amazement seize our spirits.
Allow our trembling voices to share Alleluias with a hurting world.
Open our hearts to our neighbors yearning for rebirth.
And allow us to see the empty tomb in each season of our lives.

Amen.

A Easter Communion Liturgy can be found here.

(c) 2021 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian. Permission to use with attribution.

Easter 5A in Quarantine: Refuge in God

06 Wednesday May 2020

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Texts used this week include John 14:1-21 and Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

Entry Into Worship
Your space was prepared for you.
In this time, you are where you need to be.
Embrace the Spirit sent by God
In our quarantine dwellings.
Receive the gift of refuge, knowing that God is near.
Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Release the worry and abide in God.

Invocation
Divine Architect, as we abide in our homes, we wonder what will come next.  We grieve what we have left behind, and we mourn the life we are no longer living.  Fill us with a new Spirit, that we can vision a future filled with joy.  May we spend this time rejoicing in the power of Divine Hope, knowing that your presence is forever with us, God.  Amen.

Prayer of Reconciliation
Have we forgotten about you God?  Have we turned our eyes away from your presence?  In this time, we have welcomed crutches to endure this time of loneliness and uncertainty.  We have forgotten that you are our Great Supplier of Hope and Root of All Faith.  May we begin to invest our trust in you instead of false idols.  May we begin to adopt the practice of gratitude in our daily lives.  Amen.

Assurance of Grace
The steadfast love of God journeys with us forever – in the peaks and valleys of our pilgrimage.  May we embrace the grace which stems from God’s love.  Amen!

Reflection on Giving
In God, we seek our refuge.  In our Divine Architect, we find our wisdom.  Even in this season of the unknown, God is caring for us.  And we are called to give what we have to care for our church, our community, and our world.  We are nudged to give what we can to share the Good News of God’s unconditional and steadfast love for each of us.

In a spirit of thanksgiving, we pray together-

Holy God, Divine Architect, in your presence we find a peaceful refuge.  In your presence, we are called to keep your commandments to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Give us the courage and strength to carry your light into our communities and world with the talents, time, and treasures you have bestowed upon us.  We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Compass in unsure times, Amen. 

Benediction
As we dream of a future with hope,
We seek our refuge in God.
We find enduring comfort in the Holy Spirit.
We embrace the peace furnished by Jesus the Christ.
We will not let our hearts be troubled or afraid
as the steadfast presence of the Divine is in our midst
giving us the vision to look ahead to the future with love and hope.
Amen.

(c) 2020 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian.  Permission to us with attribution.

Good Shepherd Sunday in Quarantine – Easter 4A

02 Saturday May 2020

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Entry Into Worship
What is abundant life
And where do we see it in our homes?
How can we see bounty in the wilderness,
As boundaries restrict us from living our “fullest” life
Do we perceive God’s generosity?
On what in our lives is God’s light shining?  To what type of service is God calling us next?
May worship be a tool of discernment, a flashlight in the shadows, and a celebration of God’s generosity of Spirit.

Invocation
Holy Shepherd, Divine Leader, we look towards you in this time of quarantine.  From nights in isolation to our days of fog and bewilderment, we search for your healing presence.  We seek your wisdom and guidance in the coming weeks as we look towards the future.  May your Spirit of Hope permeate our souls as we wander in the shadow-filled valleys.  Amen.

Prayer of Reconciliation
Loving God, Divine Shepherd, we listen for your voice, but get drawn by some distracting voices squawking nonsense.  We allow these loud voices to lead us instead of your wisdom.  May we focus on and enact your intentions for our world, our country, our communities, our church, and our own lives.  May your steadfast love and mercy call us on healthy paths which cares for all of of your children.  Amen.

Assurance of Grace
The gift of God is grace which pours over us and leads us to still waters.  May we embrace second chances in God’s mercy which will accompany us throughout our entire lives.  Amen.

Reflection on Giving
The Good Shepherd, our God, requests that we learn from Jesus the Christ’s example.  Through Jesus, we see the ways we are to serve one another.  Through Jesus, we see the leader who is willing to ensure that all neighbors live the abundant life.  What can we sacrifice to ensure our neighbors’ needs are met?  What can we give to ensure that our congregation is able to fulfill its mission and share the good news during this pandemic?  This is our opportunity to see where God is calling us to share our treasures, time, and talents.

In a spirit of gratitude for the gifts that God gives to us, we pray together,

Divine Shepherd, your presence is the rod and staff which brings us peace.  We know we are called to follow your lead.  Open our souls ready to live into a spirit of abundance instead of a mindset of scarcity.  Open our hearts to your flock – your children across our communities and world who are struggling.  Open our minds to the possibilities of how we can share our gifts during this challenging time.  May we continue to focus on your voice as we discern what is next for us.  Amen.

Benediction
As we leave our time together today-
May God find you pillows of comfort on which you will rest your head.
May God lead you to places and in ways that will keep you healthy and safe.
May God restore your souls during the long days and nights of quarantine.
We will not fear, for you are with us God. 
You will follow us to the ends of the earth and remain with us in our homes.
Your goodness, mercy, and steadfast love will accompany us,
And we will dwell in your loving embrace our whole life long.
Amen.

(c) 2020 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian.  Permission to use with attribution.

Easter 3A in Quarantine: God Sightings

24 Friday Apr 2020

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God sightings

Entry Into Worship
When the light of today dims into the horizon,
God will accompany us into tomorrow.
As our health wanes and our hope lessens,
God will fill our lives with new possibilities.
As loneliness overtakes our hearts,
God’s embrace will fill us with comfort.
In these long days facing the unknown,
God’s peace will last with us into eternity.

Invocation
Holy Winds of Hope, as we continue in uncharted territories, may your breezes nudge us to look around us.  As the wilderness surrounds our souls, may we still see your presence in the flowers in front of us, with our kin sheltering with us, and in the star-filled sky above us.  We need not seek far; we can sense you in the voices echoing on phone calls and video chats.  With gratitude, we share our joy that you are near, today and always.  Amen.

Prayer of Reconciliation
God of Steadfast Presence, as we grow to know these shadows next to us, we focus on the lack of light.  We stop seeking the light that comes from you and which brings us peace.  We direct our attention to loud voices of distraction instead of the stillness of you, God.  Our minds are wrapped around news feeds and tomorrow’s concerns.  We focus on everything else and miss the God-sightings in our midst.  Open us to your presence next to us.  Grab our attention so that we sense you in front of us now instead of barely noticing you in our rearview mirror.  Amen.

Assurance of Grace  
We are forgiven for the ways we have missed God next to us.  God understands the mind and heart of humans, and God will appear to us again and again.  Amen!

Reflection on Giving
If we keep searching, keep exploring, we will notice God’s presence near us.  And we will detect the needs of our siblings across our communities as well.  We will discern God’s call of the ways we need to care for this congregation as well as the people outside of the church’s walls.

This has been a time for us to seek God in the wilderness and to listen to the ways that God is asking us to be creative in ministry, communication, and care.  What is God asking us to do next?  In what ways will the gifts we contribute this week further the mission and ministry of our congregation in this time of exile?

We give thanks for God’s calling and for the treasures, time, and talents provided by God.  With gratitude, we pray together:

Divine Presence, in these times of wilderness, you shine your light upon us.  You help us to realize our purpose and give us wisdom on the best ways to utilize our gifts.  Open our souls to possibilities on how we can minister and share your love with our church and community – even when we are miles apart.  Amen.

Benediction
In the steps we take today, tomorrow, or sometime this week, God of Hope, 
May we see your presence directly in front of us.
May we feel your presence in the winds above us.
May we smell your presence in the flowers around us.
May we taste your presence in the food surrounding us.
May we hear your presence in the laughter which comes from within us.
For you are always a part of our exiles, our promise lands, our dreams, and our eternities.  Amen.

Written by Rev. Michelle L. Torigian.  Feel free to use/adapt this liturgy with attribution.

A Liturgy for Easter 6C – Waiting for Healing

22 Wednesday May 2019

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CALL TO WORSHIP (Based on Psalm 67)

One: May God bless each one of us.
Many: May God bless our siblings across the world.
One: May God’s face shine upon us.
Many: May God’s face shine upon each of our neighbors of other races and religions.
One: May God’s way be known across this earth.
Many: May all nations experience God’s mercy and love.               
One: Let all nations be glad and sing for joy.
Many: Let all the peoples know you and sing your praises.

INVOCATION

God of Steadfast Radiance, as creation took form across the universe, your light bid all living beings a greeting of wellness. Crossing time and space, your illumination has alleviated the pain of shadows. Through your luminosity, we see the value of each of our worldwide siblings.  Continue to shine your light upon this earth so that we see the needs of our neighbors. May your moonglow and sunshine allow us to see your image in your children across our planet.  Amen.

PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION 

One: In the haste of our days, we rush to meet our needs.  In the process of our living, we occasionally will step in front of people.  On difficult days, we will even spiritually step over or on our neighbors. 

All: Forgive us, Divine Radiance.  May your mercy shine so brightly on our world that we can clearly see our neighbors’ needs. May your glow of kindness remind us to ensure all people have a place in line. May your righteousness move us to safeguard others’ essentials.  Encourage us to step aside to allow our marginalized neighbors to have their greater needs met before ours. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GRACE

One: God’s Radiance will shower us with mercy and call us to new paths of care.  May the steadfast love of God give us the courage to create God’s realm here on earth.  Amen! Alleluia!

All: Amen!  Alleluia! Thanks be to God!

CALL TO OFFERING

One:   The Divine Radiance of God rains upon us.  As we flourish, may we never forget to care for creation, your children, and the church.  We take this time to reflect and to share from our gifts.

DEDICATION PRAYER

Loving God, Divine Gleam, as your light reaches this earth, may this brightness allow us to see the ways we are called to care.  Let our light shine before others so that our world is encouraged to foster your children across this globe. Amen.

BENEDICTION

One: Beloved Siblings in Christ,

Let us open our windows to the light of God

Let us open our doors to the Christ in our midst,

And let us open our hearts to the Spirit who compels us to share God’s love with our world.

Amen!   Alleluia!

All: Amen!  Alleluia!

*****

(c) Rev. Michelle L. Torigian. Free to use with attribution.

Not Today, Death

28 Sunday Apr 2019

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This contains Game of Thrones season 8, episode 3 spoilers.

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Not today, Death.

Now, I haven’t been on the Game of Thrones bandwagon too long. But since I’ve been watching the past two seasons in real-time and now going back to watch from the beginning, I’m seeing a phrase that Arya Stark learns in season one and follows her into the intense moments of season eight: “Not today, Death.”

This phrase gave Arya the energy she needed to rise about the negativity, the doubt, the potential death she could be facing and take care of a major, necessary task which would save Winterfell and many, many people.

Being people who live into resurrection, we as the followers of Jesus the Christ embrace this statement each year through the season of Easter. Death could not contain the Christ and his love in a tomb. Death could not stop the movement of his passion to love his neighbor or the Good News of new life and grace.

So like Arya Stark on Winterfell’s Good Friday, we say

Not today, Death.

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An Easter Sunday Communion Liturgy

29 Thursday Mar 2018

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bread

SERVICE OF COMMUNION

Invitation
One: On this day, we celebrate the risen Christ
Many: On this day, we celebrate resurrection in our lives.
One: On this day, we embrace the grace which reaches from the tomb.
Many: On this day, we embrace faith by committing to love in action.
One: On this day, we shout Hallelujah!
Many: On this day we shout, Christ is risen!  Alleluia!

Prayer of Communion
One: It is through our neighbors and creation that we see the rising of Christ, O God.

Creator of Our Earth: We celebrate the shifting of seasons from one to the next.  As the earth sheds its snow, it begins to drink in the warm rains and creation comes alive once again.

And so in this spirit of brightness and life, we celebrate.  We celebrate the risen Christ in our midst.  We celebrate the table in which we can join together with friends and strangers, loved ones and enemies.

Through this meal which has stood the test of time, we covenant to love you, God.   We covenant to love as Jesus the Christ loved us- loving our neighbors as ourselves.  Through a simple meal of grain and grape, we, your children, unite.

As we enter this season of Easter, we ask that the warm winds of the Spirit encircle this table and accompany us on our journey.  May this Spirit help us to recognize the Christ-presence in our midst.  May the Spirit open our souls in order for us to see humanity, God and creation through the eyes of Jesus.

It was Jesus who introduced this meal to his followers.  Even though Jesus knew he would be betrayed and deserted by those at this supper, he still continued to join them at the table, sharing time and space with whom he grew closest.

As the night lengthened, Jesus took a simple portion of bread.  He blessed it and broke it, and shared it with the disciples.  He urged them: Remember me.

Afterwards, Jesus took the cup.  During his blessing, Jesus reminded them how he would go to the ends of the earth in his love for them.

Today, we celebrate this earth-shaking love of Jesus – a love that sent him to the cross and a love that lives eternally with us, encouraging us to live a resurrected life.

The Bread of Life and the Cup of the Covenant: Gifts to unite the Body of Christ.

Distribution of Elements

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Through this space and time together today, we celebrate the covenant that ties us with God, Jesus the Christ, our neighbors and creation.  Thank you, Divine Crafter of the Table, for fashioning us a holy meal unites us with the Body of Christ.  Send us into the world resurrected, refreshed and ready to share Christ’s unconditional love.  Amen.

 

Written by Rev. Michelle L. Torigian.  Please feel free to use in your faith communities with attribution.

The Privilege of Falling Asleep

25 Friday Mar 2016

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imageThree years of seminary was the grand beeping alarm clock to my own racial privilege. Conversation after conversation with friends who eventually became pastors and prophets in Ferguson stirred me from the deep sleep of privilege in which I had mostly abided for three decades of my life.

I’m awake… I’m awake… Of course, I think I’ll never going to fall asleep ever again…

As the days and months continued post-seminary, my eyelids became droopy. Fatigue overcame my mind and my heart. Eventually, my eyes close, and I found myself mostly unsuccessful resisting an idealized dreamland while my sisters and brothers of color are calling out to God for their lives and their well-being.

Like Peter, James and John keeping watch as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, I continue to nod off to sleep. There are days in which I feel like I am spiritually dozing and need the nudging of the Christ to become alert to the reality of so many in our communities.

This nudging comes in the form of news articles posted, first person accounts of injustices posted on Twitter as they are happening, being called out for a sentence or two of “whitesplaining” or hearing a cherished friend’s story of fear and discrimination. #Staywoke in social media is the alarm clock that’s intended to stir me from my sleep, whether I am in a deep slumber or nodding off for a short nap, slipping out of privilege-consciousness for a moment or two.

As a person of racial privilege, I have the freedom to be able to close my eyes for a time-out while my friends of color can’t rest for a moment. They are crying out for their well-being as they are treated unfairly in the workplace, in systems of education and by the powers-that-be. They are wailing as their children are found slain in daylight due to unjust systems.

As people who are white, we have the obligation to stay awake as Jesus has urged us to do – watching and waiting alongside of Jesus and neighbor, knowing that the time is coming for another round of oppression.

In the spirit of reconciliation during this upcoming Holy Week – especially as we reflect on the Mark 14 narrative of Peter, James and John trying to keep awake – I ask God and neighbor for forgiveness as I close my eyes to the injustices in our world. I pray that God will give me the energy, focus, passion, understanding and courage to #staywoke alongside my friends who aren’t gifted the option to rest. And I yearn for a time when those of us who know privilege will keep alert even after the daylight of justice comes.

Single in the Sanctuary: Blue Easter

22 Tuesday Mar 2016

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easter lily2In 2008, I attended Easter morning worship with my mom and dad at a progressive United Church of Christ congregation in the greater St. Louis area.  The sermon was engaging.  The music was magnificent.  Everything about this Easter morning worship was spiritually meaningful.

But I was distracted… and distraught.

Family three rows up.  Family six rows up.  Family in the second from the front row on the other side of the sanctuary and two rows behind me too.  People of approximately my age sitting throughout the church with their spouse and their two or three small children.

And here I was… nearly 35 years old and sitting with my parents on Easter morning sans husband or children.  Even though I was with my lovely parents, I had never felt more alone.  At no point that morning did I feel anyone made me feel bad about being single or childless.  While some people at some congregations may stereotype people in my situation, I absolutely didn’t feel as if people were looking down upon me.

But I was looking down upon myself.  What’s wrong with me?  I would wonder over and over again to myself. Of course, when we are emotionally raw for any reason, it’s easy to place blame upon ourselves.  Life and love hadn’t happened in the way I wanted it to by the age of 35.  It was as simple as that.

Nonetheless, my feelings were very real that morning.  And they threw me for a loop.

Between 2008 and the time I met my boyfriend, I began to make some peace with this singleness in the sanctuary.  But it never became 100% easy, and Easter morning just happens to be one of those times I wonder if I missed out a little by not having children.  Bubbling youth bring about a certain energy into families and congregations, and even those of us who are 85% sure we are fine with not having children get a little emotional when surrounded by what we once wanted.

Which makes me wonder: How can we truly experience the resurrection if we are so distracted by what we don’t have, what we haven’t accomplished and in what ways we don’t fit with our congregations?

Easter morning may be a time when we hope that God will lead us to new life, new possibilities and fresh beginnings.  But there could be people in our congregations that feel like an odd person because they believe their marital status or family structure stands out from the crowd.  They may feel alone even though people surround them in the sanctuary.

Bless them with a greeting, with the peace of Christ, if you see them sitting alone.  Bless them with an request to sit with you as they may feel just a little less alone.  Bless them with an invitation to lunch or coffee hour.

The sealed tomb in which they find themselves in may start to crack open as beams of light begin to find their way beyond the shadows.

A Note from a Pastor to Loved Ones During Holy Week

01 Wednesday Apr 2015

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imageDear people who I care for the most,

As you definitely know by now, it is Holy Week.  For those of us in the clergy/ministry business, we are attempting to accomplish in one week what we usually accomplish in about three or four ordinary time weeks.

In this process, our ideal selves are not shining this week.

I will want to stare at stupid reality shows, binge watch Netflix, play 60 consecutive games of Bejeweled Blitz, and surf the computer for hours in the evening.

I may eat one too many brownies or have an extra glass of wine this week.

I will want to pamper myself somehow… maybe a massage, a haircut and color or a mani/pedi.

I will either not sleep enough or I will sleep too well.

I will be Rev. Crankypants until Sunday morning is over.

I will be Super Crankypants if I am approached about taking care of something that can obviously be completed well after Easter Day.

There will be tears. Guaranteed.

There will also be an impromptu dance party at least once per day.  And I will be breaking out in song – most likely something from my college days and reminding me of a much simpler Holy Week.

The house will have extra clothes on the floor, the dishes will sit in the sink a little too long, and I will not have vaccuumed as I usually do.

I will remind people of things over and over again because I’m truly hoping not to drop one of my many balls in the air.

If you can not find me I will be at one of the following places: (1) church, (2) Michael’s, (3) the ice cream store, or (4) curled up in a corner somewhere as I wail and gnash my teeth.

My throat will start feeling scratchy by Thursday which brings on the added stress of extra needed sleep, gargling with salt water, and remembering to take any and every kind of vitamin that could possibly work.  Otherwise, I have to carve into my day a good hour and a half for a trip to the clinic.

Easter morning will be full of caffeine, adrenaline, and pure Holy Spirit joy.  And then once noon hits on Easter, I am a complete zombie.  Not normal Sunday afternoon zombie but full zombie-apocalypse walker.

I am so exhausted that I might as well post a “Do not disturb until the Thursday after Easter” sign on my door.

Holy Week Michelle is not typically who I am.  Well, sometimes it is – especially in the two weeks preceding Christmas.  And I will apologize over and over and over again as I try to keep everything moving forward.

All I ask is a bit of grace, a bunch of prayers, and maybe, a pint of double chocolate ice cream.  Thank you for loving me through the valley of the shadow of Lent and every other day of the year.