STAFF PRAYER AND REFLECTION RESOURCES FOR EASTER TO PENTECOST
In the school weeks between Easter and Pentecost, try to gather the staff at least once a week to celebrate the joy of Easter and acknowledge the power of the Resurrection.
In a 10 minute prayertime try to incorporate short opening prayer, some music, something to look at (e.g. cloth, candle, flowers, picture etc….), some silence, Scripture/poem/reading, prayers for others, a closing prayer or blessing.
Attached are some suggestions for staff prayer time for Easter and one for Pentecost.
STAFF PRAYER FOR THE EASTER SEASON 1
Opening Prayer:
Leader: Christ our Light
All: He is Risen. Alleluia!
Leader: Christ our Hope
All: He is Risen. Alleluia!
Leader: Christ among us
All: He is Risen. Alleluia!
Scripture:
Let us ponder and pray with the Easter stories.
Voice 1: ‘So they left tomb quickly with great joy, and ran to tell his disciples ( Mt 28:8)
Risen One, Bringer of Joy, plant the seeds of gladness deep in our being. May we enjoy life, begin each day with enthusiasm, and become ever more aware of you.
Pause for reflection.
Voice 2: ‘Mary Magdalene went out and told those who had been with him. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.’ (Mk 16: 10-11)
Risen One, Truth Bringer, open my heart to hear your voice. May I listen deeply. Erase my resistance to the surprising ways you choose to enter my life.
Pause for reflection.
Voice 3: ‘They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.’ ( Luke 24:2)
Risen One, Tomb-Opener, you are the power I need. Roll away the stones of unloving. Push back the rocks of discontent. Shove aside the boulders of worry. Untomb me and set me free..
Pause for reflection.
Prayer:
We ask that working together today will increase communion among us.
May the spirit of community that we experience give us new courage in all that we do for you.
Blessing:
Risen Jesus, you are always calling us to follow you into the future, inviting us to new ventures, new challenges, new ways to care, new ways to touch the hearts of all.
When we are fearful of the unknown, give us courage.
When we worry that we are not up to the task, remind us that you would not call us if you did not believe in us.
Bless us each step of the way this day.
Thought for the Day: What stones block my path?
STAFF PRAYER FOR THE EASTER SEASON 2
Opening Prayer:
Walk carefully as you come here
for God is here before you.
Walk humbly as you come here
for two or three are gathered.
Walk softly as you come here
for the Spirit may speak in the silence of this place.
God is with us now
This will be a sacred space for us.
Reading:
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Silence.
Prayers for others – Let us now pray aloud or in the silence of our hearts for all those people, places or events which we want to bring before God………….
Blessing
God our Father, it is in you that we live and move and have our being.
Inspire us to live in such a way that our choices each day
will lead us to live faithfully the present moment,
and transform the ordinariness of everyday life into something extraordinary.
Bless us this day and always.
Amen.
Thought for the Day : How can I be the hands, feet, eyes, of the Risen Lord today.
STAFF PRAYER FOR THE EASTER SEASON 3
Opening Prayer:
Leader: Risen Jesus
All: We welcome you among us today.
Leader: With Alleluia in our hearts
All : We gather together
Leader: In the spirit of Resurrection
All: Be with us in all we do today
Scripture Reflection:
Voice 1: ‘Jesus himself came near and walked with them on the road to Emmaus. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’
(Lk: 24: 15-17)
Risen One, full of compassion, you are with us as we walk the road of sorrow and joy. You listen to our longings. You fill us with the strength of your loving nearness.
Pause for reflection.
Voice 2: ‘He walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him to stay. So he went in and stayed with them. ( Lk 24: 28-29)
Risen One, trusted companion, we desire to be with you. Stay with us. Your presence nourishes us. Your love feeds us. Stay with us.
Pause for reflection.
Voice 3: After Jesus had risen, ‘they were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.’
( Acts 1:14)
Risen One, core of community, whenever we gather, you are with us. Whenever we gather you make of our hearts, one heart. Risen One, we welcome you into our midst.
Pause for reflection.
Prayer: Let us pray for all those who need our prayer……….
Blessing:
Risen Jesus, bless us with wisdom and patience today.
Risen Christ, bless us with courage and peace today.
May our work be blessed and those we engage with today bring us joy and lift our spirits.
Thought for the day: Be attentive to those who need to be listened to today.
STAFF PRAYER FOR PENTECOST
Opening Prayer:
Breath of the Spirit
Fill us with your peace
Breath of the Spirit
Dwell in us today
Breath of the Spirit
Breathe your life in us
SCRIPTURE
A reading from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians
There is a variety of gifts but always the same spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. One may have the gift of preaching with wisdom given by the Spirit; another may have the gift of preaching instruction given by the same Spirit; and another the gift of faith given by the same Spirit; another the gift of healing, through this one Spirit; one the power of miracles; another, prophecy; another, the gift of recognising spirits; another, the gift of tongues and another the ability to interpret them. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who distributes different gifts to different people just as the Spirit chooses.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Pause for silent reflection on the reading.
Blessing:
May the warmth of the Spirit’s fire be extended through your concern and care for all those who need your love.
May the Spirit’s courage enable you to speak the truth and to stand up for respect, dignity and justice.
May the Spirit’s patient endurance be yours while you wait for what is unknown to be revealed.
May the steady flame of the Spirit’s goodness within you convince you every day of the power of your presence with others.
May the joyful fire of the Spirit dance within you and set happiness ablaze in your life.
May the gifts of the Spirit work within you today.
Thought for the day: What gifts are you bringing to this day?