Saturday Prayer: Hosanna! Save Us

Hosanna! Save us, O God!

From hasty palm waving and distracted worship;
from the Holy Week panic about to set in;
from the onslaught of emails and plastic eggs;
from the special music to arrange and the brunch casseroles to bake;
from the late nights, the restless sleeps, the too-early mornings.

Save us, O God,
from the pressure we feel to make sure your crucifixion
is properly somber and meaningful;
from the burden we bear to create glorious worship
that will somehow, again, pull you from the tomb.

Remind us that our liturgical efforts are appreciated,
but not necessary for the salvation of the world.
You have already accomplished the necessary work;
we are merely privileged to tell others about it.

So we shout: Hosanna!
Let us wave our palms in true and honest praise.
Let us rest in the darkness of the coming week—
allowing the truth of the story to bear the weight that is too much for us.
Let us be faithful—but not frantic—in our preparations for the celebration,
knowing it is the power of your love–not our efforts–
that brought and continues to bring Life into our world;
Life into our lives.

Amen.

Rev. Joanna Harader serves as pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, KS. She has many services to plan and many plastic eggs to fill in the coming week.

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