Holy Week Liturgy for Morning Prayer

Palm Sunday Liturgy

Opening Centering – Psalm 118

This is the day the Lord has made—let us rejoice in quiet stillness.

Like dew on the field, we receive this gift of morning;

the stone once rejected now stands as our cornerstone, a testament to God's steadfast

mercy.

(Pause for reflection.)

Open the gate of your heart and let gratitude flow like a gentle breeze.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—not to conquer, but to call us

home. God's light dawns softly, inviting us to begin anew.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Holy and Humble One,

Today, we wave our branches and lift our voices.

We rejoice, for the Prince of Peace rides into the city—not on a warhorse,

but on a borrowed donkey.

We join the crowd with Hosannas—hope in our hearts, joy on our lips.

And yet…

beneath the celebration, a whisper begins to stir.

We know this path leads to confrontation.

We know the hands that wave palms will soon point fingers.

We know that love will be tested; the road will grow dark.

Still, we give thanks—

for the courage of Jesus,

for the community he gathers,

and for the promise that mercy rides with him,

all the way to the cross.

Amen.

"We give thanks for the places where grace and goodness have bloomed in our lives."

The Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Reading: Luke 19:28–40

Reflection Prompt

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, what does his way of peace stir in your heart today?

Prayer of Intercession

Jesus, you entered Jerusalem not with force but with peace.

You came not to be served but to serve.

You wept for the city, shared a meal with friends,

and walked the road of suffering with love.

We pray for a world torn between praise and violence—

where "Hosanna" and "Crucify" still echo in our streets.

Bring peace, O Lord, and make us instruments of your mercy.

We pray for leaders—may they rule with justice, humility, and care.

For the weary and wounded—bring healing and hope.

For those preparing tables of welcome and reconciliation—bless their work.

For neighbors near and far—make us present, compassionate, and kind.

For the earth itself—teach us to live gently and walk humbly.

God of palms and passion, guide us through this Holy Week.

May your cross be our path and your love be our way.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Christ who rides in humility,

Christ who weeps for the world,

Christ who walks the road of suffering—

walk with us now.

Open our eyes to beauty and brokenness.

Soften our hearts with your mercy.

Steady our steps to follow you—not just in celebration,

but in compassion, courage, and faithfulness.

May we carry your peace into every place we work, rest, gather, and dwell

in today.

Monday Liturgy

Opening Centering – Psalm 36:5-7

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

    your faithfulness to the clouds.

  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains;

    your judgments are like the great deep;

    you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

(Pause for reflection.)

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

    All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Jesus friend and teacher,

You sit with your friends to share the gifts found in community. We pray this day to be

present to the joys and celebrations of new life exemplified in the stories of your life’s

journey as the Incarnate Word of God. We pray to be able to gratefully receive your

steadfast love as well as to graciously extend such love to others on our lives journey.

The Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Reading: John 12:1-11

Reflection Prompt

Remember the extravagant love of God made visible in simple acts of kindness.

Prayer of Intercession

Mary offered to you the humble gift of her action in anointing your feet. We pray for the

gift of humility and mercy to be aware of needs of the world and to stand firm in doing

acts of justice and compassion we can coffer on behalf of others. We lift our prayers

for those on our hearts and minds this day…

Closing Prayer

May our lives be a prayer

May God work through our prayers

May our work be an answer

To God’s will working through us

May we rest in God’s love

May God’s rest feed our souls

May our table be open

May we welcome friends and foes

May the poor be our neighbors

May our neighbors be blessed.

Amen

Tuesday Liturgy

Opening Centering – Psalm 71

In you, O Lord, I take refuge;

    let me never be put to shame.

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;

    incline your ear to me and save me.

  Be to me a rock of refuge,

    a strong fortress [a]  to save me,

    for you are my rock and my fortress.

(Pause for reflection.)

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Light of the World, we bring our prayers of gratitude this day. We lift up the beauty of

creation, the joys of laughter and the work of our hands. We celebrate the gift of

community near and far. We offer a few of the many ways we see your Presence in our

lives.

The Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Reading: John 12:20-36

Reflection Prompt

Remember the choices we make that reflect the light of Christ.

Prayer of Intercession

Make us aware of the precious gifts of life even in the darkest of places. Grant us the

courage and strength to continue to bring the light of your love, the compassion of your

mercy even to those with whom we struggle. May we walk in the light of your love. We

lift our prayers of concern, fear, and those broken places that need your healing touch.

Closing Prayer

May our lives be a prayer

May God work through our prayers

May our work be an answer

To God’s will working through us

May we rest in God’s love

May God’s rest feed our souls

May our table be open

May we welcome friends and foes

May the poor be our neighbors

May our neighbors be blessed.

Amen

Wednesday Liturgy

Opening Centering – Psalm 70

Be pleased, O God, to deliver us.

    O LORD, make haste to help us!   Let those be put to shame and confusion

    who seek our lives.

Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor

    who desire to hurt us.

Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!”

    turn back because of their shame..

(Pause for reflection.)

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.

Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”

But we are poor and needy; hasten to us, O God!

You are our help and our deliverer;

    O LORD, do not delay!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Loving Christ,

You sit at the sacred table of hospitality welcoming all to feast with you. You said,

“Come all who are who are weary, I will give you rest.” You open the table to friends

and strangers with extravagant generosity. All who are hungry, all who are thirsty, are

invited to come, feast on the mercy and love of God. With humble hearts we offer our

thanks this day and seek to extend the table of grace to all.

The Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Reading: John 13:21-32

Reflection Prompt

Remember all who are hungry and broken and pray for justice and healing.

Prayer of Intercession

Christ of the lost and lonely, Christ of the broken and betrayed,

We come to you with our sorrows and burdens to find healing and hope. We know that

in your company, we can find comfort. We offer prayers for ourselves, others and our

world.

Closing Prayer

May our lives be a prayer

May God work through our prayers

May our work be an answer

To God’s will working through us

May we rest in God’s love

May God’s rest feed our souls

May our table be open

May we welcome friends and foes

May the poor be our neighbors

May our neighbors be blessed.

Amen

Maundy Thursday Liturgy

Opening Centering

We love the Lord, who bends low to listen—

not in haste but in tenderness.

Because God hears our cry, we open our hearts in stillness.

(Pause for reflection.)

What shall we offer in return for such grace?

We lift the cup of salvation.

We breathe in mercy.

We breathe out thanks.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Holy One of the Table,

we remember the night love knelt low,

the water in the basin,

the bread passed from hand to hand,

the cup raised with trembling hope.

We give you thanks

for the teacher who served,

for the friend who forgave,

for the Savior who shared the meal—

knowing full well what the night would bring.

Thank you for love that stays at the table.

Thank you for grace that pours out again and again.

Thank you for the promise that no shadow can extinguish your light.

Amen.

Gospel Reading John 13:1–17, 31b–35

Reflection Prompt

Jesus poured water into the basin.

Where is he pouring love into your life?

What space is he inviting you to make for grace?

Prayer of Intercession

Jesus, our Servant,

you knelt with humility and loved without limit.

We pray for the ones who feel forgotten,

for the ones who serve without recognition,

for those preparing meals, caring for bodies,

offering welcome in the face of fear.

We pray for the broken-hearted,

for those betrayed by friends,

for those longing to feel clean again.

We remember those who wash others’ feet—

caregivers, chaplains, teachers, neighbors,

and all who pour out love in quiet ways.

God of towel and table,

make us vessels of your mercy.

Teach us to serve with joy.

And may love be the shape of our lives.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Christ at the table,

Christ at our feet,

Christ in every ordinary moment—

As we rise from prayer,

go with us into the day ahead.

Let your love shape our words,

let your mercy guide our steps,

let your humility ground our work.

May we carry your towel in spirit—

ready to serve,

ready to forgive,

ready to love.

Amen.

Good Friday Liturgy

Opening Centering – Psalm 22:1-11

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?   O my God, I cry

by day, but you do not answer;

    and by night but find no rest.

(Pause for reflection.)

Yet it was you who took me from the womb;

    you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.

On you I was cast from my birth,

    and since my mother bore me you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,

    for trouble is near,

    and there is no one to help.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

On this Holy Friday, from the chaos of the cross, there is silence. The whole world is

holding her breath. What happened? Why does it feel as if the powers of empire have

won?

Yet, in this sacred pause, we gather in the stillness to bring our prayers of gratitude for

the One who creates order from disorder.

We wait in the hope of the One who comes to us in the dark and broken edges of the

night.

The Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Reading: John 18:1-19; 42

Reflection Prompt

Reflect on the Gospel and message of God’s extravagant Love for all.

Prayer of Intercession

Love, we bring to you our broken edges this day when we remember the ultimate

sacrifice of Jesus. You confronted corrupt injustice for the sake of mercy and grace. We

lift our prayers this day and seek to grow in the depths of your compassionate love for

all creation. We cry out for healing, justice and unfailing hope.

Christ in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Closing Prayer

May we hold the sorrow of this day with gentle compassion. May we feel the raw edges

of the pain and cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken us?” May we rise

with resolve in continuing the journey of faith, knowing you hold us and cry with us. May

we walk into tomorrow with faith in knowing you will lead us from disorder into your

order – working together to bring about your kin-dom as you intend it to be.

Holy Saturday Liturgy

Opening Centering – Psalm 31:1-4; 15-16

In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;

    do not let me ever be put to shame;

    in your righteousness deliver me.

Incline your ear to me;

    rescue me speedily.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

    a strong fortress to save me.

  You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

    for your name’s sake lead me and guide me;

take me out of the net that is hidden for me,

    for you are my refuge.

(Pause for reflection.)

  My times are in your hand;

    deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

  Let your face shine upon your servant;

    save me in your steadfast love.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

In the silence, in the darkness, we cling to the rock of our refuge when sorrow seeks to

overwhelm us. We can rest in the assurance that God holds us strong and secure in

Love that is everlasting. We offer our prayers with grateful hearts.

The Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Reading: John 19:38-42

Reflection Prompt

Reflect on the Gospel and the refuge of the dark tomb.

Prayer of Intercession

God, we offer the dark tomb of our hearts, the pains and the sorrows we bear for

ourselves, others, and the world. Grant us strength to sit in the refuge of your heart.

Grant us courage to listen deeply to the beat of our hearts. Grant us wisdom to believe

as Julian of Norwich that in time, “All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be

well.”

Christ in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Closing Prayer

May the love of God enfold us in the waiting, reminding us that we are not alone. May

the strength of God encourage us and grant us patience. May the Spirit of God infuse

us with compassion and resilience to emerge into the world transformed and

transforming in the name of the One who calls us each by name.

Amen.