Prayer of Lament

The Psalms are full of laments but yet when was the last time you found yourself expressing lament during a worship service and even have an entire service based on it. It was a moving experience as we offered up our lament, individually and corporately. This was the series of prayers written by one of the students who led us in prayer. I found it very powerful and moving. Totally in tune with this season of Lent.


Opening Prayer

Maybe we did something wrong
We used to feel you
Impression on our skin,
strong arm wrapped around.

But now it seems
We are alone
With no one to help

Gathered now to listen and speak
We wonder
Will it even matter?

We come here torn up,
Vicious dogs
Depression
envy
Angry thoughts
Ravenous, they eat

We come wounded
we come
Undone
Soul undone
Bones out from their socket
Bodies turning on themselves
Life, crumpled in the corner

We come to you empty
Melted hearts, poured out
Spilling to the ground
Till there is nothing
No one to hold them
But death’s dust
Enemy stares and gloats.

Like this we come,
To a God we cannot see
To scream for help
Fists beating against your chest
Pawing at your sky

Like this we come
Tangled up in deadlines
Too distracted to notice
Drinking from the cup
of success
We do not even care

Like this we come
False ambition
Clothed in contradiction
Yet naked underneath
Bodies pieced apart
Separated from ourselves
We groan

We come numb
Swollen tongue
stuck to the roof of our mouth
fluid of life drains out
As we turn to see there’s no one there

God,
It’s like this that we come
And ask for your help
Spirit come to
Gather up our pains in your heart
Swaddle flailing lives
Swaddle flailing regent
So she can sleep again
At your breast
To know
you are good.


Corporate confession

God
sees underneath
Intentions below the surface
Tears waiting
behind smiles
Doubt accompanying faith

And if you are here,
God,
not far off,
But closer than our own skin,
Surely you have seen
Surely you have seen

When we push our bodies beyond themselves
Satisfying our schedules, rather than stewarding your temple.

In your mercy, forgive us.

When we demand blessing in light of our obedience
Presuming we can earn your favor
When we cheapen your death—as we long for a rule-driven gospel
When we crucify ourselves with self-hate
And pray to a Saviour who we think couldn’t bear to love us,

In your love, forgive us.

When we think we’re more loved or saved than others

Forgive us, and teach us true humility

When we hide from you, behind our knowledge of you
When we think that being united in our love for you, means uniformity in the way we express it,
Forgive us and teach us to learn from each other

When we’re tight-fisted with your money, with our lives

Unclench our fists and make us open-handed. Ready to give, open to receive.

When we keep sorrow in its corner, unsure of a love that could allow so much pain.
Because of your gentleness,
Love us in spite of ourselves.

When we despair of pressing forward
Fearing the fount of miracles has run dry

Hold us.

Hoping against all hope
We pray for the people of the Downtown Eastside

Because of your justice, help us bring peace

For we who struggle to follow,
Constrained by affections for comfort and control

Because of your Kingdom, loose our bonds

And for those of us to whom life has dealt a seemingly final blow
Face to the concrete, too exhausted to move

Because of your tenderness, take us by the hand and raise us up.

Spirit of the Living God,
We invite you
Blaze across our sky
Wring death out of our hearts
And saturate our souls with your breathe, life, faith.

Hoping against all hope
We lay defeat aside
We grab for the corner of your cloak
And wait for a miracle.


Benediction
You, heart peering out from behind yesterday,
Wondering
If you can brave tomorrow;

You, mind racing,
wrapping your story
in should’ves, could’ves, if I’d only

You, created for intimacy,
But too tired to step into it,
soul pacing inside you,
hesitant to show itself;

You,
body worn,
knees in the dirt,
face there, too;

O children of the resurrection
May your soul fling open its windows
To see in the distance
The arm of the lord
Indeed
He has done it
It is finished

Impression on your skin
Spirit piercing your flesh,
driving into your heart
an invitation to dance,
to smile, to hope,
pressing light into your dark,
unclenching your heart
blood of redemption and grace pulsing through dry veins
flooding love into your fears.
He has done it.

So, may wait with one another
truly
He will not hide his face
From you forever
Behold it is very close

Amen. Amen. Amen.