Opening Prayer

Mighty God, you bring life out of death, and joy from our sorrow. In this Easter season, we rejoice in the assurance of your presence with us, even when we’re separated from one another. Let us offer to you the best of our lives, in grateful affirmation for the gifts you pour out upon us. Focus us on you alone in this worship hour! Amen.

Prayer for the

Journey Ahead

Loving God, come and speak to our hearts today. May we, like those on the Emmaus Road, find your words burning with hope in our lives. We come to you, Lord, with all of our fears and doubts, our joys and sorrows, our longings and dreamings. We bring these things to you in hope that you will hear our prayers and respond to our cries. Strengthen us and give us courage for the journey ahead.

We bring to you the names of those people whom we love, for whom issues of loneliness, pain, suffering, grief, and loss seem to abound. We bring to you the names of people who have rejoiced in new found faith, who have reconciled with loved ones, who have survived illness and sorrow; and we want to dance in celebration for their good fortune. Hear us, heal us, bless us, O Lord. For we ask these things in the name of the One who was raised that we might have eternal life.   In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture - Luke 24: 13-35

13  Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles [ a ]  from Jerusalem.  14  They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  15  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;  16  but they were kept from recognizing him. 17  He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.  18  One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19  “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  20  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;  21  but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.  22  In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning  23  but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.  24  Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25  He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  26  Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  27  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28  As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.  29  But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  31  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  32  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together  34  and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”  35  Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.