Jesus,
You walked among us—
with sorrow in one hand
and joy in the other.
You received each day as it came
full of grief, full of grace.

Beyond the shame and pain for the world, 
In You there is hope and joy. 
We celebrate today the many gifts You have given to us: 
Our life, Your breath, the hope of the world.

We celebrate all You have done today 
And hold on to hope for all You will do tomorrow.

God who knows suffering,
remind us this Lenten season
that the hard and heavy we carry
is not without good and Holy Company.

God who knows resurrection,
remind us this Lenten season
that even the tiniest glimmer of hope
exclaims, “this is not the end.”

The light shines in the darkness
And the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness of unease and anxiety.
Light of Christ, shine in our lives,
and in Your world with Your renewing hope.

We pray for those in prison
For their hearts, minds, and bodies.
May they trust their identity
Is not only a last name, a number, or statistic of the state.