Pray with us

When I think of that first Palm Sunday I see another glimpse of the upside down kingdom where the last are first and the meek are blessed.

Again in Jesus’ actions we see the radical reversal of worldly values. Jesus is the good news for everyone and doesn’t arrive on a warhorse asserting authority and demanding respect but rather as a King on a donkey, a symbol of peace.

Jesus’ triumphant arrival into Jerusalem is humble and brings excitement, joy and praise. The people recognise Jesus as the Messiah: “A large crowd of people spread their cloaks on the road while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds walking in front of Jesus and those walking behind began to shout, “Praise to David's Son! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise be to God!” (Matthew 21:8-9).

I pray that this Palm Sunday we would look to the example of Jesus in our own lives. Our broken world needs humility in leadership, love for all people and peace. May the servant King and his ultimate sacrifice upon the cross speak to us again in new ways and may we make the time in busyness and distractions to praise and welcome him in.

Amen

Maundy Thursday serves as a beautiful reminder of Jesus' deep love, His sacrifice, and His call for us to serve one another. It marks the beginning of the events leading up to Good Friday and Easter, urging us to live out these teachings in our daily lives.

On this day, Jesus instituted the Eucharist (Holy Communion) during the Last Supper. He took bread and wine, gave thanks, and shared them with His disciples, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19) and "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20). These words invite us to reflect on the depth of His sacrifice and the new covenant established through His blood.

Maundy Thursday is also significant because it is the night when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-17). This humble act of service demonstrated that true greatness in His Kingdom comes from serving others.

On this night, we also remember that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, leading to His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Despite this betrayal, Jesus responded with love and grace. In the same way, we are called to respond to hurt and betrayal in our own lives with forgiveness and understanding, reflecting Christ's character.

This Maundy Thursday, I pray that we embrace Jesus’ sacrificial love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility in all our relationships. May we serve others with a heart of grace and reflect His love in all that we do. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

Good Friday for me is always a time of quiet reflection and wonder at the Cross; of what God has done for me and for all people.

In the incarnation, God comes down into time and space, down into the womb of Mary, down into humanity in Jesus.

On Good Friday, Jesus descends even further: into our human pain and suffering, poverty, isolation, abuse, degradation, death and hell. He is stripped of everything, like so many people are in our society. On Good Friday, God in Jesus, is there in the darkest moments of our human experience.

He does this so that, on Easter Day, as he rises from the tomb and 50 days later ascends into heaven, he carries us and our broken world up with him towards heaven. That is the beauty of Good Friday for me, that the God who descends from heaven, and descends even still further does so that he might raise us up with him.

Heavenly Father, you loved the world so much that you descended to us, came down to the depths of our broken and impoverished world that you might on the third day raise us up with you to new life and hope. We pray for all those who are weighed down by poverty, those trapped in fear, those who have lost hope, that they may feel your presence with them this Good Friday and may be lifted up by you to know the fulness of life you offer. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our crucified Lord. Amen

Through the drama, noise, chaos and frenzy of the last few days, we are plunged into silence. Nothing. Absence. The world watches and waits, uncomfortable and yearning, often alone. Waiting is often uneasy; a test result, a Home Office decision, an interview or even waiting for a severely delayed train. Waiting, seemingly endless waiting,

Tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow brings endless and eternal human and divine connection. But today, we wait.

Lord, being alone, waiting for company can be frightening. When we wait, when we are alone, help us to remember that you meet us in our waiting, and meet us in the silence, for nothing will ever separate us from your love in Jesus Christ. Amen

Today we celebrate Jesus’ momentous victory over death and the day when we learned that we can be confident about eternal life.

And yet – it was those in society with low worth, who were chosen to be the first witnesses to this incredibly momentous event, who were chosen to proclaim the good news.

It was Mary Magdalen who ran back to the disciples saying: “I have seen the Lord”. This reminds me of when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, who went on to proclaim in her village: “Could this be the Christ?” and many believed.

Jesus does not define us by our life experiences, our gender or anything other than what he sees in our souls.

Lord, help us to see past cultural norms and labels. Help us only to see the humanity in our brothers and sisters and to show your love.

Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for our certain hope in life eternal, thank you for the patience you show us as we try and fail and try and fail to be more like you.

We pray, please inspire and protect the work of CUF for the poor and marginalised, in Your name.

Praise the Lord! Christ is risen!