Sunday Prayer - Sunday 22nd March 2026

A very good morning to you and your warmly welcome as you join us for Sunday prayer here

on Clara Femme on this Sunday the 22nd of March. Today we celebrate the 5th Sunday in our

season of Lent. In our gospel story from St John this morning, we hear how Jesus is surrounded

by a culture of death. These disciples are afraid to go back to Bethany because Jesus' opponents

want to store him to death. Mary and Martha are distraught over the death of Lazarus, their brother,

a friend of Jesus. It appears as if there is no hope. Jesus weeps sharing in the grief and distress

as he stands before the tomb of Lazarus. But the story of Lazarus invites us all to resurrection.

Jesus calls us out of the tombs and into the fullness of life. Even in the darkness God is near.

You know my resting and my rising. You discern my purpose from afar. You mark when I walk

or lie down on my ways and I open to you. Even in the darkness you are near. Your right hand

calls me fast. Your right hand calls me fast. Behind and before you besiege me, your hand

devilates upon me. Too wonderful for me this knowledge to hide you and my reach.

Even in the darkness you are near. Your right hand calls me fast.

Oh where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your face? If I climb the

hand or lie in the grave you are there. Even in the darkness you are near. Your right hand

calls me fast. Your right hand calls me fast. If I take the wings of the door then dwell at the

seas for this dead. Even there you are and would leave me. Your right hand would hold me fast.

Even in the darkness you are near. Your right hand calls me fast. Your right hand calls me fast.

If I save as the darkness might be at the light around me tonight. Even darkness is not dark for you

and the night is as pure as the day. Even in the darkness you are near. Your right hand calls me fast.

Your right hand calls me fast.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. On arriving Jesus found that Lazarus had been in

the tomb for four days already. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him.

May it remain sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here my brother would not

have died, but I know that even now whatever you ask of God he will grant you. Your brother said

Jesus to her, will rise again. Martha said, I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the

last day. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me even though he

dies he will live and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?

Yes Lord, she said, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come

into this world. Jesus said in great distress with the side that came straight from the heart,

where have you put him? They said, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept and the Jews said,

see how much he loves him, but there were some who remarked he opened the eyes of the blind man,

could he not have prevented this man's death? Still sighing, Jesus reached the tomb, it was a cave

with the stone to close the opening. Jesus said, take the stone away. Martha said to him,

Lord by now he will smell. This is the fourth day. Jesus replied, have I not told you that if you

believe you will see the glory of God, so they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes

and said, Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. I knew indeed that you always hear me,

but I speak for the sake of all those who stand round me so that they may believe it was you who

sent me. When he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, Lazarus here, come out.

The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with bands of stuff and a cloth round his face.

Jesus said to him, unbind him, let him go free. Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary

and had seen what he did believed in him, the gospel of the Lord.

God calls us to embrace the new life offered by His Son, Jesus. With trusting hearts,

we present our needs to the Father this morning, who promises to hear our prayers.

May the church bear faithful witness to the world, leading all people to the hope of the

resurrection. Lord, hear us. That world leaders may work to end conflict and injustice,

and create a path for God's peace and mercy to enter. Lord, hear us.

We pray for all who work in charitable organizations.

May they be strengthened in their mission by our generosity this lent to bring dignity and hope

to those on the margins, seeing in every person the face of Christ. Lord, hear us.

For all who are sick are suffering at this time. For all who are ill in body, mind or spirit.

May they experience the healing love of Christ, who wept at the death of His friend Lazarus,

and find comfort in the loving support of caregivers and our own faith communities.

Lord, hear us. We pray for all who are grieving the loss of a loved one at this time.

Like Martha and Mary, may they feel the compassionate presence of Christ, who weeps with them,

and hears His command to come out of the tomb of sorrow into the light of His comfort.

Lord, hear us. And we pray for all our deceased, especially those we ourselves have known and loved.

May they rise at the voice of Jesus to new life and the fullness of joy in the heavenly kingdom.

Lord, hear us. While mighty in eternal God, graciously hear these prayers we offer in faith,

grant us the courage to listen to your son's voice, to leave our tombs behind,

and walk always in the freedom He has brought to us in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Listen and take heed. In a world where her prevails, who will reach beyond despair,

who will choose a different hold, help the burden to one Lord, help the weary ones to hear,

God is near, God is near, so be Christ's eyes,

and see what Christ will see, be Christ's ears,

and hear what Christ would hear, be Christ's hands,

that you may show the world, God is love, God is hope, God is near.

In a world of changing times, who will gather by Christ's side,

the forgotten one to come, lead for mercy, should they fall,

all the wounded we realize, spending silence through the lights,

if his life's kind only here, that is near, that is near,

so be Christ's eyes, and see what Christ could see, be Christ's ears,

and hear what Christ would hear, be Christ's hands,

that you may show the world, God is love, God is hope, God is near.

In this world where all will know, in these hearts where Christ shall show,

faithful service, the hope we love can run.

From the heart of you will guide, comes the quest to seek and find,

and God will grace the kingdom joining near.

So be Christ's eyes, and see what Christ will see, be Christ's ears,

and hear what Christ would hear, be Christ's hands,

that you may show the world, God is love, God is hope, God is near.

God is near.

The hymn, God is near, concluding our time of Sunday prayer on this Sunday,

here on Claire FM. Later on this evening, you'll be very welcome to join us for

Beyond Belief at 9 o'clock on Claire FM, and I'll be with you again next Sunday morning

for Sunday prayer. This is Father Jerry Kenny wishing you a very peaceful journey

through the coming week. Slow on or a spell out.