Holy Week Prayer Guide
April 14-21, 2019
Let me welcome you to Holy Week with a question: Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead?
Christians answer yes.
I have another question for you: Do you feel that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead? That question is a bit more complicated, and admittedly a bit uncomfortable, but it is a good question to consider nonetheless.
Jonathan Edwards brilliantly said, “There is a difference between having a rational judgment that honey is sweet and having a sense of its sweetness.”
The same is true regarding the sweetness of our Savior. There is a difference between having a rational judgment that Jesus died and rose again and having a sense of its sweetness.
Though you may intellectually assent to the cross and resurrection, you have to admit that your faith cries out for more?
But there is an easy fix to Edward’s dilemma of honey—just eat some honey! How do I “taste” the death and resurrection of our LORD?
Surprisingly to some, this is one of the reasons why we are so thoughtful and serious about liturgy at Tates Creek Presbyterian. Throughout the centuries, the liturgies of the Church have enriched the truths of the Church by becoming a means of the Church to rehearse and experience these same truths.
“There is a difference between having a rational judgment that Jesus died and rose again and having a sense of its sweetness.”
But this is nothing unique to Christians. Every culture enhances significant occasions with liturgical practices. What would a birthday be without a cake, candle, and the singing of Happy Birthday To You? What would a graduation be without a procession, caps, and gowns? What would a wedding be without a bride in her white dress and the ceremonial first kiss? It is through traditional habits like these that what is being celebrated actually becomes a celebration.
Well welcome to Holy Week—that ancient liturgical practice where what we believe comes alive with again with fresh feelings, where we experience what we already know to be true: Christ has died and Christ is risen!
I truly believe that if you seriously observe the practices of Holy Week, the week will end with rekindled affection for Jesus and His gospel. To aid you in that, I have developed a small guide to the week.
To call this a devotional guide is a bit misleading, because it is more of a prayer guide. As important as Bible studies are, I’m not sure there is pressing need for me to offer you another. However, I do believe we are desperate to practice God’s presence. Therefore, the aim of this guide is to cultivate meditation upon God’s Word as well as the expression of prayer. So treat it as such. Before you begin each morning, take a minute to prepare your heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide and help.
Each day is fairly similar. There is a passage I have chosen to serve as your call into prayer, then an opportunity to spend some time personally praising the LORD. Also, I have included a New Testament reading that highlights events and teachings of Jesus’ last week, as well as an Old Testament reading that fits with the same theme. Notice I provide no commentary on the passages or even questions to consider. I simply encourage to you to meditate on the Scriptures. In a spirit of prayer, slowly read through the passage a few times in hopes of truly encountering God’s word. Each time, I offer a verse or two for you to truly focus in and meditate upon.
You will also find a daily refrain. I chose a small verse that fits with the theme, to be repeated throughout the devotional. I encourage you to continue this refrain throughout your day, consistently recalling the verse to mind in all circumstances. You will be amazed what this does to your daily activities!
Each day you will say the Lord’s Prayer. Feel free to use whatever language is most familiar to you. Our church prays it like this, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”
At the end, I offer some time for you to respond with prayers of supplication. This is application to whatever you learned or experienced during your devotional time. What are your takeaways? How do you want to thank God? How would you like the LORD to change you? Etc.
Finally, you will notice that I wrote a litany for your Easter feast. I call it a feast intentionally. I would encourage families, roommates, friends, to gather together for lunch after church and party! Prepare the choicest food and drink and celebrate in a way that is fitting the followers of the risen King Jesus! Before the meal, designate a leader to lead the community through the provided litany.
I’m praying for you. May the Spirit of the risen Savior be your guide as you, “Taste and see that the LORD is good!”
He is Risen Indeed,
Sunday, April 14 - Palm Sunday
Call to Prayer
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! ”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“Hosanna, Lord, Hosanna! … Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
Hosanna, Lord, Hosanna! … Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
Hosanna, Lord, Hosanna! … Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vss. 41-42a
Daily Refrain
Hosanna, Lord, Hosanna! … Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time both now and forever. Amen!”
Monday, April 15
Call to Prayer
“Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders … the voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD!”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord!
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vs. 46
Daily Refrain
Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord!
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“I charge you … keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time – He who is blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings, and LORD of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen!”
Tuesday, April 16
Call to Prayer
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“I love you, O LORD, my strength”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vs. 37
Daily Refrain
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen!”
Wednesday, April 17
Call to Prayer
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the LORD GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vs. 6
Daily Refrain
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“The Lord give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace”
Thursday, April 18 - Maundy Thursday
Call to Prayer
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God … For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“Deliverance belongs to the LORD. Your blessing be upon your people!”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
Deliverance belongs to the Lord. Your blessing be upon your people!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
Deliverance belongs to the Lord. Your blessing be upon your people!
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vss. 26-28
Daily Refrain
Deliverance belongs to the Lord. Your blessing be upon your people!
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life! The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore!”
Please join with the rest of our congregation for our Maundy Thursday Communion Service at 7:00pm.
Friday, April 19 - Good Friday
Call to Prayer
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“For God alone my soul waits … from Him comes my salvation!”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
For God alone my soul waits … from Him comes my salvation!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
For God alone my soul waits … from Him comes my salvation!
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vss. 33-34
Daily Refrain
For God alone my soul waits … from Him comes my salvation!
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“Now may our LORD Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”
Please join with the rest of our congregation for the Good Friday Midday Service at noon. You might consider fasting from your lunch as a means of sharing in Christ’s sufferings. The service will be only 45 minutes long to provide you time to get back to work.
Saturday, April 20
Call to Prayer
“Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten … Yet fear not, O Land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“And now, what is my hope? O LORD, my hope is in you.”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
And now, what is my hope? O Lord, my hope is in you.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
And now, what is my hope? O Lord, my hope is in you.
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vs. 46
Daily Refrain
And now, what is my hope? O Lord, my hope is in you.
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“The grace of our LORD Jesus be with you all. Amen.”
Sunday, April 21 - Easter Sunday
Morning Prayer & Litany for Easter Feast
Call to Prayer
“I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Pause to offer your personal thoughts of praise and adoration
Daily Refrain
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
Old Testament Reading
Daily Refrain
I know that my Redeemer lives!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Refrain
I know that my Redeemer lives!
New Testament Reading
Pause to meditate on this passage, particularly vs. 8
Daily Refrain
I know that my Redeemer lives!
Pause to offer prayers of supplication in response to what you experienced during this time.
Benediction
“Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ”
Please join with the rest of our congregation for Easter Sunday services at 9:00 and 11:15am.
Litany for the Easter Feast
Before the meal…
Leader: Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed
Community: For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable!
Leader: When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory?
Community: O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting!
Leader: Let us pray, Father we gather together as your people to feast and proclaim that Christ is risen…
Community: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Against the sins of our past, present, and future, we proclaim – Christ is risen…
Community: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Against our enemy Satan, and all evil forces, we proclaim – Christ is risen...
Community: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Against all tyranny and oppression of this world and on behalf of those who suffer, especially the children, we proclaim – Christ is risen…
Community: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Against the idols of our culture that seem to reign, we proclaim – Christ is risen…
Community: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Against our doubts, cynicism, insecurities, and fears, we proclaim – Christ is risen…
Community: He is risen indeed!
Leader: And into this seemingly hopeless creation filled with tears and death, we proclaim – Christ is risen…
Community: He is risen indeed!
Holding hands and singing…
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen.
Feast together! Consider using the Easter Sunday sermon to guide your discussion during the meal, but whatever you do, make laughter a priority!