Cavagnano, Italy
Opening Prayer
Govern everything by Your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving You in the way You will and not as I choose. Let me die to myself so that I may serve You; let me live to You who are life itself. Amen. -Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible We praise you Jesus—the One who was made a little lower than the angels—now crowned with glory and honor because you suffered death, so that by the grace of God you might taste death for everyone. In bringing many of us to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make you—the author of our salvation—perfect through suffering. -Hebrews 2:9-10 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our heart sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. -Hebrews 10:22 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. -Mark 15:42-47 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Blessed Be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! -Psalm 66:20 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer O God, the life and death of your son are our hope of salvation. Pour the refreshing waters of your love over us. Cleanse our hearts, forgive our failings, purify our desires and renew our passion for you. We ask this through Christ our Savior. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen! -Romans 11:33, 36 
Bamberg, Germany
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