faith on the outskirts of Jericho

Mark 10:46–52 

cloak, dust, flicked in eyes

liberation unsettles

perspective revolves 

Sharing his cup

Mark 10:35–45 

Do we know

for what we ask

from Jesus, our

own saviour? 

Do we know

what he will give,

to those who walk

his Way? 

The cup he drinks

is sour wine, is

rejection, betrayal,

is love even unto death! 

His baptism – 

that, too, is death,

the life to come

still more dying 

to self and wealth,

as we come last,

we serve not gain

more power. 

Know for what

you ask, and still – 

ask, and stay

the path. 

Drink and serve,

come last and see – 

that's first, and death

is life! 

a disciple's prayer

Mark 10:17–31 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am home 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am known 

I have kept God's Way,

Jesus, faithful all my life

I would follow you, Jesus,

if you would tell me how

must I give it up? 

Jesus, this is hard – 

harder than imagined,

Jesus, more than I can bear 

I will follow you, Jesus,

leave it all behind – 

the wealth, the home,

the people even – all, yes, all 

but Jesus, this is hard,

please meet me with your love

look at me with love, that

I may love with you 

help me love your Way,

Jesus, your people as my kin

help me give my all,

Jesus, all in love for you 

Family, fracture, healing, home

Mark 10:2–16 

Holy One, we pray for families,

for children, siblings, offspring,

growing and learning who they 

will be and with whom they belong;

for parents – mums and dads,

step parents, adoptive, fostering, in-laws,

balancing nurture of self and spouse,

balancing freedom and boundaries,

balancing their roles as children

themselves, and siblings, aunts

and uncles, cousins and friends.

We pray for grandparents,

godparents, grandchildren,

nephews and nieces and family friends. 

Holy One, we pray with thanks

for families, for love, for nurture, for home! 

Holy One, we pray for fractures

in family relationships: 

for separations caused by wars

and battles, rejections 

and misunderstandings;

for departures and divorces,

re-marriages and single-parenting,

grandparents parenting

the children of their children;

for fostered children, adopted

children, orphaned, abandoned, 

neglected children, and those

adults who harm and who heal. 

Holy One, we pray with hope 

for healing of fractures for love

to be known in every family. 

Holy One, we pray for families 

unconventional, bonded by choice 

breaking the rules society imposes; 

for rainbow families, blended

families, childless couples, singles,

religious, platonic partners

and feathered, finned, and furry friends. 

Holy One, we pray with joy

for the diverse ways we find

ourselves home, part of a family

and we pray that all

may somehow find their way home.

Amen. 

Inexplicable Paradox

Mark 9:30–37 

Confession 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand your death,

or our death with you;

how, so to live, you say, 'die'; 

how, if to die, still with you – life! 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand your life,

or our life with you, 

rising out of the tomb, 

shining, light in the dark. 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand greatness,

that with you, it hardly matters 

as much as littleness, or little ones;

that, to you, all matter, all, and each. 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand your way,

the taking nobodies as somebodies,

putting them in your arms,

turning life upside down: 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

We don't understand welcome

or humility or servanthood;

the paradox of first and last,

of grace not merit, home not position. 

Forgive us when we do not understand; 

help us understand. 

Assurance of grace 

Welcome, all you children

into the embrace of Jesus,

which is the embrace of Holy One – 

welcome home, each

and every one. 

Be at peace:

we are forgiven, 

and we will never understand. 

Amen.

Who is Messiah?

Mark 8:27–38 

failed saviour

rejected hope

source of shame: 

who is Messiah? 

Jesus, we say you are 

peaceful resister 

upturned expectation 

life beyond death

who is Messiah? 

Jesus, we say you are 

with our praise

with our confession

with our prayer

for one another

Jesus, we say 

you are our Messiah! 

is it enough?

Mark 7:24–37 

I'm spent, don't tell them

where I am, so I may rest 

there is no hiding him: 

they know, they always know 

I'm here, spending my dignity,

hear me, save my child 

I can't. there is barely enough of me

for the children, and none for the dogs 

I am here, and with the dogs 

will take what crumbs that fall 

is that enough? what leftovers spill

out of my control? yours, not my, faith? 

hear me. see me. Jesus

Son of Holy One, kneeling at your feet

I have nothing, but what you 

have found at my feet is yours to keep 

go in peace; and so I go.

and she is found, the unclean spirit – gone! 

Assurance of Enough
Turn to God. It is enough.
Present your all. It is enough.
Receive God’s love. It is enough.
It is enough, and you will live.
Amen.

Love abandoned

Mark 7:1–8 

a lament

How often have we abandoned

God's commandment to love

in favour of human traditions? 

Instead of love, we have hated

those of other faiths, or none,

condemning them to hell; 

instead of love, we have hated 

noise and movement and not

welcomed the vibrant, curious, young; 

instead of love, we have hated

drama or drums, teachers or leaders

changing what we like best;

instead of love, we have hated

those of different sexualities, or genders,

dismissing their right to marry; 

instead of love, we have hated

those not pinkish white for not

being pinkish white like 'us';

instead of love, we have hated

political adversaries, vilified,

and criticised, not worked together for good; 

instead of love, we have hated

our embodied selves as if God 

never looked, and saw, and said, 'good.' 

How often have we abandoned

God's command to love

in favour of human traditions

we suffocate without the breath of Love? 

The rhythm of our days

Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

May the rhythm of our days

include gathering together to share

all we have done, who we have met; 

include a coming away to a deserted

place alone, to rest awhile, be fed; 

include compassion, open eyes

and open hearts to those whose need 

we can meet, today; 

include courage for crossing stormy

seas, wisdom to recognise the Sacred,

patience as we learn how to follow;

include mooring our boat in new places,

meeting strangers with peace that heals. 

May the rhythm of our days

resemble yours, Jesus our guide

to life, and may we know, ourselves, the peace 

with which you call us to meet each other. 

Amen. 

Restore us to your story

Mark 6:14–29 
 

Confession

When we do not understand,

but like to listen to your Story, 

be present, Holy One. 

When we feel brought to shame

by the truth proclaimed in your Story,

be patient, Holy One. 

When we make rash promises

that lead us to dishonour you, your Story, 

be kind, Holy One. 

When we do not know that what we ask

will harm another, contradicting your Story,

be merciful, Holy One. 

When the consequences of our acts

take life, bring death, and break your heart,

forgive us, Holy One. 

silence 

Hear our cries,

our heartbreak at 

the ruin we bring

to the Story you

would have us tell. 

Heal us, Holy One. 

Assurance of forgiveness 

Our cries are heard,

Holy presence in our 

lack of understanding,

patience with our shame,

kindness for our thoughtlessness,

mercy, forgiveness,

healing. 

Receive God's grace

to restore you;

it is a new day,

begin again. 

Amen. 

Where welcome is found

prayers with Mark 6:1–13 

1. Confession 
Not welcome back home

unheeded, disrespected,

rejected, at home, where 

kin and neighbour knew him 

best, they knew him least 

when he became most

fully the Son of God, 

Son of Humanity, promised. 

Forgive our disrespect, our

lack of welcome and hearing

for our kin and neighbours

returning home to be

rejected, unexpected 

in their fullest becoming: 

forgive us, Holy One. 

2. Assurance of forgiveness 

Amazed at the disbelief

of kin and neighbour turned

strangers, Jesus yet

healed a few. 

Jesus does not reject 

the few who yet seek

his touch, his grace,

his healing – so turn

and shed that disbelief,

for faithfulness and trust: 

we are forgiven, and we 

thank you, Holy One. 

3. Intercession 

Into villages and homes

of closed-mindedness,

where messages of hope 

go unheeded, offers of peace

unwelcome, Holy One, 

bring your love. 

Into villages and homes

of open minds, 

where new ideas delight,

stories evoke wonder, and peace

is nurtured, Holy One,

we see your love. 

Into villages and homes

of disrespect and rejection,

where returning kin

go disbelieved, their fulness

unwelcome, Holy One, 

bring your love. 

Into villages and homes

of courageous embrace, 

where change evokes wonder, 

fulness of being is nurtured,

and all are welcome, Holy One,

we see your love. 

In all the village and homes,

towns and cities, farms

and camps, where hope

is rare and peace so 

keenly needed, Holy One,

may we be your love. 

4. Commissioning 

Take nothing: 

no bread, no bag,

no money in your belt,

no extra tunic for the cold. 

Have sandals for your feet,

a staff for support

as you walk,

two by two,

seeking welcome. 

Take everything 

I have taught you,

food and water for

yearning souls, love

for broken spirits: 

restore, revive,

reconcile wherever you

are welcome. 

Take nothing: 

no offence, no sorrow,

no anger or resentment;

leave the dust

at doors unopened,

at the feet 

of the unwilling,

when you meet not

welcome. 

Take everything

I will give you: 

love that heals,

wisdom that guides

a flourishing life, 

peace that transcends

understanding. Take

and share abundantly

my welcome, God's 

welcome, home. 

bid me rise

 

Mark 5:21–43 

 

when I am ‘sleeping’,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when illness lays me low,

a day, a week, a lifetime: 

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when grief breaks my heart,

and weeping fills my nights and days,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when despair, depression, anxiety

stop me from living well,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when I am homeless, when I am poor,

when I am friendless and alone,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when I am ‘sleeping’, 

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

Amen 

Who is this?

Mark 4: 35–41 

 

We obey him,

follow where he leads,

yet who is he,

this Jesus? 

 

We trust him,

his power and his wisdom,

yet who is he,

this Jesus? 

 

We fear him,

who rebukes wind and sea –

who is he,

this Jesus? 

The realm of God is this

Mark 4:21–32 

 

1. The ground 

 

when a gardener plants her seeds

within the ground, then sleeps

and rises, night and day,

 

as the seed bursts in the dark,

green shoot reaching for the light,

roots stretching further beneath,

she does not know how. 

 

it is the earth that nurtures,

draws in water from the rain,

warms with the light of the sun,

coaxing roots and stalk and leaves,

bud and petals and flower – 

 

then the gardener picks her roses,

harvests blooms for joy and delight – 

 

and does she know it is the earth,

the ground, the soil, that is like

the realm of God? 

 

2. A seed 

 

Consider a tiny seed,

planted among the grains

of dirt and indistinguishable.

When it breaks open,

when it grows to its potential,

it is a bush, vast,

sheltering, welcoming,

birds and mammals and 

insects and more – 

 

That seed. Not the tree. 

That seed is like

the realm of God. 

 

3. Light 

 

when I turn on the light

I do not hide the light

in the cupboard, or beneath

the bed – oh, no! 

for what light will I gain

if I hide myself away

from the realm of God? 

When Jesus went home

Mark 3:19b–35 

 

did they hear it as a rejection, 

his ‘who are my brothers, my

mother?’, and invited anyone

living the Way of God to 

count themselves his kin? 

 

did it cause them pain, or pity,

to hear them speak so

of their brother, of her son: 

‘gone mad,’ ‘in league with

the ruler of demons’? 

 

did it hurt when he refused them,

their care, concern, their call? 

when he answered the scribes

their bated question, throwing 

more fuel on the maddening fire? 

 

did they stay with him

on the road from there, or

did they go back home? 

who was at home waiting

while they went out for him? 

 

did they hear it as rejection,

did it hurt when he refused them,

did it cause them pain, or pity,

and did they, his siblings and their

mother stay or go back home? 

Prayer of honesty and hope

Mark 16:1–2 

Easter Day confession & intercession 

When the Sabbath was over – 

Oh, God, help us to pause, 

to breathe, to focus on you; 

help us find the courage

to stop, to feel – even 

what hurts, even what hopes. 

Help us to hold the moment 

long enough to be there;

help us to stay with you

and with each other, even

in the garden of grief. 

Mary, Mary, and Salome brought spices – 

Oh, God, this is a story 

of women, written out of 

so much of your story, our 

story. So we pray for 

the ones written out of the story

for so long, and now finding

their voice, claiming their place;

and we pray for the ones 

still hidden between the lines,

obscured in the shadows, held

off to the edges, the margins,

the outside. More, we pray

for ourselves to see

as you see, welcome as you

do, and listen to shaking voices

with your message to speak. 

So that they might anoint him – 

Oh, God, how do we honour you,

having come among us

in Jesus, having stood firm

for the Way of Justice and Love

in the face of the fiercest 

persecution? What can we do

to honour that act of love,

of reconciliation, of invitation

back to your Way of Justice,

of Love? Help us to see, 

help us to act, to live, our 

honour for you. 

palm leaves in the dust

Palm Sunday 

Mark 11:1–11 

we shout Hope! 

we shout Joy! 

we shout Love! 

we shout Peace! 

all the things you promised

all that we have longed for  

riding into town

on a colt we dress in our imaginations

as a war horse

have you wielding a sword

and shielding us from indignity

injustice and oppression ... 

[pause] 

it is a donkey 

his hands are open

we stumble

fatal hesitation

leaving hope and joy

and love and peace fallen

with the palm leaves

in the dust 

The fateful day

Passion Sunday / Good Friday 

Mark 15:1–41 

1. Pilate 

Could I have resisted

the tsunami of jealous rage,

its sharp long intake of fear,

its thunderous crash at my gate? 

Could I have trusted

my twisting, knotted gut

responding to his silence,

his resistance, peaceful, calm, and true? 

Could I have insisted

on punishing the guilty,

letting innocence be free

from their corruption, from the fire? 

It is done. 

I let them win. 

No less fearful than his foes. 

Much less than I could have been. 

2. Soldiers 

on my own,

I thought him noble 

on my own, 

I found him compelling

on my own, 

I keep bindings looser than to cut 

but

with the whole cohort

he was an enemy

with the whole cohort

he seemed a mockery

with the whole cohort

he bled from our own wounds 

3. Simon of Cyrene 

I was relieved

that moment they released

me from the crossbeam 

I was glad

to walk away, aching

but not nailed to the wood 

then I collapsed,

some greater weight convulsing

me with weeping, weeping, weeping 

I was with him

in the walking to the hill,

I'm with him still, though free, though free 

4. Women 

from a distance

we were watching 

bearing witness

bearing courage for each other

bearing love and soul and all

at the tearing of the sky

the tearing of the veil

the tearing of our hearts – 

wail! 

wail! 

wail! 

He is dead.

He is dead. 

He is dead. 

Only the beginning

Mark 13:1-8 

many will come to deceive: 

watch so to recognise me. 

many will fight and attack:

stay true to my way of peace. 

many will shake your foundations: 

hold fast to what I have taught you. 

many will be the temptations:

endure the birth pangs, endure. 

many will offer the world: 

but look to the kin-dom of God. 

Look again

Mark 12:38-44

hems flicker in dust;

banquet hall shimmer and hush: 

widow's house devoured 

a teacher hears it, 

clamorous silent falling:

small coins of great worth