Prayer Celebration Directions

GATHERING SONG
GATHERING PRAYER
Leader		Today we gather to praise and thank God for sending Jesus who lived, died, and rose from the dead for each of us. Let us pray. Risen Lord, thank you for your gift of new life. Fill us with your love and your peace. We want to live as you want us to. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
All		Amen. Alleluia!
READING
Reader		A reading from the Gospel of Luke. (based on Luke 24:13–35) Two of Jesus’ disciples were walking to the village of Emmaus. They talked about the death of Jesus. They were sad. A stranger joined them as they walked. They told him about what had happened to Jesus. The man said, "Don’t you know what this means?" Then he told them why Jesus had died. They felt better. They came to the village. The disciples invited the stranger to stay. He sat down to eat with them. He took bread. He said the blessing. He broke the bread and gave it to them. Then they knew the man was Jesus! But, Jesus was gone! The two look at each other. They said, "Were not our hearts burning within us when he spoke to us along the way?" They hurried back to Jerusalem to tell their friends what had happened. The Gospel of the Lord.
All		Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
RESPONSE (Share a snack of juice and bread or crackers.)
Leader		We now share food and drink with one another as friends. It reminds us of the "Emmaus story." We also remember this sharing at Mass when Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist.
All		We thank you Jesus for friendship and food. Amen. Alleluia.
THE LORD'S PRAYER (All pray the Lord’s Prayer together.)
CLOSING SONG
Leader		Father, we know that you love us and are always with us to lead and guide us. Be with us in a special way now as we celebrate your Son’s glorious Resurrection. Open our eyes that we might know you in the breaking of the bread. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus.
All		Amen. Alleluia!
CLOSING PRAYER