Heavenly Father,
We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of all that was required for our fellowship with you in your communion: the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus you have triumphed over the grave. Death has no dominion over you or your church!
We thank you for the speaking word that woke us up to you — for in the moment when you said to us “Let there be light” our lives were changed. Your creative power has brought us hope when we were hopeless, faith when we were stuck in doubt, and love when we were sure we had nothing else to give. Thank you for the Cross and your deep compassion for us. Our deliverance and our righteousness comes only from you.
Lord, we lift up to you people we know who are struggling with the changes brought to their living rooms and their hearts by this pandemic: feeling isolated and lonely, or feeling impatient with the people living with them; worried about finances, unsure of what to do next for work, grieving the loss of a loved one, or worn out by the new effort required by their work. Give us grace Lord. Have mercy on us Oh Lord.
Lord, we lift up to you students pressing in for exams. We lift up to you teachers sorting out how to cause learning. We lift up to you students who worry that their futures may be on hold for a long time. We ask you to meet them. In this season help us all see the beauty and glory of Jesus that we might entrust all our worries for tomorrow in His hands.
We entrust our lives to you and so we expect that we will have courage to love as you love. And so we pray as Jesus taught us.
(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.