Easter Prayer, March 23, 2008
Offered by Pastor Mary Scheer
Dear Lord Jesus, today we celebrate the day you conquered death and rose from the dead. We celebrate your risen presence with us.
We are Easter people, blessed by your miracle of life after death. Raise us, from the pits that threaten to imprison us. Help us find a way out. Open the doors of our tombs, small and large, so we can live and walk as risen people.
All our hope and trust is in your grace, O God. Out of darkness comes light; out of despair comes new promise.
Into the promise of your care, we lift our friends and loved ones who are sick. We pray for their healing and recovery. We ask you to comfort those who are grieving the loss of a loved one this Easter. We pray for your protection for military members in a deployed setting and for all who are away from home and family this Easter.
Help us to remember that you are with us in every time of perplexity to guide and to direct; that you are with us in times of temptation to strengthen and inspire; that you are with us in times of loneliness to cheer and befriend; that you are with us in every season of life because you live.
Fix our hearts on the place where true joys are to be found as we learn more and more about what it means to live in the light of your resurrection.
We offer our praises to you the living God, who was, and is and shall be forever more. Amen.
