Easter Day
April 20, 2025
Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Cor. 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43
John 20 or Luke 24:1-12
Our gracious, eternal God, like those women who first arrived at the empty tomb we bow on this Easter day in awe and amazement. Yet we confess that sometimes in our journey we are like the disciples to whom these women went. Upon hearing the story they thought it an idle tale and did not believe it. Like them we have difficulty, O God, in embracing new truth and new realities. When the new comes we sometimes persist in living in the old.
Be with us as we vacillate between thinking the gospel an idle tale and bowing in utter amazement. Lead us to embrace this living Lord who goes before us into the streets and places of our lives even as he went before the disciples to Galilee.
Be our companion on our journey just now. The world has presented us so much bad news of late. We hear daily of our soldiers, of nationals from other countries, and of innocent bystanders dying from the world’s hostilities. They are mostly numbers of people to us because we do not personally know them. Yet they are beloved by their families. Be with those left behind who reluctantly have had to learn the language and emotion of grief and loss. Grant them comfort. Bring peace where now there is hostility and chaos. Bolster us, living daily in a world of conflict, when we are tempted to succumb to moments of despair.
May we lay claim to the victory of the living Jesus. May we make the conscious choice to live with hope in our hearts. May we not tire of confidently claiming that this is still your world. And may we always remember Jesus’ assertion that he has overcome the world. Lead us in living confidently. Assist us in being a part of a great Christian force which brings healing to the human spirit, joy to places of sadness, and laughter to our broken world. Guide us, O Prince of Peace. Amen
April 20, 2025
Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Cor. 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43
John 20 or Luke 24:1-12
Our gracious, eternal God, like those women who first arrived at the empty tomb we bow on this Easter day in awe and amazement. Yet we confess that sometimes in our journey we are like the disciples to whom these women went. Upon hearing the story they thought it an idle tale and did not believe it. Like them we have difficulty, O God, in embracing new truth and new realities. When the new comes we sometimes persist in living in the old.
Be with us as we vacillate between thinking the gospel an idle tale and bowing in utter amazement. Lead us to embrace this living Lord who goes before us into the streets and places of our lives even as he went before the disciples to Galilee.
Be our companion on our journey just now. The world has presented us so much bad news of late. We hear daily of our soldiers, of nationals from other countries, and of innocent bystanders dying from the world’s hostilities. They are mostly numbers of people to us because we do not personally know them. Yet they are beloved by their families. Be with those left behind who reluctantly have had to learn the language and emotion of grief and loss. Grant them comfort. Bring peace where now there is hostility and chaos. Bolster us, living daily in a world of conflict, when we are tempted to succumb to moments of despair.
May we lay claim to the victory of the living Jesus. May we make the conscious choice to live with hope in our hearts. May we not tire of confidently claiming that this is still your world. And may we always remember Jesus’ assertion that he has overcome the world. Lead us in living confidently. Assist us in being a part of a great Christian force which brings healing to the human spirit, joy to places of sadness, and laughter to our broken world. Guide us, O Prince of Peace. Amen