God of new life, –During this Easter Season, we come just as we are — with our hopes and our questions, our faith and our doubts, our joy and our burdens. Some of us feel close to You, and some of us aren’t even sure what we believe. But we are here, open to something more.
Like those women who came to the tomb at dawn, we come carrying what we expect to find — and what we fear might still be broken. Yet You meet us in surprising ways. You roll away the stone. You send messengers of hope. And You speak words we need to hear: “Do not be afraid.”
Today we remember that when everything seemed lost, You brought life out of death, hope out of despair, and light out of darkness. The empty tomb tells us that no failure is final, no wound is beyond healing, and no story is beyond redemption.
For those carrying grief, or suffering illness, bring comfort.
For and those overwhelmed by anxiety, bring peace.
For those weighed down by guilt or regret, bring freedom.
For those who feel stuck or numb, awaken new life.
Remind us that Easter is not just about something that happened long ago — it is about what You are still doing today. You roll away the stones that trap us: fear, shame, addiction, loneliness, broken relationships, and the quiet belief that nothing will ever change.
Your resurrection promises that love is stronger than hate, mercy is stronger than judgment, and life is stronger than death. Help us to trust that this same power can renew our hearts, our families, our community, and our future.
Show us how to live as Easter people — people of hope in a cynical world, people of kindness in a harsh world, people of courage in a fearful world. Help us notice the lonely, serve the hurting, forgive as we have been forgiven, and carry light into dark places. And for those who feel far from You, whisper this truth: You are not forgotten. You are not beyond grace. You are deeply loved.
God, make this day a fresh start. – Plant seeds of hope that will grow long after today.
And like those first witnesses, send us out — even when we feel unprepared — to share hope, to live differently, to reflect Your love in the world around us.
We celebrate that the tomb is empty, that hope is alive, and that Your love has the final word. We pray all this in the name of the risen Jesus,
AMEN
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