Easter Sunrise Service Pastoral Prayer ~ 2016

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Holy, Living God we come before you today in celebration and exhortation for the risen Christ. We thank you O God, for sending us the greatest teacher of all that we might learn from him in his death and resurrection. Hallelujah Christ is Risen!
 
Just as the disciples came to the dark tomb we too have been there. We have sat in the dark, feeling empty, alone. Jesus you felt and saw the human emotions of fear, betrayal, suffering, sorrow, grief and death. This Easter O God, we remember all who have also been killed by terrorist. Just this month O God, 8 cities have been attacked. We pray for your people attacked in:
Bamako, Mali
Istanbul, Turkey
Maiduguri, Nigeria
Peshawar, Pakistan
Ankara, Turkey
Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast
Shabqadar, Pakistan
Brussels, Belegium
 
Heavenly God, show your Prince of Peace to this world, help us be instruments of Your peace, help us feel your Peace. 
 
God who is as close to us as our own breathe yet reaches to the farthest star in the universe we come to you knowing we can do more.
            We can do more for our neighbor
            More for the hungry both in body and in spirit
            More for your great planet
            More for peace
            We can do more to be like Jesus, who is our divine example
Help us great risen Creator do more.
 
Thank you ever-loving God for this day and for your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for this community of followers may we not forget this day come tomorrow when we return to our daily routines. Grant us the courage, excitement, energy and passion to continue beyond this Easter Sunday.
 
And in the silence dear God we pray for those we hold dear to our hearts…….
 
Lord hear our prayers.
Amen.