Easter 2020 will be an Easter to rememberer. God is doing a new thing. What may have been meant for evil God is using for Good.
It may not be possible for us to meet as a church family, but we can still join in worship together
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
All Amen
Reading Matthew 28.1-10
He is Risen – The End of All Fears.
Prayer of Intercessions | Margaret Smee
Heavenly Father,
On this very special Easter day we thank You, with grateful hearts, for all that You have done for us, are doing for us and will do for us. We look inside the empty tomb, look up at the empty cross and look inside the temple through to the most Holy Place and we know the certainty of Your truth. We know that darkness and death has lost power over us because of Jesus’ selfless sacrifice and obedience, and that we can simply come before You.
Lord in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer.
We give grateful thanks too to all those selflessly risking their lives to help the sick, suffering and dying as the Coronavirus continues to ravage the world. Shower them, Lord, with extra supplies of energy, stamina and strength and wrap your protection around them as they work long hours under difficult conditions. Help us all to listen and respond to their pleas to act responsibly. Thank you for those who have helped to assemble makeshift hospitals, design respirators and those who are working on testing kits and vaccines. Speed up this work, please Lord. At a time when lots of us are being blessed with time to rest we give thanks for all those working hard to serve us.
Lord in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer.
Lord, be close to all those grappling with loss: loss through death, separation from loved ones, loss of livelihood and income, loss of stability and routine, and loss of liberty. Heavenly Father, we know you understand our loss. Help us all to cope and this time to pass. Help us all to help the desperate, and put a stop to greed, exploitation and lawlessness. We ask you to bless those living in cramped, overcrowded conditions the world over, for whom isolation is near impossible.
Lord in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer.
We pray for all those in leadership positions, globally, nationally and locally, from top governmental positions to company managers, making unspeakably hard decisions with crucial consequences during these times. Guide them and grant them wisdom, integrity and insight. Here in the UK we pray especially for Boris Johnson.
Lord in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer.
And Lord, we thank you for the blessings you are graciously giving us even during these times. This Easter time may we all experience a renewed need for a close relationship with You.
Accept these prayers
For the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
All our problems
All we send to the cross of Christ.
All our difficulties
All we send to the cross of Christ.
All the devil’s works
All we send to the cross of Christ.
All our hopes
All we set on the risen Christ;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen