Prayers of the People, EC

Teacher!
In wonder and awe
we approach the empty tomb
this Easter day!
Your victory over death
still amazes us,
and we sing our alleluias
with glad and grateful hearts.

Hear our prayers, O God,
for those who come looking for you
and do not understand what they find.
Send your church
to embrace them, we pray,
and to speak their names 
in love.

Hear our prayers, O God,
for those who come weeping ...
grieving and in pain.
Send your church 
to comfort them
with reassurance and the message
of hope
that resurrection is assured 
in the name of Jesus.

Hear our prayers, O God,
for those who wait in upper rooms,
still processing the shouts for destruction
and the images of blood poured out
on the ground,
fearful and in despair.
Send your church
with a message of hope ...
with the Good News of the gospel
that Christ is risen!
Risen indeed!
That death has been swallowed up
in victory!

Hear our prayers
for your church, O God,
that every encounter with the holy,
every act of compassionate ministry,
every proclamation of the Word,
brings glory to you
and a message of redemption
to a world that desperately longs
to be made whole.