A Prayer of Resurrection

Lord Jesus Christ, giver of new life,

            bringer of resurrection hope,

we pray for a world where death is dominant,

            and finality is feared.

We pray for those known to us

            who are struggling to live with a diagnosis of terminal illness,

            either for themselves or for someone dear to them.

We pray that each day will be a gift of grace,

            and that in the midst of pain and sorrow

                        will be found moments of goodness

            that point to your steadfast and unfailing love

                        which casts out all fear.

Lord of new life, hear our prayers for resurrection.

We pray for those who have been victimised

            by war and terrorist outrage.

            We remember before you especially ….

We pray for peace, and for reconciliation

            between peoples who struggle to relate in ways

            other than through the lens of death.

May those who see the death of others

            as the solution to problems

be granted a glimpse of the precious gift of life

            which you gift to each human soul.

May those who live in fear of death at the hands of others

            find courage and peace and release from their fears.

Lord of new life, hear our prayers for resurrection.

We pray for those who are victims of natural disasters.

            We remember…

We remember also those who are facing the impact of climate change,

            those whose land is not the same as it used to be,

            and who now struggle to survive in the face of increased flooding,

                        or unpredictable weather patterns.

Lord of all creation, we join our voices with the groaning of our planet,

            and we pray for those who work to bring life

            to those who live in difficult and dangerous places.

Lord of new life, hear our prayers for resurrection.

We pray for those who transform communities.

            Those whose lives tell stories of resurrection

                        in the midst of the ordinary.

We give thanks for those who live lives of love, justice,

            reconciliation, and care for others.

We pray for those who live the values

            of your dawning kingdom of new life for all,

and we commit ourselves anew

            to your service that together we might show ourselves

            ready to live according to your will.

Lord of new life, hear our prayers for resurrection.

And finally, we pray for ourselves.

            We own before you our fears for our own lives,

                        the inevitability of our own mortality.

We confess the many deaths that blight our days;

            deaths of hope, ambition, love, compassion and desire.

Grant us today the gift of renewed life.

            Restore us to life, and bring us to fullness in you.

May our lives become gifts of resurrection to others,

            may new life come through us,

            may our lives make your new life known and real in this world.

Lord Jesus Christ, giver of new life,

            bringer of resurrection hope,

we pray for a world where death is dominant,

            and finality is feared.

And in our praying we proclaim the good news of the gospel of Christ,

            the good news that death is not the final answer to life,

            that the good news of resurrection

            is indeed good news for all people.

Amen.