Prayer Page

Prayers for the week 20 April 2025 EASTER DAY

Our new day rises in resurrection light, the long wilderness walk of Lent behind, the darkness of the cross ended. Let our stones be rolled away too, let us come out to meet you, loving God, with renewed joy in our song, and strengthened hope in our hearts. Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed!

The Easter hope of reconciliation is good news for all. May we celebrate anew Christ’s commitment in relating to his creation; that the God - man Jesus would enter into the deepest pains and realities of the flesh in order to restore the relationship between Creator and creature. By this restorative work all creation is reconciled to its intended delight, finding peace and mutual flourishing.

A Rocha Lenten resource – Easter hope for creation

Turn your thoughts outwards to the world, and imagining Jesus with you in all his risen power, bring to God……

The people of the Gaza in their acute suffering – displaced, surviving in a bombed-out warzone, without basic provisions and little prospect of a return to any sort of ceasefire.
The people of the Sudan facing famine and living in fear of warring factions.
The people of Ukraine, ravaged by war for more than three years and fearing the worst for the future.
Those people and situations which concern you…..

Lord, we know that you have promised to make all things new. We pray that you will bring healing to the nations.

As Holy Week reaches its climax and Easter Sunday arrives in all its joy, pray for the witness of the Christian community across the circuit, particularly important at this time when some people who do not normally attend church come along with family or as visitors to the area.

Pray that all that we do will be a testament to the love and acceptance of the God who in Jesus has conquered sin and death through Jesus, that any newcomers feel welcomed and that there is a real sense of joy and togetherness.
Look through your church notices and pray for each event, each service, each Cytun gathering that is mentioned. Pray especially for those events very much out in the public domain, such as the Cytun Passion Play in Bangor and Walks of Witness in the other areas across the Circuit on Good Friday, that shoppers will stop and listen, that the organization will come together and for the sake of those taking part that the weather is fine!
Pray that amongst all the activity, you will find space to sit and reflect, to listen to what God may be saying to you in your life.
Give thanks for the opportunity that the Easter period brings to catch up with family and friends, for walks and meals together, for sharing…..but remember and pray for those who find such times difficult, who have no living family or close friends and who find the break from routine a struggle. And if anyone comes to mind as you pray this…..give them a ring to wish them well, or better still arrange to meet them!
We give thanks for the hard work of the Messy Church teams at St Paul’s and the Holiday Club team at St John’s. We pray for continued contact with the children and parents who attended recent events over the Easter period.

Finally, pray for yourself, that you would be open to God’s promptings and yearning to be known to you in ever deeper ways, and know the presence of the Risen Christ abiding with you now and always. For those with internet connection, you might want to click on the link below and use the word’s of the song Christ be with me ( a version of St Patrick’s breastplate prayer by the Brilliance) as your own prayer to do so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ustIEvgILU

A familiar figure on a distant shore, a familiar action at a kitchen table, a presence in the midst of doubt. O Risen Christ, you come to surprise and delight of us, and open wide the door to joy. Be with us now in your risen power and help us to share the Easter joy with those around us. Amen