Easter Blessing

May God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead, open to us the gates of everlasting life.

May God the Son, who in bursting from the grave won a glorious victory, give us joy as we share the Easter faith.

May God the Holy Spirit, who filled the disciples with the life of the risen Lord, empower us for witness and fill us with the peace of God.

May the rule of God the Trinity remind us not to be afraid but instead to go and live in peace rejoicing that Jesus Christ is risen.

Amen

James 5:1-6; 2 Corinthians 8:9

My Father,

I am blessed and rich.

Thank you.

Forgive me 

where I have stolen from the poor;

where I have lacked compassion and hoarded wealth;

where I have lived in self-indulgent pleasure;

where I have fattened my body;

where gold and silver have corroded my heart;

where riches have rotted my values.

Forgive me 

because of the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, 

who though he was rich yet for my sake became poor 

that by his poverty I might become rich.

Amen

James 4:6

Father, 

Give me a submissive will.

Strengthen me to resist the devil.

Draw me near to your heart.

Cleanse my hands.

Purify my heart.

Keep me from double-mindedness.

Turn my laughter to repentance.

Turn my frivolity to mourning

And humble me before you.

Amen

James 3

Father,

Fill us with purity and peace.

Make us gentle and considerate.

Give us submission and reasonableness.

May we overflow with mercy, bearing much fruit.

Fill us with impartiality and sincerity.

And give us peace.

Amen

Deuteronomy 5:6-11

Father I confess that there are many gods that compete for the love of my heart.

Forgive me

• For worshiping my comforts and possessions
• For worshiping great human beings
• For worshiping myself, my feelings and my desires
• For worshiping my loved ones and family
• For worshiping my status and approval

Father you are a God who loves even to a thousand generations;

Yet you are jealous for your honour and glory.

Forgive us for bringing you down and making you small.

Forgive us for trying to contain you in an image or an object.

Give us knowledge of your greatness, your power and your majesty.

Forgive our words which mirror our hearts. Forgive us for the times when we have dishonoured your name.

We pray 

Hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen

Deuteronomy 7:6-12

Father we confess that although we are a holy people we do not live holy lives.

But you have blessed us;

you have chosen us;

you have set your affection on us;

and you have loved us

Forgive us for not living worthy of your blessing.

Forgive us for asserting our independence despite your choosing.

Forgive us for spurning your affection.

And forgive us for not loving you in return.

Thank you for keeping your promises to save us and redeem us, from the slavery of our sin and from the powers of darkness that have bound us.

You are a faithful God who keeps his covenant of love and his promise of judgement.

Help us to be careful to live for you; undistracted by the siren calls of our world;

For your glory alone we pray.

In Jesus Christ name

Amen

Known by God

Father, I pray for desire.

The desire to love and serve you.

The desire to sacrifice for your glory.

The desire to give and to be used up for your kingdom.

The desire to serve and love people.

May I grow in maturity,

Seeking holiness,

dispensing with sin,

pressing on towards the day when I will see you face to face

May I be willing to share

Share Christ with a lost and dying world

Share what I have with those who have little

May your Spirit change me this year

so that in the future I will not be what I am but what you desire

Saved by your Son

Salt and light to the world

A loved member of your precious bride

Known by You

Amen