Lord, our God, we thank you for your gift of creation; for the universe, the heavens and the earth, the sky and the seas, trees and plants, sun, moon and stars separating light from darkness, all creatures great and small, and all people who live in this world. The earth is yours, and everything in it.
We have delighted in seeing snowdrops emerge from the dark, cold earth, the most delicate of flowers, which are not thwarted by the frost and the rain – new life, giving us hope.
Crocuses, daffodils and tulips now in full bloom cheer the still cold days of springtime and thrill us as they warm and brighten our surroundings with colours of hope and renewal.
And, Father, we rejoice and thank you for the best Gift of all – your Son and our Saviour, Jesus, who is risen from the dead!
On Good Friday hope seemed hopeless, and life seemed worthless, as Jesus suffered the unimaginable agony of crucifixion. He took the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders, even as he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” On that dark day as Jesus cried, “It is finished”, Lord God, your work was accomplished.
Easter Sunday! Resurrection Light! The darkness of sin and death was defeated once and for all by the miracle, the wonder, the Light of his Resurrection.
Just as the angel said to the women, ‘He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay’, we too are invited to come and see the empty tomb for ourselves and experience your resurrection power in our lives.
Mercy, salvation, grace, forgiveness, hope, reconciliation, renewal, peace, new life in Christ!
Joy to the world! The church bells ring out that Christ is risen from the dead. Hallelujah!
Amen.
Gail Balfour
Scotland District
Photo: Gail Balfour
