God of Resurrection, you are the giver of life, the one we follow.

We follow you because you are good, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. You prove to us time and time again that your love never lets go of us. Jesus is on the loose, which means your love is on the loose.

May your love give us resilience in the pain we endure. May your love and comfort give us resilience in these divided times. It is so easy for us to contribute to chants of division and hate, but your love is on the loose, so grant us the wisdom and courage to act with love for our neighbor.

God of Resurrection, in our despair, you offer us hope. We pray for those who feel overwhelmed by life’s burdens, for those battling illness, for those facing financial hardship, and for those struggling with mental health. May your resurrecting power bring light into their darkness, comfort into their pain, and hope into their despair.

In moments of loneliness, we turn to you, knowing that you are always near. We lift up those who feel isolated and forgotten, those who long for companionship and connection. May your resurrecting presence bring forth communities of support and friendships that nurture and sustain.

Amidst the grip of poverty and hunger, we cry out for justice. We remember those who lack the basic necessities of life, those who are marginalized and oppressed. May your resurrecting justice break the chains of inequality and empower us to work toward a world where all are fed and valued.

In the face of hatred and war, we seek reconciliation and healing. We grieve for the wounds caused by hatred and war. May your resurrecting love shatter the barriers that divide us and inspire us to actively pursue justice and equality for all.

We give thanks for the places where we have witnessed resurrection. In the beauty of springtime, we see the promise of new life and growth. In the embrace of family, we experience the love that binds us together. In the waters of baptism of a child, we are reminded of your grace that washes over us and transforms us. And in the acts of love shown through our community, we catch glimpses of your kingdom here on earth.

So, God of Resurrection—may your love continue to be on the loose. May your loving Spirit continue to breathe new life into the broken places of our world and into our own hearts. May we be agents of your resurrection power, bringing hope, healing, and reconciliation wherever we go.

Wherever your love is, we will try to follow.

We pray this in Jesus’ name, who taught us to pray, saying…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.