“Your Spirit changes our hearts: enemies begin to speak to one another, those who were estranged joins hands in friendship, and nations seek the way of peace together. Your Spirit is at work when understanding puts an end to strife, when hatred is quenched by mercy, and vengeance gives way to forgiveness.”

Risen Jesus,
We thank you for the wonder of this day
When we come expecting only death
You surprise us with the message of new life.

When we have lost you,
When we have lost hope,
You roll away the stone of despair
Which imprisons and limits us.

Today the world is transformed,
To day the boundaries of what we thought possible
Have burst asunder.
Today a new start is possible

For all people, and the whole creation.
You have been raised,
And now we know that
God’s love is so much greater
Than we had ever imagined.

Open our lives to meet you, Risen Christ,
Make all our days Easter days