Preparing to Die Learning to Rise - A Devotional for Lent & the First Week of Easter 2021 - Church of the Lamb
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Preparing to Die
—
Learning to Rise
A Devotional for Lent & the First Week of Easter
2021
Introducing Lent
Jesus describes a relationship with himself as a process of learning to die: “If
anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my
sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34–35).
All of us, barring Christ’s imminent return, will experience physical death.
Christ invites us, though, to learn to die before this moment arrives. By learning
to die spiritually to sin and self, we prepare for physical death, the moment of
ultimate dependence on God. Contemplating death is not cynical or morbid for
a Christian. This is true because in addition to inviting us to prepare for death,
Jesus likewise invites us to learn to rise from death prior to the final Resurrection.
Spiritual death and spiritual Resurrection are the defining pattern of life for
baptized Christians: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death,
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). This death and Resurrection
pattern of spiritual life prepares us for the promises of God in Christ: physical
death followed by final Resurrection.
The journey from Lent into the season of Easter helps us adopt this pattern of
death and Resurrection through the practice of spiritual disciplines. As we redirect
our focus and follow our Lord, we learn to die to ourselves. At the same time, we
look forward to the hope of Christ’s Resurrection. The seasons of Lent and Easter
call us deeper into the lifelong journey of Christian discipleship: learning to die
and preparing for Resurrection life.
Knowing that this process of death ends in life, we remain close to the One who
carved the way for us. We “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely
. . . looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the
right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1b–2). This year, in order to hold
together the Lenten journey and the Easter journey, we are including devotional
material for Lent through the first week of Easter. May Christ’s transforming work
of death and Resurrection increase in our lives this year.
Cover art: “Ceci est mon corps” (“This is my body”) | Arcabas
1
Lenten Spiritual Disciplines
Growth in the Christian life, though rooted in God’s grace, still requires
discipline. “I do not run aimlessly,” writes the Apostle Paul, “but I discipline my
body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be
disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:26–27).
Here are several disciplines to help you align with the work of God’s Spirit during
Lent.
Worship
Worship shifts the focus of our attention toward God. We begin to see ourselves
and everything else in light of Him. Without worship, we become absorbed in the
many things of this world that are passing away. In addition to Sunday mornings,
we hold several special services in this season.
Ash Wednesday
February 17, 6 & 7:30pm
——
The Triduum
Maundy Thursday
April 1, 6:30pm
Good Friday
April 2, 6:30pm
Easter Vigil
April 3, 8:00pm
2
Fasting
Jesus fasted (Matthew 4:1–11). He also taught his disciples to fast (Matthew 6:16–
18). Sin has created a rupture in us, between the body and the soul or the physical
and the spiritual. Fasting, the denial of something essential to the physical body for
the purpose of seeking spiritual nourishment, reconnects these two spheres that
are meant to be one.
In fasting, we practice dying to self by denying ourselves food for a period of time.
While you may choose to fast from things other than food, the primary aim of
fasting involves food because it is so essential to our life. For a period of time, we
deny ourselves what is essential to seek God, who is most essential.
Each of these fasts can be adapted to what is fitting for your health.
Full Fasts
Ash Wednesday: Morning until evening
The Triduum: From the night of Maundy Thursday (when Jesus is arrested)
to Easter Vigil
Partial Fasts
Fridays in Lent: Early Christians fasted on Fridays to set aside the day of Jesus’
crucifixion for prayer and remembrance of his sacrifice
for sin. Skip one meal and reflect with gratitude on Jesus’
work for your salvation.
Throughout the Lenten Season: Choose to fast from something meaningful to
you: alcohol, coffee, sweets, etc.
Sundays as Feast Days
Sundays are for joyful celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, so we
cease fasting on this day of the week.
Devotion and Scripture Memorization
As we remove things from our lives during Lent, we must replace them with
something else. Set aside extra time during the Lenten season for increased prayer
as well as meditation and memorization of Scripture.
On Fridays, use a meal time to focus on Christ’s Passion by meditating on the
Stations of the Cross. The images and liturgy can be found on our website under
the “Resources” tab at the top of the page (churchofthelamb.org).
3
This Devotional
This Lent we are intentionally slowing down by asking you to read less. Each day of
the week contains a Gospel reading. In addition to this, we are asking you, like the
Psalmists who meditated on God’s Word, to focus on one small section of Scripture
for one week at a time. For each section, we ask you to memorize one verse. This
time spent memorizing and meditating on God’s Word will open the door to
deeper prayer and communion with God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Church members have written a reflection drawn from the main verse for the
week. Others have created or chosen art that evokes the theme of that passage. Use
these to help your time of prayer.
Find a time each day that you can spend uninterrupted. For some of you, this may
only be a few minutes. Still, set a timer for a determined period and challenge
yourself to dwell longer than you normally would in prayer and meditation before
God.
If you struggle to maintain focus, use the Scripture, art, or a simple prayer (“Lord
Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner”). Most of all, remember that God is full of
grace, and no time in His presence is wasted.
——
Contributors
Reflection Writers | Art Creators/Selectors
Entering Lent Fourth Week
Andrew White Zoe Hansen | Frank Doherty
First Week Fifth Week
Noel & Darci Hendrickson Kelly Ostergren
Second Week Holy Week
Zoe Myers | Julie Eastwood Leah Kirkpatrick | Stephanie Pellerin
Third Week Easter Week
John Bennetch | Evelyn Eastwood Ernie Didot | Katie Whitfield
4
Entering Lent
Ash Wednesday, February 17–20
Bretons on the Way | Maxime Maufra
—Memorize— —Meditate—
What shall we say then? Every Day: Romans 6:1–4
Are we to continue in sin Wed: Matthew 6:1-18
that grace may abound? Thurs: Matthew 6:19-end
By no means! Fri: Matthew 7
How can we who died to sin
Sat: Matthew 8:1-17
still live in it?
(Romans 6:1–2)
5
—Reflect—
So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where
sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there?
—Romans 6:1-2, The Message
The Exodus, Israel’s great escape from slavery in Egypt, culminates in the
miraculous drowning of Pharaoh’s army. After this victory, the Israelites praise
God with unfettered joy, anticipating their new home: “You have led in your
steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide
them to your holy abode” (Exodus 15:13, ESV). It does not take long, though,
for Israel to long for the meat pots of Egypt. The people grow tired of manna
and crave the savory cuisine of slavery: “We remember the fish we used to eat for
free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic
we wanted” (Numbers 11:5, NLT). The LORD does provide meat (in the form
of quail) for the people, but many are struck with a severe plague as they eat. For
Israel there is no going back to Egypt. Returning to the land of slavery would be
ludicrous, so any nostalgia for that life is foolish. In the same way, Paul tells us in
Romans 6:1–2 that it is absurd to return to a life of sin after experiencing God’s
grace and forgiveness. There is no turning back. Sin has been drowned in the
waters of baptism, and we are bound for God’s holy abode.
—Pray—
—What is sin?
—How have you “left the country where sin is sovereign”? Thank God for this.
—How do you still live in it? Spend time asking this of God.
God, you are mighty and you never end. You don’t hate anything you made and
you forgive everyone who is sorry. Create in us new hearts that want to follow your
way. We are sorry for our sins and trust that you are the God of all mercy. You
forgive all our sins through Jesus. God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything forever and ever!
Amen. —Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted)
6
The First Week of Lent
February 21—27
Resurrection of Lazarus | Caravaggio | 1608–1609
Oil on canvas | 380 x 275 cm
—Memorize— —Meditate—
For the death he died Every Day: Romans 6:5–14
he died to sin, Sun: Matthew 8:18-end
once for all, Mon: Matthew 9:1-17
but the life he lives Tues: Matthew 9:18-34
he lives to God. Wed: Matthew 9:35—10:23
So you also must Thurs: Matthew 10:24-end
consider yourselves Fri: Matthew 11
dead to sin
Sat: Matthew 12:1-21
and alive to God
in Christ Jesus.
(Romans 6:10–11)
7
—Reflect—
How do you feel about your sinful choices (past and present)? How do they
influence your view of yourself? Our culture constantly tells us to wholeheartedly
“Own your past,” “Have no regrets,” “Feel no shame,” and “Tell your story.” We
are urged to embrace all of our choices—both good and bad—because they make us
“who we are.”
Without question, the Apostle Paul had quite a personal history. He led opposition
to Christianity that openly persecuted and murdered believers. But would Paul
proudly “own” or “embrace” his sinful past with “no shame or regrets” or continue
to participate in wrong actions claiming the above statements?
In this passage, Paul commands us to be “dead to sin.” But, what does it mean
to be “dead” to something? Can you wholeheartedly “own” and “embrace” what
you consider to be “dead”? Or, does it involve a completely different attitude
altogether?
Paul goes on to show the flip side of “being dead to sin”—to be “alive to God in
Christ.” Sin and Christ cannot coexist. It is a tradeoff: whatever is considered
“dead to sin” has the potential to be considered “alive to God in Christ.” But, if
something is still considered “alive to sin” it would thereby have to be considered
“dead to God in Christ.”
So how should we think about our sinful choices? Are there things that are “alive”
in our attitude towards ourselves that should really be “dead”? Where might we
miss the chance to be “alive to God in Christ” because we have not considered
something from our past or present to be “dead,” and instead continue to allow it
to define “who we are”? Christ died to sin, and so should we – the tradeoff is worth
it – ALIVE to God in Christ!
—Pray—
—How have you been enslaved to sin?
—How are you “alive to God”?
God, you are mighty! We remember that the Spirit led Jesus to be tempted by
Satan. We are tempted too. Come quickly to help us. You know us and you know
where we struggle to do right. We know you are strong and you can save us. God,
we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the
King of everything forever and ever! Amen. —Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted)
8The Second Week of Lent
February 28–March 6
—Memorize—
Now that you have been
set free from sin
and have become
slaves of God,
the fruit you get
leads to sanctification
and its end, eternal life.
For the wages of sin
is death,
but the free gift of God
is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 6:22–23)
Eucharist Meditation | Julie Eastwood
—Meditate—
Every Day: Romans 6:15–23 Wed: Matthew 13:44-end
Sun: Matthew 12:22-end Thurs: Matthew 14
Mon: Matthew 13:1-23 Fri: Matthew 15:1-28
Tues: Matthew 13:24-43 Sat: Matthew 15:29—16:12
9—Reflect—
Paul assures us that having been set free from sin, our good and perfect master is
God, who through his abundant and amazing grace freely gives us eternal life in
Christ. Paul exhorts followers of Christ to embrace their true identity and uses the
unequivocal imagery of slave and master to remind us that a slave can have only
one master.
The enemy whispers doubts and lies in our ear, reminding us of past sins, how
weak we are, and how impossible it is for us to be perfect. The truth of Paul’s words
remind us that we belong to Christ, and He has promised that the fruit of that life
shall lead to sanctification and sanctification to eternal life.
C.S. Lewis wrote that Christ “claims all, because He is love and must bless. He
cannot bless us unless He has us. When we try to keep an area that is our own,
we try to keep an area of death. Therefore, in love, He claims all. There’s no
bargaining with Him.”
—Pray—
—Are there places in your life where you long to be set free? Talk to God about
these.
— What fruit are you thankful for in your life? Spend time thanking God for these
things.
God, you are mighty! You know we need your help all the time. Keep our bodies,
the outside of us, safe. And keep our souls, the inside of us, safe, through Jesus.
God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you
are the King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted)
10The Third Week of Lent
March 7–13
Free to be Fruitful | Evelyn Eastwood
Mixed media (foam, moss, acrylic, clear plastic, resin, found objects)
—Memorize— —Meditate—
Likewise, my brothers and sisters, Every Day: Romans 7:1–6
you also have died to the law Sun: Matthew 16:13-end
through the body of Christ, Mon: Matthew 17:1-23
so that you may belong to another, Tues: Matthew 17:24—18:14
to him who has been raised from the dead, Wed: Matthew 18:15-end
in order that we may bear fruit for God. Thurs: Matthew 19:1-15
(Romans 7:4) Fri: Matthew 19:16—20:16
Sat: Matthew 20:17-end
11—Reflect—
The inexpressibly great delight of belonging to one another in the body of Christ
is one of the benefits we receive by faith through the death and resurrection of
Christ. Our freedom from the requirements of the law yields a freedom for us to
give of ourselves to one another—that we might bear fruit for God. That fruit is
not a requirement, nor is it a debt. It is a joyful response that flows from true faith
by the Holy Spirit.
Do you see that fruit around you as you live as part of Church of the Lamb? Can
you see loving and caring and giving going on that flies in the face of the ways
of the world? Are you part—in some way—of this response to the One who gave
himself to us in the gospel of repentance and new life?
Union with Christ in his death and resurrection is such a difficult concept for us
to grasp, and an even more difficult reality for us to live. But in belonging not to
ourselves, but to Christ and to one another, there is true freedom and life and
fullness. May we find this freedom and bear joy-filled fruit.
—Pray—
—Who do you feel that you belong to?
—When have you been drawn to do something because someone told you not to?
Heavenly Father, you made us for yourself and our hearts cannot rest until they
rest with you. You see all that we hope for, God. When we want something that
you know will hurt us, change us to want your way instead. We want to see you and
know you God, like Jesus is sitting right here with us and we can see his face. God,
we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the
King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted)
12The Fourth Week of Lent
March 14–20
Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly (detail) | James J. Tissot
1886–1894 | Gouache on paperboard
—Memorize— —Meditate—
The very commandment that promised life Every Day: Romans 7:7–12
proved to be death to me. Sun: Matthew 21:1-22
For sin, seizing an opportunity Mon: Matthew 21:23-end
through the commandment, Tues: Matthew 22:1-33
deceived me and through it killed me. Wed: Matthew 22:34—23:12
(Romans 7:10–11) Thurs: Matthew 23:13-end
Fri: Matthew 24:1-28
Sat: Matthew 24:29-end
13—Reflect—
The path to Kingdom Life leads through the Land of Disillusionment.
The lovely bride gazes at her groom with tears in her eyes and swears “I do.” Until
she finds that She. Just. Doesn’t!
The father holds his newborn daughter and with a fire in his heart knows that he
would lay down his life to protect her. But does laying down of lives really mean
you can’t get any sleep around here anymore?
The Christian in his baptismal vow anticipates the joys of life in a community of
fellow disciples. But as Deitrich Bonhoeffer writes: “On innumerable occasions a
whole Christian community has been shattered because it has lived on the basis of
a wishful image . . . . Only that community which enters into the experience of this
great disillusionment . . . begins to be what it should be in God’s sight, begins to
grasp in faith the promise that is given to it.”
There comes a time in all of our commitments to God and others when we
downright fail. Love becomes much harder than we imagined it could. Our good
intentions and beautiful dreams betray us. Our loved ones betray us. We are
undone. We despair.
But as our illusions fall away, we have an opportunity to open ourselves to receive
God’s true and active grace. We learn to love deeper, to dream rightly, to cling to
the Holy Spirit for power, and to humble ourselves as trusting children with an
extravagantly loving Father.
I do.
I lay down my life.
I submit myself to my brothers and sisters in love.
When I enter that Land of Disillusionment, what might be revealed if I allow God
to shift my gaze?
—Pray—
—When have your desires deceived you?
—Can you say with your whole heart that God’s law is holy, righteous, and good?
Speak to God about this.
God, you are full of grace. Jesus came down from heaven and told us, “I am the
bread of life.” He feeds the whole world. We hold out our hands and ask you for
this bread. We want you to live in us, Jesus, like we are a house. And we want to live
in your house too. God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You
are alive and you are the King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted) 14The Fifth Week of Lent
March 21–27
The Clenched Hand | Auguste Rodin
Modeled c. 1885; cast 1925 | Bronze | 47 x 29.8 x 20.3 cm
— Memorize— —Meditate—
For I know that Every Day: Romans 7:13–20
nothing good Sun: Matthew 25:1-30
dwells in me, Mon: Matthew 25:31-end
that is, in my flesh. Tues: Matthew 26:1-30
For I have the desire Wed: Matthew 26:31-56
to do what is right, Thurs: Matthew 26:57-end
but not the ability Fri: Matthew 27:1-26
to carry it out. Sat: Matthew 27:27-56
(Romans 7:18)
15—Reflect—
What We Do
“Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus . . .?’”
(Matthew 27:22)
What shall I do with Jesus?
Caught between stillness and fury,
astonished at silence, assaulted by shouts,
I throw up my capable hands,
shadow his captive wrists, bound.
What shall I do with Jesus?
With this whole human’s breath
subject to my words’ power,
I wring my culpable hands,
fate his to bear the iron bite.
What shall I do with Jesus?
As the familiar face
of the crowned King turns,
I wash my craven hands:
profane absolution, baptized in blood.
.....
What shall I do with Jesus?
In this other millennium,
I, too, behold the Man, and
I do what we do:
I clench my coward hands
while his remain—open.
—Pray—
—Where do you experience a lack in “ability to carry [God’s will] out”? Have you
expressed this to Jesus?
God, you are mighty! Loving you and doing what you ask is hard for us. You’re the
only one who can help us. Please help us want to do what you ask. Help us to accept
the gifts you give us. The world outside us changes all the time, but you give us
joy that no one can take away. God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted)
16Holy Week
March 28–April 3
Job no. 2 | Oldrich Kulhanek | 2003
—Memorize— —Meditate—
Wretched man that I am! Every Day: Romans 7:21–25
Who will rescue me Sun: Mark 15:1–39
from this body of death? Mon: Mark 14:3–9
Thanks be to God Tues: Mark 11:15–19
through Jesus Christ our Lord! Wed: Matthew 26:1–5, 14–25
(Romans 7:24–25a) Thurs: John 13:1–20
Fri: Luke 23:18–49
Sat: Hebrews 4
17—Reflect—
In Romans, Paul says, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this
body of death?” He unpacks this later, saying, “[W]ith the mind I myself serve the
law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Paul expresses a dualistic experience that is all too familiar. This bifurcation of
physical and spiritual life is so common that it is part of our confession in the
Morning Prayer: “We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.”
Based on Paul’s association of the physical body with death and sin, one might
logically conclude that God’s plan should be to rescue the believer’s spirit from the
corrupted physical body. But Christianity doesn’t work that way.
Christianity’s most shocking attribute is that it is incarnational. Jesus is all about
the paradox. He makes the “unclean,” clean. So, instead of rescuing us from our
“bodies of death,” he chose to become a body. Instead of telling us to sacrifice
sinful human bodies to appease God, Jesus became the sacrifice and gave us God’s
body to eat.* Let THAT sink in for a moment.
Who will save us from this wretched body of death, we ask with Paul? His answer,
the answer is, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Jesus came to
heal the breach between the mind and body. Through him, we see that flesh and
spirit are fused, both made and blessed by God.
Because of Jesus Christ, the God-man, we can live an integrated life where mind
and body bear witness to the goodness of God.
*Thanks to Richard Rohr for this idea.
—Pray—
—Have you ever felt this way about yourself: “Wretched person that I am!” How
does God think about you in Jesus? Say these words in prayer: “Thanks be to God
through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
God, you are mighty and you never end. You love us so much that you sent Jesus to
be a human on earth, like us. You ask us to walk with you all the way to the cross,
where you showed how much you love us. But that is not the end. You invite us
to come see your empty tomb too. You want us to be alive like Jesus is. God, we
believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the
King of everything forever and ever. Amen. —Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted)
*See page 21 for additional collects for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, & Holy Saturday.
18Easter Week
April 4–April 10
Icon of Sts., Chinese Martyrs | Ol Chernyak
—Memorize— —Meditate—
There is therefore now Every Day: Romans 8:1–11
no condemnation Sun: Mark 16:1–8
for those who are Mon: Matthew 28:9–15
in Christ Jesus. Tues: John 20:11–18
For the law of the Spirit of life Wed: Luke 24:13–35
has set you free in Christ Jesus Thurs: Luke 24:36–49
from the law of sin and death. Fri: John 20:19–31
(Romans 8:1–2) Sat: John 21:1–14
19—Reflect—
Sin has an insidious hold over us. We fail, get frustrated, and become disappointed
with ourselves. All I have to say to my dog Bentley is, “I am so disappointed in
you,” and he will sulk, drop his tail, and become physically incapacitated. Guilt
and shame has this power to paralyze us. We fall into a trap of thinking we are
unworthy because we have not accomplished enough for God or that we have done
too many things that should bring God’s condemnation. The incredible news is
that the list of things we can do to gain God’s love or lose it is very, very short—as a
matter of fact, it is non-existent. It’s empty—as empty as the tomb on Easter.
We have to walk Bentley with a leash or else his Basset Hound nose will lead him
astray. However, when I see a rabbit, I drop the leash and watch him zero in,
as he longs to run after it—thinking he’s still held back. When I say, “Go get the
rabbit!” he realizes I have dropped the leash and he’s free to chase it, so he takes
off, running pell-mell through the yards (never catching it of course). He’s in his
element doing what he was bred to do. What joy when we discover we are free in
Christ and can live into the fullness we were purposed for by God!
In Christ alone, not self-help, formulas, or willpower, we are set free to jubilantly
pursue life. We are set free to join in the feast—to serve and invite others to the
table as Christ transforms us from the inside out.
—Pray—
—Repeat these words slowly to yourself: “There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Do you experience the affirming freedom of
Christ to go running like Bentley? Talk with God about this.
God you are mighty! Your Son Jesus overcame death and opened the way to
everlasting life. He stands at the gate and opens it wide. We celebrate with joy that
you are alive! Fill us with your Spirt and save us from the ways we hurt you and
other people. Make us full of life like Jesus. God, we believe that you are Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything forever and
ever. Amen. —Book of Common Prayer, 2019 (adapted)
*See page 22 for additional collects for each day of this week.
20—Collects for Holy Week—
Maundy Thursday
God, you are mighty! Your dear Son Jesus served the first communion
meal to his disciples on the night before he died. He gave them bread and
said, “This is my body.” He gave them wine and said, “This is my blood.”
Help us always to thank you when we remember Jesus and the life he gives
us forever. God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You
are alive and you are the King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
Good Friday
God, you are mighty! Jesus was willing to be betrayed by his friend and die
on the cross for us. Now you call us your family. When you look at us, give
us your grace. God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are alive and you are the King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Saturday
God, you made heaven and earth. Today we remember that after Jesus
died, his friends laid him in a tomb. Help us wait for tomorrow when we
will rise with him with your new life. Amen.
21—Collects for Easter Week—
Easter Monday
God, you are mighty! We love to celebrate your feast on Sundays. Because of your
love we can live with you forever. God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
Easter Tuesday
God, when Jesus rose from the dead you destroyed death and gave us life forever.
We want to be close to him and say thank you! God, we believe that you are Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything forever and
ever. Amen.
Easter Wednesday
God, Jesus’ friends recognized him when he ate bread with them. Open our eyes;
we want to see you and receive how much you love us. God, we believe that you
are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything
forever and ever. Amen.
Easter Thursday
God you are mighty! When people make wrong choices, you show them the right
way. Our mouths say, “We love you, Jesus.” We want what we say and what we do
to show that we love you. Will you help us do this? God, we believe that you are
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything
forever and ever. Amen.
Easter Friday
God, you are mighty! You gave us your Son Jesus to die for our sins and give us
life forever with you. Help us clean up and put away the ways we are mean or
unkind. We want to serve you and make your heart glad. God, we believe that you
are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are alive and you are the King of everything
forever and ever. Amen.
Easter Saturday
God in heaven, you saved us from our sins and death. Now Jesus is our King!
When he died, Jesus gave us his life. We know he loves us. Fill us with joy that will
last forever. God, we believe that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are
alive and you are the King of everything forever and ever. Amen.
*All collects on pages 21 and 22 are adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, 2019.
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