Easter Call to Worship / Opening Prayer

From the darkness of the grave—
blood poured out, a crown of thorns:
Christ the Lord is risen to-day!
Alleluia!

From the triumph that is won
over the power and fear of death:
Christ the Lord is risen to-day!
Alleluia!

Walking from the empty tomb,
opening wide the gates of life:
Christ the Lord is risen to-day!
Alleluia!

Lord of life,
You defeated death
to show that we can rise
from all that binds us to the world:
pride, envy, anger, fear,
the debt of sin that holds us here.
Christ the Lord is risen to-day!
Alleluia!

Lord of life,
You defeated death
to demonstrate a love that is
beyond our understanding;
that reaches out even to me.
Saving grace to all who hear.
Christ the Lord is risen to-day!
Alleluia!

Lord of life,
We pray for all who bring Your word of life
as a light to those in darkness;
for those who bring Your word of peace
to those enslaved by fear;
for those who bring Your word of love
to those in need of comfort.
Lord of love and Lord of peace,
Lord of resurrection life,
be known
through our lives
and through Your power.

Christ the Lord is risen to-day!
Alleluia!

— John Birch, a Methodist lay preacher and worship leader from Wales, in his collection “Prayers on a Theme of Easter” at Faith and Worship – Prayers and Resources.

For more Easter Calls to Worship, see Easter Call to Worship, Easter Call to Worship II, U2 Easter Call to Worship, Easter Call to Worship / Prayer Litany  and Contemporary Call to Worship.