Today God summons us to live, proclaim and celebrate the victory of Easter. We are "Easter people" when we put on new lives; not merely new clothes, when we live out lives of faith; not merely walk in judgement, when we witness the Christ alive in the world today; and not merely see an empty tomb. As we stand before our own rolled away stones, may this time of prayer awaken and reveal God's love and strength for us this day. So with fellow seekers, let us bring our hearts and minds together in the Prayers of the People and when you hear the words, "Compassionate God", please respond with "Hear our Prayers".

God of April Mystery, as the cold and snows of winter melt away revealing a spring that so wants to be... As eager spring bulbs start to surface through soil just letting go of seasonal frost... We are once again amazed and hopeful that this renewal of life we see in Spring can transform inside us the wonder and awe of that first Easter morning. Help us to move from places of barriers and injustices to the place of resurrection where we can celebrate the resurrection story in our daily lives and with those around us. "Compassionate God"... "Hear our Prayers".

God of the Empty Tomb. Do we stand before the rolled away stone and empty grave Easter morning with hopelessness and weep as Mary Magdalene initially did? Do we stand before the rolled away stone and empty grave Easter morning with dispair and walk away confused as Peter first did? Or are our lives transformed by the quality of the lives of all those who go on to celebrate the Good News of Jesus and live out their faith in the Resurrection... who clearly became transformed... who go from misunderstanding the Easter message to interpreting it through the lens of the Resurrection. Help us to live as examples of extraordinary integrity in the midst of insincerity, of dedicated service in a world looking to be healed, of patience and understanding in the face of hostility and fear, of forgiveness and reconciliation where there has been ongoing turmoil. We ask your blessing for our brothers and sisters at Nyanyadzi Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, and for the peacemakers and peacekeepers serving throughout the world and their families. In our World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle this week we ask for your blessing especially for the people of Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore. In our Kootenay Presbytery Prayer roster we give thanks for the gifts offered by members of Kimberley United Church. "Compassionate God"... "Hear our Prayers".

God of Mystic Wonder, on this Easter Day, give us a renewed vision of the hope that you have given to each of us and let us know that we do not walk in this world alone, we do not have to carry heavy burdens by ourselves, and that your love is enough to give us care and comfort. Today we ask you to hold in your loving embrace all those named in our Prayer List.We pause at this time to remember aloud or silently in our hearts, others for whom we are concerned... ... "Compassionate God"... "Hear our Prayers".

Source of Transformation. In Latin, April means to "open". May we this Easter morning be in awe of the wonders that are opening before us. The blooming of flowers, the fresh spring air, new life being born and the return of warth and sunshine. May we this Easter Day be open to a new way of being, filled with a new passion for life and open to celebrating the Good News of God's Easter message- that of anewed life and God's enduring love that will never die. "Compassionate God"... "Hear our Prayers".

God of Resurrection, you have rolled the stone away and the tomb of our world has been opened wide. With the dawn has come a new creation. Let our celebration today empty our inner tombs, renew our lives, and release your power, for Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! And the people say... "Amen"