Lord God, our Heavenly Father, we all gather today around the world in Your Name to celebrate Your Son Jesus’ resurrection.  We gather together to celebrate in these particularly unpredictable times and in these uncommon ways — nevertheless ever so grateful and joyful in the knowledge and confidence that nothing is bigger than our God.

 We are grateful that we can join our hearts together – even in this non-traditional way – to celebrate Jesus’ Victory over death that opened the gate to our everlasting life (as a symbol of Your love for us and as a sign of Your Grace).  His Victory was made our Victory!

We are ever so grateful for the Hope you’ve given us and the Joy of knowing You. In You, we are so grateful that we have something of immense value that the world cannot rob from us, a treasure that cannot be taken from us — that no one or no thing can keep from us — and that is the Joy of the Lord.  Even in these challenging times we find such great Joy in knowing that You are there with us — and proving again to us that You are always faithful to Your promise of being there always.  

Help us remember that in these trying times that you are refining us, and that the Joy we find is not from any worldly comfort, but rather from our steadfast conviction that You are with us.  And as You are with us, You are refining us more completely into the image of Your Son.

At those times that try our Faith, Lord, we pray that you teach us to see beyond our troubles —  knowing You are with us.  We ask that You intervene in our challenges to help us to grieve our losses, to be with those in need, and to nudge us to help You care for Your people.  Help us live differently in the midst of our trials so the world might see You in us.

Give us the peace to live with uncertainty, with questions, with doubts.

May all we say, we hear and we do as we gather today to celebrate your Son’s resurrection — give honor to Your name for the amazing things You have done in Jesus and in us.

May we always find our Joy in You and find Your willingness to offer Yourself to us.

We give you our thanks and our love in Jesus’ name.    Amen.    

Dave Clouser, Elder
Clintondale Christian Church