Today in our prayers for the people of Suriname.

Prayer for Peace

Janné Grover

God of the cross and of the empty grave,

Words of praise leap off our tongues as we celebrate the joy of Easter. The story is so familiar, yet we rejoice anew because we once again find hope in the resurrection promise of new life.

God of redemption,

Forgive us for clinging to the idolatry of our personal salvation. Forgive our complacency when we narrowly focus our thoughts and energy around self-centered grace and self-absorbed spirituality. Your love for this complex and troubled yet amazingly diverse and beautiful world is beyond the limit of comprehension. Your love is inclusive and offered unreservedly to all your beloved children. Forgive us when we construct limits to your love as we exploit our differences, cling to our prejudices, and bask in self-righteousness rather than celebrating diversity and growing in a shared and sacred community.

God of abundant grace,

Our hearts swell with gratitude, and we want to live our praise out loud. Move us from judgment and complacency to joyful service and unconditional acceptance of others. Inspire our thoughts and engage our minds, our hands, our feet, and our voices to proclaim and to live the good news that he who was dead is alive again. Help us embody your unbounded love and reflect your ever-living presence in our lives and in our world.

God of all living,

We long for your peace that will be realized when all life has been made whole, when humankind cares about a just and equitable distribution of Earth’s resources, and when each one is touched by your love and moved beyond self to service. We ask this for the sake of the world you so loved that you sent your son, Jesus, so the world through him might be saved. In the name of Jesus, who lived, died, and rose again, we pray. Amen.