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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

Today’s Reflection

WHEN PEOPLE ran into Jesus they often had good reason to remember the encounter. Sometimes he infuriated them; sometimes he made perfect sense; and sometimes he did both. Regardless, those who encountered Jesus often left challenged, knowing the possibility of the kind of peace that the world had never offered before.

Jesus’ style of peace entails not simply resting in the presence of God so much as moving forward in the presence of God. Peace requires God-saturated behavior. Peace refers to a state of being more than a state of mind. Peace is an action word. That’s why Jesus said, “I do not give to you as the world gives.” Jesus settles the troubled heart, sometimes by troubling the settled life.

—Derek Maul
Reaching Toward Easter: Devotions for Lent

From page 40 of Reaching Toward Easter: Devotions for Lent by Derek Maul. Copyright © 2011 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Do you have a favorite Easter Sunday memory?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

The Lord has risen indeed!
— Luke 24:34

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
—Isaiah 43:19, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something more

A message from the staff of The Upper Room: Christ has risen!.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

11 Comments

  • Jill Posted April 21, 2019 6:06 am

    I absolutely love the second paragraph of this. I so want this to be representative of my life. “Jesus’ style of peace entails not simply resting in the presence of God so much as moving forward in the presence of God. Peace requires God-saturated behavior. Peace refers to a state of being more than a state of mind. Peace is an action word.” May it be so, Father. (This is going in my journal!)
    So – what was the question? Oh, Easter morning memory. I guess, recently, pondering the weight of “He is risen, He is risen indeed”. And not merely, rotely, repeating that. But considering it, what it means moving forward. How my life should display that, on Easter Sunday and every other day.
    I sit here as the sun has just risen and is glowing beautifully through the patio doors. The sky was pink about a half hour ago and I could see people heading out to the beach to greet the sunrise. Today will be a very different Easter Sunday for dad and I. I am glad we are together and can openly speak and share tender moments.
    Wishing all passers by here a wonderful and worshipful Easter Sunday.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 21, 2019 6:42 am

    Many years ago, my classmate brought me to a sunrise Easter service and this morning, my nephew, my sister, brother in law and I went to my mum’s church sunrise service which is also the Church which I attended in my childhood.

    Very grateful for the church support during my mum’s funeral way and met the people who were my Sunday school teachers and church leaders who were like my spiritual parents.

    Thank you God for a memorable and favorite Easter Sunday today!

    Blessings!

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 21, 2019 6:44 am

      I also bought my dad’s favorite curry fish head near the church and this made my dad smile.

      Thank you for all your prayers!

  • Lou Posted April 21, 2019 7:18 am

    When my children were little our church had an active connection with the local university ministry and every year they held a beautiful sunrise service on the shores of Lake Michigan- ususally a very very cold service with a bonfire also on the beach- we attended that service and then came home for a rousing Easter egg hunt- I stuffed dozens and dozens of plastic Easter eggs with candy and pennies- oh how the kids loved both the sunrise service and the fun of the egg hunt. Then their dad would usually make a big breakfast for us all- he enjoyed the big weekend breakfast preparations – he was a very good cook. Those are my happiest memories – we enjoyed those cold sunrise services for as many years as the university partnered with our church and then the sunrise services ended. I’m wondering this morning if any other church has a sunrise service on the beach in my town- I will have to look into that for next year. Today my son and girlfriend and my youngest will go to our Easter celebration at our church -and then out to a special brunch. I am really missing my middle daughter who has been fairly distant with me for some reason. Praying for her this morning and for our relationship.
    Prayers for all the UR- Easter blessings.
    Prayers especially for Jill and her family and Mary and her family as they grieve.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 21, 2019 7:47 am

      Thanks Lou!

      May God bless you and your family abundantly!

  • Andrea Posted April 21, 2019 7:52 am

    Happy Easter to UR friends and all who visit here. Christ the Lord is risen today! May all take assurance that the living Jesus walks with us every moment of every day.

  • Connie Posted April 21, 2019 9:23 am

    I attended a small country church when I was growing up. I remember my Grandpa and two others singing “The Old Rugged Cross”. I remember as clear as day walking down the steps of the church on Easter and then down the street to my Grandparents for Easter dinner. Oh, how wonderful those days were. Thank you Jesus.

  • robert moeller Posted April 21, 2019 4:23 pm

    A favorite Easter story doesn’t come quickly or readily to mind. I did have a wonderful Easter today with a sunrise service, breakfast, and both great music and sermon today in worship. Easter dinner was delicious, have had messages that have made me happy.

    So far so good with the condo purchase. Nice to have a break from activity for Easter, Thank You, Lord.

    Prayers for Sri Lanka, France, those who are mourning, immigrant asylum seekers, Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico; people in the US who are being forced out, the LGBT community, the United Methodist Church,
    the UR family, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, and care for the earth.
    Lord, we most certainly need Your wisdom, guidance, healing-reconciling
    help. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted April 21, 2019 6:37 pm

    I had to leave church early. Went to medexpress for urinary tract infection. So far the medication has not helped. Please pray for me. Thank you and Happy Easter

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 21, 2019 7:44 pm

      Julie, may you have a speedy recovery!

      Blessings!

    • Andrea Posted April 21, 2019 8:06 pm

      I am praying for you, Julie, and may the medication kick in soon. Blessings.

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