Lord God of Heaven and Earth:
you have made all things, O Lord,
and given life to the living.
You created humanity from the dust of the earth
and breathed into us the Breath of Life
that we became living souls.

Look down upon us, Lord God,
in love and mercy.

Lord Jesus, Son of God and Savior of Humanity,
you came into this world of sin and darkness
to bring light and love, mercy and justice.
You walked among us,
healing the sick,
forgiving the sinful,
and convicting the proud and self-righteous.

In return for your miracles,
your compassion and kindness,
they set loose a murderer
and condemned you.
You, the Giver of Life,
they executed as a thief and liar.

You were wrapped in common cloth
and laid in the cold stone of the earth.

And yet on this day,
the First Day,
the New Sabbath,
you came forth in triumph
over Sin and Death and Hell,
giving everlasting hope
of life beyond the grave,
of blessing beyond imagination,

of Redemption.

Holy is your name, Lord God,
worthy of praise and thanksgiving
forever.

H. Arnett
2/19/17