[Our church was blessed to have Rev. Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads, a former member serve as our 10:30 worship leader. Kirstin plans to be ordained as a Deacon in the West Ohio Conference in June of 2019. She is currently a United Methodist camp director in Maryland and was in Athens visiting friends over the Easter weekend. Pictured above is Kirstin with her family. Click here for the Easter sermon.]
Rise up, Jesus! Rise up! We’re out of your way!
Risen Lord, nothing was able to keep you from rising to new life on that Easter Sunday! Not even death itself could keep you in the grave. And so, on this Easter day, we boldly touch your living robe.
Your living robe is what makes us an Easter people. Your living robe is what reminds us that death is never the last word. Your living robe is what empowers us to live life fully. Your living robe is what gives us hope when we are feeling discouraged. Your living robe is what makes our hearts sing with such joy. Your living robe is what sends us forth to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and world. Your living robe is what leads us to have a loving faith, a learning faith, and a living faith.
As your resurrection people, we pray for those who are longing to touch your many different robes this day. We pray for those who need to see your shining presence in their lives and who are longing for a more shining faith. We pray for those who are in need of your healing presence. We pray for those who are feeling separated from others and in need of your uniting love. We pray for those who have a heart to bless others and want to offer honor you with their gifts. We pray for those who are experiencing grief and loss and are in need of your redeeming grace.
And Lord, on this glorious day of resurrection, we pray for those who are feeling defeated and are in need of a living faith.
Rise up, Lord Jesus! Rise up! We’re out of your way!
It is in the name of the risen Jesus, that we offer the prayer that he taught us to say together as his resurrection people…
“Our Father, who art in heaven…”
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