Prayers: 5 April 2026

inspired by: Psalm 118:1-2,14-24; Acts 10:34-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18, original prayers, Rev Waiora Te Moni - ‘Rau Pohiri’

A Joyful approach.
Whāia, whāia te ara Matua,
Whāia te ara Atua...
Ko te mauri o te rangi ka hono
Ko te mauri o te papa ka tau.
Kua ara a Ia!
He pono: kua ara a Ia!
Seek and you shall find the way of the Lord;
Seek and you shall find the way of God.
Let the heavens bear witness.
Let the Earth declare Your peace
For He is risen!
He is risen indeed!

Bidding & response
The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad!

Out of the bare wooden cross -
That tool of suffering and death;
Out of the tomb -
In the darkness before the dawn;
Life burst forth,
As flowers seek the Sun,
Life was lifted up.
Your life, Jesus.
Our life too, now.

The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad!

On that new morning
Your disciples ran, in hope and in fear,
To find an empty tomb.
There, Mary Magdalene saw You,
She bore witness to You.
Out of darkness, the light of truth;
Out of suffering and cruelty,
the promise of a healed world.
Out of fear, the scent of life.

The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvellous in our eyes.

As your Church, let us hold
To Your foundation.
And do Your work in Your world.

The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad!

Jesus,
On this day of all days
We live still in the promise.
May Your Holy Spirit be present
With us, and through us,
To those living with loneliness, want and illness;
and the darkness of war and unrelenting selfishness.
To those living in fear, persecution and chaos,
May they too know Your risen life, Your love
And the hope of Your Rangatiratanga.

The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad!