Sarah Lemire is a lifestyle and entertainment reporter for TODAY based in New York City. She covers holidays, celebrities and everything in between.
One of the holiest days on the Christian calendar, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20, this year. In addition to church services, gathering with loved ones, and perhaps a delicious brunch and Easter egg hunt, Easter Sunday prayers are a big component of the holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.
“People of the Christian faith regularly pray before meals and especially at Easter to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus and to recognize God’s blessings and provision,” says Jeff Bogaczyk, Ph.D., head of the Christian Life School in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Easter prayers you say may vary by your religious denomination or your personal preferences, but the blessings tend to be in the same spirit: “Easter dinner prayers remind us to be thankful for all of God’s many blessings in our lives, including his death and resurrection,” says Brittany Ann, founder of Equipping Godly Women and author of Follow God’s Will: Biblical Guidelines for Everyday Life. As Ann reiterates, Christians traditionally offer Easter prayers around the dinner table before sharing a big Easter meal with extended family or friends. There are many prayers and biblical words of wisdom from which to choose. Take, for example, the prayer “He is risen, He is risen indeed.” This is “a Christian traditional greeting and recitation that many churches and Christians use on Easter,” shares Bogaczyk. “It originates from Luke 24 where the disciples, unsure about the resurrected Christ, encounter him and state ‘He is risen indeed’ or ‘It is true, He is risen,’ a confirmation of the divinity of their savior and his resurrection from the dead,” he explains. Ann, meanwhile, ticks off common short Easter prayers such as “the Act of Contrition,” “Our Father,” or “Glory Be.” Whether you seek Easter prayers short and sweet to recite at the table or biblical Easter passages to read and reflect upon by yourself, here are Easter prayers and bible verses for the occasion. Easter Sunday prayers and blessings 'The Lord is risen indeed.' – Luke 24:34'This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.' – Psalm 118:24'Be present at our table, Lord; Be here and everywhere adored; Thy creatures bless, and grant that we May feast in paradise with Thee.' – John Cennick'Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.' – Psalm 107:1 'Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.' – Come Holy Spirit'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, by Thine be done.' – Luke 22:42'Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day. Amen.' – Prayer of St. Richard'Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.' – Prayer of St. Francis 'I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.' –Psalm 121'May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.' – Irish Blessing'Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.' – Glory Be Prayer'May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.' – Irish Blessing 'Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.' – The Lord's Prayer'God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”– John 3:16'May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you you, and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7'Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” – Jude 1:21'All-provident God, the good things that grace this table remind us of your many good gifts.” – Book of Blessings 'For food that stays our hunger, For rest that brings us ease, For homes where memories linger, We give our thanks for these.' – Traditional Mealtime Prayer'Blessed is the Holy Spirit, who brings us together at this table of love. Blessed be God now and forever.” – Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers'Bless this food and grant that all who eat it may be strong in body and grow in your love. Blessed are you, Lord our God, for ever and ever.” – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, “A Book of Blessings''Grant we pray that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your spirit, rise up in the light of life.” – Pope Francis, 2021 Easter Mass 'Blessed are you, spring. You invite us to sing songs to the frozen regions within and to bless the lessons of winter as we become your partner in a new dance.” – Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr, 'The Circle of Life''God, give us eyes to see the beauty of the Spring, and to behold Your majesty in every living thing.' – Helen Steiner Rice, 'An Easter Prayer''Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you God for everything.” – Child's Blessing 'Of mercy’s never-failing spring, And steadfast judgment, I will sing; And since they both to thee belong, To thee, O Lord, address my song.” – The Book of Common Prayer'Loving Father, we thank you for bringing us together for this meal: may we continue to live in your friendship and in harmony with one another. Bless this food, a sign of your loving care for us, and bless us in our daily lives.” Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, – “A Book of Blessings”'Hope your Easter’s happy, hope your springtime’s bright. Hope your skies are sunny, and hope your heart is light.” – Helen Steiner Rice 'How blessed is this day, when earth and heaven are joined and humankind is reconciled to God!” – The Book of Common Prayer'Be present at our table, Lord, Be here and everywhere adored. Thy people bless, and grant that we may feast in paradise with thee.” – John Wesley'Draw us forth, God of all creation. Draw us forward and away from limited certainty into the immense world of your love. Give us the capacity to even for a moment taste the richness of the feast you give us. Give us the peace to live with uncertainty, with questions, with doubts. Help us to experience the resurrection anew with open wonder and an increasing ability to see you in the people of Easter.” – Traditional Prayer 'We praise you in this Easter season. Change our lives, change our hearts to be messengers of Easter joy and hope.” – Rev. Larry Snyder, White House Easter Prayer Breakfast, 2013'Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10'Lord, the resurrection of Your son has given us a new life and renewed hope. Help us to live as new people in pursuit of the Christian ideal.” – New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book'This morning, let us pray that we’re worthy of His many blessings, that this Nation is worthy of His many blessings. Let us promise to keep in our hearts, in our souls, in our minds, on this day and on every day, the life and lessons of Christ, our Lord.” – Barack Obama, Easter Prayer Breakfast 2013 'For flowers that bloom about our feet, For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet, For song of bird, and hum of bee, For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee!” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 'For Flowers That Bloom''Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.” – The Book of Common Prayer'Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from the bounty through Christ, Our Lord.” – Traditional Prayer'Let us gather in sanctuaries dedicated to worship and in homes blessed by family affection to express our gratitude for the glorious gifts of God.” – John F. Kennedy, Proclamation 3560'So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' – John 8:36
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Freed Thai hostages return home to celebrations and spiritual blessings after 15 months in GazaA small town in northeastern Thailand celebrated late into the night at a homecoming for two Thai hostages released from Gaza under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.
Read more »
From 10 heart attacks to heartfelt blessings, Indianapolis man shares life after receiving a heart transplantKaitlyn is an Emmy-winning anchor on Good Morning Indiana, dedicated to sharing uplifting Hoosier stories while connecting with her community every morning.
Read more »
‘Blessings and new beginnings’ for refugee-run catering company Baraka and BilalThe company was selected to be part of a city-run diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) support program, even as the new presidential administration ends support of DEI initiatives and refugees.
Read more »
Tim Allen Has 'Profound Sense of Sadness' Despite 'Many Blessings'Tim Allen opened up about weathering a 'sense of sadness' even though he currently has 'so many blessings' in his life
Read more »
Pope Francis still receiving oxygen therapy, will not read Sunday prayers: VaticanPope Francis is still receiving oxygen therapy and will not be able to read Sunday prayers, according to the Vatican. The pontiff is now entering his fourth week in Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
Read more »
90,000 Palestinians attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in JerusalemIsrael allowed men over 55 and women over 50 to enter for the prayers.
Read more »