Reflection text
This week’s service was prepared by brothers and sisters from New Yord (USA)
Easter Message 2025 – World Council of Churches[1]
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, General Secretary
Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Moderator, WCC Central Committee
Christ Is Risen, and Life Is Liberated!
“We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ… who rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (Nicene Creed)
Christians, rise up in joy! The Lord has risen, and all creation is freed for a new vitality.[…]
In this Special Ecumenical Year, we mark anniversaries important to the Church—like that of the Council of Nicaea (325)[…]—and coincidentally all Christians will celebrate Easter on the same day. Could it not always be so, with a common feast of Easter, the heart of our shared faith?It would be a profound sign of reconciliation and a tangible expression of the unity for which Christ prayed. It would also spur more common witness: speaking truth to power and engaging in joint action for justice, peace, and reconciliation, fired by the promise, “if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5).
In a world where despair often feels stronger than hope, and fragmentation is more visible than fellowship, the Church is not called to retreat—but to witness boldly, joyfully, in one accord. To proclaim the resurrection is to resist the powers of death. To believe in the Risen Christ is to offer a living hope—a hope that is not deferred, but present, active, and at work in our lives, our deeds, and our world. A hope that enters the brokenness of the world with hands ready to heal and hearts ready to forgive.
So let us go forth as witnesses to the resurrection—not only in word, but in life. […] For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
[1] https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/easter-message-2025
Intercessions
1. Many participants of the Chemin Neuf Community’s training programs in Spain, Ivory Cost, France and United States are entering, during these days, into the Ignatian Exercice Retreat in the monastery of Bethanien. They are coming from different countries and ecclesial backgrounds to pray and serve together.
Lord, may these steps towards greater unity help push back any obstacles that prevent your children from welcoming your love.
We pray for the retreatants, that you may fulfill their deepest desire for your presence, guidance and truth on their lives. We pray for the spiritual companions, that they may receive from you the grace of an open heart, full of compassion.
2. The Anglican Communion is worldwide network of Anglican churches in over 165 countries. Its unity in diversity is maintained through different so-called ‘instruments’ of Communion, which include certain leadership roles and working groups. These include the role of Archbishop of Canterbury and the work of the Lambeth Conference.
Lord, we pray for your election of the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Bring wisdom and insight to the candidates and interviewers. Inspire those who are seeking to reformulate the role as an instrument of unity.
We pray for the reception and incarnation of the work of the 2022 Lambeth Conference across the Communion, especially as it pertains to the issues of climate emergency, war, and poverty.
3. The United States is a nation built by immigrants. This is as true today as it was when it was founded. There are nearly 50 million foreign born immigrants currently living in the US — more than 11 million of those are undocumented and 4 million of whom are refugees and asylum seekers. The Church has always been at the helm of welcoming foreigners and continues to faithfully do this work today.
Lord Jesus, we pray that you would open hearts and hands to receive refugees and asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution, war, and all other forms of violence. We ask for your protection in their search for safety.
Father, we ask to always have a posture of remembrance. Your Son, the beloved Christ, was a refugee, whose family fled from Bethlehem to Egypt for safety. Give us the grace to see all immigrants in our lands as bearers of the image of God.
We pray that the Church would be people who always provide sanctuaries of refuge and embrace all who may come to the United States with the love of Christ.