“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”  Matthew 28:6   

We pray for the whole Christian church on earth as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior on Easter Day.  Praise our resurrected Lord for defeating sin and death and Satan on our behalf.  Thank God for the “new lease on life” that is our because Jesus rose from the grave.  Ask that we experience the full joy of the Easter gospel not just today, but every day!

• Dear Lord, In Your wisdom you called home to heaven last Sunday on Easter, Doug Schnell’s father, Royal. Comfort Doug and Sue and all his loved ones with the joyous truth of the resurrection and the confidence that they will one day be gloriously reunited.
• As the Wichman family remembers Jeff, who would have celebrated his birthday this week, remind them of your Easter promises that give them confidence of their reunion with him one day in heaven. Give Jeff’s family true peace knowing and relying on Jesus’ words, “Because I live, you also will live.”
• God of mercy, protect Ellie Lembcke as she bounces back from hip replacement surgery. Likewise, watch over Diane Clark ask she recovers from pancreatitis. Grant them patience and persistence during this time of healing.
• We include Bob & Shirley Laabs, celebrating their 6^th anniversary this week. Grant their family many blessings, as you lavish them with many more years of your unfailing love.    We praise you, Lord, as Armand and Ruth Goeden celebrate their 66^th wedding anniversary. Continue to be their source of strength and hold them secure in your caring hands. Guard and protect them, both body and soul. Give them joy as they recount your blessings through these years and peace as they live each day secure in your love and promises.
• We join Pete Suelflow and his whole family in an intense concern for his daughter, Rebekah, who was taken to St. Luke’s to diagnose and treat what appears to be a brain aneurysm. Guard her life, dear Lord.
• We rejoice and give thanks, along with the entire Reel family as Ron and Sue’s son, Brandon, and his wife, Sarah, welcomed into their family their new son, Logan James, this past week. We are grateful that both mother and son are doing well and ask, dear Lord, that you keep young Logan in your tender care and grace. Gladden their home and life with this new son.
• Lord, we praise you as Armand & Ruth Goeden celebrate their 66^th wedding anniversary. Continue to be their source of strength and hold them secure in your caring hands. Guard and protect them, both body and soul. Give them joy as they recount your blessings through these years and peace as they live each day secure in your love and promises.
• Our prayers of concern for Lance Backhaus, Jeremiah’s father, who is in ICU at the hospital with a brain bleed, have been answered. He is making good progress, and join the family in thanking you for sparing him.  No one knows the extent of the injury yet, so we entrust him to your loving care and continue to pray for his full recovery.

 Brazil – Lord Jesus, thank you for watching over our two Brazilian national pastors and the work they do to tell the people of Brazil about you. Give them wisdom, perseverance, patience, and zeal as they take up their new responsibilities to lead this small group of believers. Fill their congregations with strength, creativity, and your guidance as they seek to do your work and carry out your ministry. Let the preaching of the gospel bear much fruit so that these congregations will grow and flourish. In your name we pray, Amen.