Easter Dinner Prayer

I wrote the following prayer for Easter dinner yesterday, and I prayed it with the sixteen family members I had visiting. When I was done, my five year old niece started clapping. I don't think I've ever received applause for a prayer I prayed before. I guess that's truly having the faith of a child. Since someone here was clearly moved by it, I thought someone else out there might enjoy it, too.

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God our Father, Creator of all, today is the day of Easter joy.

This is the morning on which the Lord appeared to those who had begun to lose hope and opened their eyes to what the scriptures foretold: that first He must die, and then He would rise and ascend into His Father's glorious presence.

By raising Christ your Son You conquered the power of death and opened for us the way to eternal life. Let our celebration today raise us up and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us.

May the risen Lord breathe on our minds and open our eyes that we may know Him in the breaking of this bread;
that we may know Him in the fellowship of the Spirit;
that we may know Him in the love of our family and friends;
and that we may know Him as we follow Him each day in His risen life.

We ask that you grant these things through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.