Our partners from Vanuatu Christian Council and Tonga National Council of Churches, share beautiful prayers of reflection for Easter. Our prayer, today and always, is that together we can create a world where people uprooted by conflict and disaster have a safe place to belong. May these holy words inspire you to lift up our Pacific neighbours in prayer and also guide you in how to prayer for your own community, nation and the world.
By: Ps Bernard Yalimyau, Secretary General, Vanuatu Christian Council, Port Vila, Vanuatu
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25
Heavenly Father, Creator of our islands and oceans,
On this holy Easter season, we gather as Your people
from the shores of our islands, the highlands, and the reefs
with thankful hearts.
We celebrate the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ
the One who brings life stronger than death,
hope deeper than sorrow,
and light that no darkness can overcome.
Lord, today we lift up our beloved nation, Vanuatu, into Your faithful hands.
Father God,
You are the God of our ancestors and the Lord of all creation.
Bless our islands from Torres to Aneityum with peace that binds us together as one people.
Strengthen us as we face rising seas, strong cyclones,
and the struggles of daily life.
As the dawn breaks over our ocean each morning,
let Your resurrection power bring new life to our land.
Restore what has been damaged, renew our strength,
and guide our nation into a future filled with hope and unity.
Lord Jesus,
You welcomed the children and lifted up the weak.
Today we remember the vulnerable among us
our children, our women, our men,
and those living with disabilities.
Protect them like the strong roots of the banyan tree.
Provide for their needs through loving families and communities.
May they grow in dignity, safety, and joy
knowing they are precious in Your sight.
Let no one be forgotten in our islands.
Compassionate God,
We bring before You those without shelter,
those whose homes and lives have been taken by disasters,
or whose daily lives are filled with uncertainty.
Be their refuge like the shade of the coconut tree,
their provider like the ocean that feeds us.
Move our hearts as communities to share what we have,
to open our homes,
and to care for one another as family.
In our Melanesian way, may no one stand alone.
Lord of Life,
Strengthen our communities
our villages, churches, and urban settlements.
Bind us together in respect, unity, and love.
Heal conflicts, restore relationships,
and help us walk together in unity.
May our communities be like well-tended gardens
fruitful, strong, and full of life
reflecting Your goodness in all we do.
Father,
We lift up the young people of Vanuatu
the future leaders of our islands.
Fill them with vision like the wide ocean before them,
and courage like the waves that never stop moving.
Protect them from harmful paths,
and guide them in wisdom and truth.
May they stand strong in faith and culture,
rising to bring transformation, peace, and hope to our nation.
Lord of the Church,
We pray for pastors, elders, and all church leaders
serving across our islands.
Strengthen them as shepherds of Your people.
Give them wisdom, humility, and endurance.
May Your Church in Vanuatu be a shining light
bringing hope in times of disaster,
love in times of need, and truth in every season.
Let the Church lead with faith and action.
Righteous God,
We lift up our leaders
those entrusted to guide our nation.
Grant them wisdom like Solomon,
integrity in their decisions,
and hearts that seek justice for all people.
Help them to govern with humility and fairness,
to protect the vulnerable,
and to care well for the land and people of Vanuatu.
Risen Lord Jesus,
Just as You rose from the grave,
let new life rise across our islands.
Bring healing where there is pain,
hope where there is despair,
and restoration where there is loss.
From the smallest village to the highest office,
may Your resurrection power flow through Vanuatu.
Let our nation stand strong in faith,
rooted in love, and united as one people under You.
For You are our life, our hope, and our future.
In Jesus mighty name we pray,
Amen.
by Rev Ikani Taliai Tolu, General Secretary, Tonga National Council of Churches, Nuku’alofa.
Heavenly Father Creator of sea and shores,
On this Easter morning we gather as islands and atolls, families and communities, hearts turned to the risen Christ.
We thank You for Jesus, His suffering that bore our sins and His rising that brings new life, hope and light to our homes and our islands.
Bless our islands, our churches, our chiefs and elders, our mothers and fathers, our young ones and those gone before.
May the breath of Your Spirit sweep over the lagoons and mountains, heal what is broken, mend relationships, and renew our courage to love one another.
Give us wisdom to care for the land and sea that feed us. Help us to share food, shelter and kindness with those in need, and to stand together for justice and peace across our ocean homes.
As the dawn breaks over the water, let the promise of resurrection strengthen our faith, lift our voices in praises, and move us to serve with humble hearts. May the joy of Easter bind our communities in hope now and always.
In the name of Jeasu risen and living among us,
Amen.
Image Credits: