Acts 4: 13-21; Psalm 118: 1 and 14-21; Mark 16: 9-15

speaking to
our hardness
of heart
our unbelief
you release
our life
from death
and give
strength
courage
mercy
and goodness
to our days
this love
available freely
to all
God’s justice…
it is impossible
not to speak
about what
we have seen
and heard

What have you seen and heard?

Acts 4: 1-12; Psalm 118: 1-27; John 21: 1-14

again
and again
you come
to us
showing yourself
alive
in our lives
some mercy
some healing
some forgiveness
that speaks
of your Presence
that lives
beyond
your cross
beyond your death
a grace
that announces
aha!
yes!
this is the Christ
with us
God with us
Holy Spirit with us
this is the love
upon which we build
our lives

When and where do you experience his Presence?

Acts 3: 11-26; Psalm 8: 2-9; Luke 24: 35-48

“And he said
To them,
thus it is
written
that the Christ
would suffer
and rise
from the dead
on the third day
and that
repentance
for the forgiveness
of sins
would be preached
in his name
to all nations
beginning
from Jerusalem.
you are witnesses
of these things….”

Why are you troubled?

Why do you have questions in your hearts?

Why are you amazed?

Acts 3: 1-10; Psalm 105: 1-9; Luke 24: 13-35

our hearts
burning within
we see you
in bread
blessed
broken
and shared
a life
given
as a gift
that we
may know
another way
raised up
at the Beautiful Gate
we rejoice
and sing
and praise
the good news
that we seek
to serve

Have you felt your heart burning with God’s word?

Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-22; John 20: 11-18

released
from time
and its
distortions
we see
the Holy Spirit
given
in kindness
and goodness
loving justice
and right
born from
eternity
made manifest
to each generation
we weep no more
and embrace
the goodness
of the Lord

How do you see the goodness of the Lord?

Acts 2: 14-33; Psalm 16: 1-11; Matthew 28: 8-15

an empty tomb
death to life
we let go
of our fear
and live
in the Holy Spirit
taking counsel
from this
presence
freed from
the bondage
of sin
and suffering
and death
we rejoice
and go forth
and live
this good news

How do you experience this good news?

Acts 10:34, 37-43; Ps. 118;1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4; Cor 5:6-8; John 20: 1-9

she seeks
the tomb
of her sorrow
only to find
stone rolled away
shroud fallen
she cries
“where have they
put my lord”
the empty tomb
answers all
for what God
has given
cannot be put
to death
Son of Man
doer of good
healer
frees the oppression
and rises
in flesh and spirit
above

compassionate judge
of the truth
in our hearts
we stretch
and reach
into the above
into mind of God
leaven
we receive
the bread of life
then Christ
his life appears
and we are with Him
in Glory

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

How does the Risen Christ live in your life?

this day
of emptiness
confusion
and longing
his agony
turned
our own
no longer
to hear his voice
feel his touch
follow his step
where has love gone?

he was our Life
our hope
our light
our answer
and now
we are lost
who are we now?

my heart on fire
with grief
who will
console me
there are no words
for this
my sorrow

to see him
broken
bleeding
we cry
my God
why have you
forsaken me

this day
this Life
without Him
we cannot bear
day of poverty
when
we are nothing
we have nothing
filled
with the emptiness
for we have seen
all Love
and now
he is gone

wrapped in his tomb
embraced in darkness
we have died with him
no light
no thought
of life

Have you felt forsaken by God?