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

Upon what do you build your life?

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

“Why are you troubled?
Why do questions arise in your heart?”

look-
see Him
and let peace
be with you
He has risen
repentance
and forgiveness
are here
in His name
for all
who can see
a Glory shines
from heaven
over all the earth
accept the gift
of His love of all

“Why are you troubled?
Why do questions arise in your heart?”

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

our hearts
are burning
and rejoicing
as we recognize
God within
and among us
sharing
wisdom
life
and bread
so that we
may not feel
abandoned
in a world
that often breeds
fear and greed
hatred and murder
He is our beautiful gate
where we return
to health
forgiven
strong
filled with faith
and love

Where is your beautiful gate?
Who meets you at the beautiful gate?

Acts 1:36-41; Psalms 33:4-5,18-22; John 20:11-18

in emptiness
we weep
thinking
all is lost
until a voice asks
who are you looking for?
hearing God
call our name
we are found
in God’s voice
alive
and well
freed
from death
we live
in the moment
of awakening
to the Goodness
of God
that fills
the earth

Do you hear God call your name?

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
in God
is all of our hope
we take refuge there

How do you experience this good news?
Where do you take refuge?

EASTER MORNING
AT THE TOMB

you are the one
he loved
at the empty tomb
shroud fallen
your heart
awakened
by belief
for love has risen
beyond this time
beyond this place
stone rolled away
His freedom soars
from boundaries
and we begin
anew
love reborn
into eternal
moments
He is known
He is seen
everywhere
each heart
His own
His heart
our own
the empty tomb
answers all
for what God
has given
cannot be put
to death
you are the one
he loves
and death is
no more

AT THE TOMB

you are the one he loved
at the empty tomb
shroud fallen
your heart awakened by belief
for love has risen
beyond this time
beyond this place
stone rolled away
his freedom soars
from boundaries
and we begin anew
love reborn
into eternal moments
He is known
He is seen
everywhere
each heart His own
His heart our own
the empty tomb answers all
for what God has given
cannot be put to death
you are the one he loves
and death is no more

Gen : 1-1.1;Gen 1. 1-18;Exod 14.15-15.1; Isa 54 5-13;Isa 55.1-11;Ba3:9-15
Ba 3.32-4.4; Ezek 36.16-28; Romans 6: 3-11; Luke 24. 1-12

in our sorrow
we come to remember
who we are
made in goodness
made for goodness
we remember
the voice of God
whose desire is mercy
not sacrifice
who would save a son
and part the seas
whose enduring love
quenches
our desert thirst
from wisdom’s fountain
we remember
we are made
from eternal life
and light
entering
the darkness of His death
we arise anew
as sea of death
is parted
new heart
new spirit
we no longer seek
the living
among the dead
we live
as the one He loved

Do you remember who you are?
Have you risen with His love?

Before the Vigil

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?

our hearts on fire
with grief
who will
console us
there are no words
for this
our sorrow

to see Him
broken
bleeding
we cry
my God
why have you
forsaken us

this day
this Life
without Him
we cannot bear
day of poverty
when we are nothing
we have nothing
filled
with 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?