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

On what do you build your life?

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

troubled
questioning
and amazed
“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

rejoice O hearts
that seek God’s love
for love is here
among us
joined in an Emmaeus walk
his story is told
and our eyes are opened
by the breaking of the bread
our sin
and suffering
and death
disappear
in the joy
of his light and love
and hearts
once full of fear
are full of the courage
to believe

Do you see His love in the breakin gof the bread?
Do you have the courage to believe?

Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22;John 20:11-18

cut to the heart
by His words
we repent
and enter
the streaming waters
of baptism
renewed
by the power
of the Holy Spirit
who saves
from corruption
we see the goodness
of the Lord
that fills the earth
eyes opened
our weeping ceases
and He is there
calling our name

Do you hear God calling  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

How do you experience this good news?

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

DESOLATION

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
i cry my God
why have you forsaken me

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

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

WHY THIS CROSS?

why this cross
this ornament of human suffering
in comfort and complacency
it can seem quite out of place
yet let one moment of tragedy
need or desperation come and
this cross is no longer a foreign land
but a shelter and home
a passage of power
and transformation–
is it magic–some talisman-
so it would seem
as it is forged in gold
carved in wood and fashioned in beads
strung on necks and molded on rings
held up to recoiling vampires —

yet kneeling
silently
before the cross
I hear
the whispers
and struggle
of the world
as it wrestles with its horror
its daily news
of evil and death
cruelty and selfishness
politics and greed
ideological slaughter
and mass destruction
our grieving and loss
our starvation and calamities–
earths quake and worlds fall
within the cross

we are free to place our burden there
and leave as though it were some receptacle
some garbage pit or scapegoat

yet not for long
for His whispers
and movement and life
are too compelling

He calls
over and over
to visit
this strange
place of death
that leads to Life

entering the suffering
the solitude
the darkness
of his outstretched tomb
we answer his call
to pray
to trust
to stay
until wisdom
whispers
the promise
of new life

how
long is
our
suffering-

it is
a moment
of grace—

then there is
no time
at all
no need-
we are completed
resurrected
in His love

Holy Thursday
At the Table

you are the one he loved
gathered in you followed
gathered round you shared
reclined at table you heard His voice
felt His breath
shared His laughter
received His touch
holding onto every word
you will remember
His cup
His heart
His wine
His love
He is every meal your nourishment
every meal your sustenance
all the miles walked upon this earth in time
are changed within His hands
each step renewed with His sacred touch
worn upon your feet he cleansed
to serve
to heal
to love

you are the one He loved

Isaiah 50: 4-9; Psalm 69: 8-10; 21-22, 31-34; Matthew 26: 19-25

morning
after
morning
you open
our ears
that we
may hear you
do not
let us
be lead astray
or desert you
in time
of need
for you
have been
our help
in weakness
thirst and
broken-heartedness
living
and being
with you
we are revived
we sing
a song
of life
and praise
in you

How can we remain faithful?