BECOMING A BELOVED COMMUNITY
A Matthew 25 Journey to the Cross
(published by Presbyterians Today)
2.26.20 Ash Wednesday
Isaiah
58:6-7 (GNT)
“The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of
oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free.
Share
your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor.
Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to
help your own relatives.
Who are my neighbors?
Those who make me uncomfortable
As I blindly ignore
Open
my eyes, Lord, open my heart to act, to the injustice around me.
Amen.
2.27.20
Psalm 51:4-6 MSG
You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen
the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
You know my faults, God.
Turn me inside out with truth
Help me to heart-hear
Open
my ears, Lord, to hear your voice of truth. Amen.
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| Background Photo from "50 Prayers of Creation Praise" by Ginger |
2.28.20
Jonah 4:9-11 GNT
But God said to him,
“What right do you have to be angry about the plant?”
Jonah replied, “I have every
right to be angry—angry enough to die!”
The Lord said to him, “This plant grew up in one night and
disappeared the next; you didn't do anything for it and you didn't
make it grow—yet you feel sorry for it! How much more, then, should
I have pity on Nineveh, that great city. After all, it has more than
120,000 innocent children in it, as well as many animals!”
When we’re under stress
One small event can tip the scales
And anger erupts
Breathe
the calming quiet of your love to ease my stress, Lord. Amen.
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| Background Photo from "50 Prayers of Creation Praise" by Ginger |
2.29.20
Luke 13:15-16 MSG
But
Jesus shot back, “You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you
regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for
water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me
to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where
Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?”
Sabbath-law broken
To serve and heal the broken
Live by Christ’s Love-law
Like a frozen branch
Sabbath laws hold us pris’ner
From living Love laws
Lead
me, Lord, to serve and live freely within the bounds of Love laws.
Amen.
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| Background Photo by Rick! |
3.1.20 First
Sunday in Lent
Genesis 4:7 GNT
If
you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you
have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you,
but you must overcome it.”
Rather than fighting
Could we discuss our diff’rence
Within bonds of love?
Help
me, Lord, to resist the urge to be right, and listen with love to
others. Amen.
3.2.20
Acts 8:26-30, 35-38 MSG
Later God’s angel
spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that
desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” He got up and
went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had
been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia,
where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen
of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet
Isaiah.
The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up
alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do
you understand what you’re reading?”
…. Philip
grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus
to him.
As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water.
The eunuch said, “Here’s water. Why can’t I be baptized?” He
ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and
Philip baptized him on the spot.
May we break down walls
That separate the outcast
From community
3.3.20
Romans 12:10-13 MSG
Love from the center
of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on
for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice
playing second fiddle.
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert
servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard
times; pray all the harder.
Open
yourself up
Be
a friend who loves deeply
Hospitality
3.4.20
Galatians 3:28 MSG
In
Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew,
slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal.
We
are all equal -
With
the same needs and desires
One
Love-Family
3.5.20
Romans 8:26 MSG
Meanwhile,
the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right
alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray,
it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer
out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
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| Background Photo: Sunrise from front porch of High Country Lane |
3.6.20
2Corinthians 12:9 MSG
My
grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once
I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the
handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s
strength moving in on my weakness.
When I am in doubt
Troubled, feel inadequate
God then moves to work
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| Background Photo: North wall of Echo Amphitheater near Ghost Ranch, NM |
In
my weakness, Lord, strengthen me to serve and build a loving
community. Amen.
3.7.20
Luke 12:13-15 MSG
Someone out of the
crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of
the family inheritance.”
He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my
business to be a judge or mediator for you?”
Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself
against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have,
even when you have a lot.”
Open heart and purse-string
Build community, not barns
Generosity
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| Background Photo: Embudo Creek near Farmhouse B&B in Dixon, NM |
Help
me use the generosity of your blessings, God, to build relationships
of love. Amen.
3.8.20
Luke 14:12-13 MSG
Then
he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t
just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of
people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get
invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll
be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the
favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be
returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.”
Reach out and invite
Those who can't return the gift
God's blessings on you!
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| Background Photo: Peaks of the San de Cristo Mountains north of Chama, NM |
May
I extend my beloved community beyond that which is comfortable, O
God. Amen.
3.9.20
1John
4:20-21 MSG
If
anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother
or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love
the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The
command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving
people. You’ve got to love both.
A simple command:
Love God, love ev'ryone else
You have to love both
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| Background Photo: Wall decor at Embudo Presbyterian Church, Dixon, NM with image from Lester Casias' retaldo paintings superimposed. |
May
my love for you, Lord, extend to everyone I encounter. Amen.
3.10.20
Luke
10:36-37 MSG (Good Samaritan story)
“What
do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man
attached by robbers?” The one who treated him kindly, the religion
scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same”.
Respond
to distress
Be
a Good Samaritan
Always
help others
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| Background Phohto: Internet Source |
Open
my eyes, Lord, to see the needs of those around me and respond as
Jesus commands. Amen.
3.11.20
Luke
21:4 GNT
For
the others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their
riches; but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on.”
Give not from what's spare
Give from the depths of your heart
Even just two coins
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| Background Photo: Internet Source |
May
I freely give, Lord, from the heart and not from my abundance. Amen.
3.12.20
Psalm
23:1-3 MSG
God
my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in
lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your
word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
We need quiet spaces
To catch our Creation breath
And converse with God
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| Background photo by Val Nitsche, CAV friend: Tonto National Monument |
Grant
us, Lord, the space to experience your created world and better
discern our role in your Creation. Amen.
3.13.20
John
1:5 MSG
What
came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t
put it out.
Life was born with Light
The Life-Light that blazed into being
Darkness can't defeat
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| Background photo by Ginger: Light shafts in Southern Oregon coast forest |
Help
us remember, God, you are the source of light and love as we go out
to serve you. Amen.
3.14.20
Matthew
18:5 GNT
And
whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me.
Welcome the children
they are Jesus in disguise
Love in tiny form
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| Background image: Internet source |
God
of strangers and outsiders, help us to welcome all with open arms and
love. Amen.
3.15.20
Matthew
14:14-16 (Feeding of Five Thousand)
Jesus
had compassion on them….and said, “Don’t send them away. You
yourselves give them something to eat.”
May
I make it my personal responsibility, Lord, to feed the hungry around
me. Amen.
3.16.20
James
1:27 GNT
What
God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to
take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep
oneself from being corrupted by the world.
Take
that which God gives
And
multiply to help all
In
distress and need
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| Background Image by Ginger: Saguaro National Park, Rincon Mt District |
God,
open our eyes so that we may see those who need our care and love in
your name. Amen.
3.17.20
Luke
24:32-33 GNT
They
said to each other, “Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he
talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” They
got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the
eleven disciples gathered together with the others.
Fam’lies
united
After
years of separation
Lessons
for the world
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| Background Image by Ginger: Saguaro National Park East |
Lord
of new beginnings, thank you for bringing together the broken and
reconciling mankind. Amen.
3.18.20
Matthew
25:37-40 MSG
‘Master,
what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed
you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick
or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m
telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to
someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
To
the least of these…
Hear
the command of Jesus
Strangers
no longer
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| Background Image by Ginger: Hoodoos on Catalina Highway, Mt. Lemmon, Arizona |
Creator
God, giver of all that we need, grant us and abundance of generosity
to be able to give and to care. Amen.
3.19.20
Luke
14:13-14 GNT
When
you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the
blind; and you will be blessed, because they are
not able to pay you back. God will repay you on the day the good
people rise from death.”
In
ev’ry matter
Serve
those who cannot repay
Blessings
will follow
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| Background Image by Ginger: Leaf skeleton, Marshall Gulch Trail, Mt. Lemmon |
Give
us the boldness, Lord, to risk our comfortable lives and open our
churches and homes to those we think will bring us discomfort. Amen.
3.20.20
Isaiah
58:6-7 GNT
The
kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and
the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your
food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give
clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help
your own relatives.
Loosen
unjust bonds
Feed
the hungry, tend the sick
All
are our brothers
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| Background Photo by Ginger: Building a CHRPA ramp in Tucson, AZ |
Help
us, O God, to see those who are “fenced-off” and dehumanized.
Teach us to love as you have loved us. Amen.
3.21.20
Deuteronomy
31:6 MSG
“Be
strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a
second thought because God,
your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He
won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”
Fear
not the stranger
Embrace
one ‘nother in love
For
fear begets more fear
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| Background Photo from an old book of Pacific NW images |
Grant
us, God, strength in the face of fear and wisdom to seek
understanding. Amen.
3.22.20
Joshua
1:6 MSG
Strength!
Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I
promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart
and soul.
Strength! Courage! Be leaders
God is with our community
Trust in God's presence
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| Background Photo by Bob McLean (one of my dad's slide memories - Sierra Nevada mountains) |
Lord,
grant us the courage, passion and vision to reach beyond the walls of
our comfort zone. Amen.
3.23.20
Ezekiel
3:5 GNT
So
I came to Tel Abib beside the Chebar River, where the exiles were
living, and for seven days I stayed there, overcome by what I had
seen and heard.
The
quilt of mankind:
Many
shapes, colors, sizes
Shared
humanity
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| Background Photo by Ginger: Rock Lake along Continental Divide Trail, Colorado |
Lord,
continue to remind us that we are bound together in this beautiful
fabric of a shared humanity. Amen.
3.24.20
Mark
2:3 MSG
They
brought a paraplegic to him [Jesus], carried by four men.
Be
the helping hand
Now...more
than ever, reach out
Connect
with neighbor
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| Background Image: Internet |
Guide
us, Lord, to see the resources you provide to enable us to help one
another. Amen.
3.25.20
Psalm
139:2-3 MSG
I’m
an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m
thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never
out of your sight.
God
knows me deeply
Do
I take the time to learn
My
neighbors as well?
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| Background Image: Internet |
May I give my neighbors and strangers the same gracious loving attention you bestow, O God. Amen.
3.26.20
1Corinthians
13:12 MSG
We
don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering
through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and
the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly
as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
A
pandemic fog
Blurs
our vision; clouds our hearts
Shine
through the darkness!
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| Background Image: Internet |
God
of mercy, help us to see ourselves completely. Strengthen us for the
long night of uncertainty ahead. Amen.
3.27.20
Mark
2:11-12 MSG
“Get
up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got
up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there
watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised
God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”
Search
within oneself
Discover
the innate gifts
Then
use them to serve
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| Background Image: Internet |
Help
us, O God, to remove the barriers that prevent people from using the
gifts you have granted. Amen.
3.28.20
1Corinthians
12:6-7 MSG
Each
person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets
in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by
the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful…..
We
all have God-gifts
Ready
to be shared with all
Do
I let light shine?
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| Background Image by Ginger: Sunlight filtering through Oregon Coast forest |
Open
our eyes, Lord, to notice and acknowledge the many gifts you give to
all of us. Amen.
3.29.20
Mark
10:17, 21-22 MSG
“Good
Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”…Jesus looked
him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing
left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your
wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” The
man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to
hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight
to a lot of things, and not about to let go.
Am
I holding tight?
Trappings
don’t really matter
Just
follow Jesus
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| Background Image from Internet |
God
of enough, help us to imagine and preserve a world where there is
enough for everyone. Amen.
3.30.20
1
Peter 2:24 MSG
He
used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be
rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your
healing
See
the light shining
Through
the cracks of sinful wounds
Love
is thus revealed
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| Background Image by Internet |
May
we celebrate the cracks in our lives, Lord, knowing they are the
places where love is revealed. Amen.
3.31.20
John
8:31-32 GNT
“If
you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Freedom of truth comes
When we hear oppressed voices
And respond with love
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| Background Image Internet source |
Open
my ears, Lord, to the truth spoken by the voices of those hurting
around me. Amen.
4.1.20
1John
3:17 MSG
If
you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do
something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what
happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
Our world is hurting
We who can must show God's love
No cold shoulders turned
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| Background Image edited internet source |
God
of love, help me to love with generosity from my abundance. Amen.
4.2.20
Matthew
5:42 GNT
When
someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to
borrow something, lend it to him.
It's a simple fact:
The Lord provides, we supply
Give what is needed!
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| Background Image Internet Source |
Reassure
me, Lord, that you provide all I need to be a generous friend to
strangers. Amen.
4.3.20
Mark
14:7 Voice
The
poor will always be with you, and you can show kindness to them
whenever you want. But I won’t always be with you.
Be intentional
Seek the tale behind the face
LOOK for ways to help
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| Background Photo by Giunger: Thousand Springs, Idaho |
Dear
Lord, please help me to intenbtionally look for people I can help.
Amen.
4.4.20
Psalm
118:26-29 MSG
Blessed
are you who enter in God’s name—from God’s house we bless you!
Thank God—he’s so good. His love never quits!
Covid means entry
To God's Creation house, but
His love never quits!
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| Background Photo by Luke Rembold: Mount Rainer, Washington |
Remind
me, Lord, of the community of your Love that bind us together. Amen.
4.5.20
Palm Sunday
Romans
12:6a Voice
Since
our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it
is important that
we exercise the gifts we
have been given.
We all can wave palms
The gift of praise is in all -
From our home...of course!
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| Background Image: Internet source |
God,
help me look beyond the surface to the gifts you have bestowed in
all. Amen.
4.6.20
Monday of Holy Week
Luke
10:29 MSG
Looking
for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define
‘neighbor’?”
Who IS my neighbor?
Just the known friend next door? No!
Beyond comfort zone!
Just the known friend next door? No!
Beyond comfort zone!
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| Background Image: Internet source |
4.7.20
Tuesday of Holy Week
Leviticus
19:34a Voice
You
must treat the outsider as one of your native-born people—as a full
citizen—and you are to love him in the same way you love yourself;
Outsider? Neighbor?
Treat all in the same manner:
With LOVE as God loves
Treat all in the same manner:
With LOVE as God loves
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| Background Image: Internet source of the daffodils I wish were more than 2" tall in my yard! |
Loving
God, help us invite all to the table that Christ has set for us.
Amen.
4.8.20
Wednesday of Holy Week
1
John 3:17 GNT
If
we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against
them, how can we claim that we love God?
We who have plenty
Must open our hearts to the poor
Share God's love and grace
Must open our hearts to the poor
Share God's love and grace
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| Background Image Internet source: Tulips I can no longer grow that were abundant in our old house (deer eat them here!) |
4.9.20
Maundy Thursday
John
13:15-16 Voice
I
am your example; keep doing what I do. I tell you the truth: a
servant is not greater than the master. Those who are sent are not
greater than the one who sends them.
We are all servants
Washing feet, feeding hungry
One God, Lord, Master
Washing feet, feeding hungry
One God, Lord, Master
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| Background Image: Internet Source |
4.10.20
Good Friday
Luke
14:27-28 MSG
Anyone
who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my
disciple.
I am afraid, Lord
Crosses are heavy, painful
It's hard to follow
Crosses are heavy, painful
It's hard to follow
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| Background Image: Internet Source |
4.11.20
Holy Saturday
Mark
15:34, 36-37 MSG
At
three o’clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly,
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God,
why have you abandoned me?”
…. But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath.
At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle.
Temple curtain rips
Nothing divides us from God
Christ, the sacrifice
Nothing divides us from God
Christ, the sacrifice
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| Background Image Internet source |
4.12.20
Easter Sunday
Matthew
28:1-6 MSG
After
the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly
the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came
down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He
rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed
from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb
were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.
The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear
here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the
cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said.
The church is empty
But we can rejoice because
The tomb was also!
But we can rejoice because
The tomb was also!
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| Background Image Internet Source plus my butterflies |
