Easter 2019

TO LEAVE AND REMAIN… Part 1
The sky turned black.
The world watched…. and waited.
Jesus’ time seemed to be up.
He’d gathered with his friends, shared their final meal together.
“I will soon have to leave you” he said.
He’d gone to pray in the garden,
“Father, let this suffering leave me” he prayed.
Then he was betrayed.
handed over, put on trial.
His disciples scattered, leaving Jesus alone.
‘Crucify Him’ the crowd shouted.
So he was. Stripped. Flogged.
Marched up the hill.
And there, there he was killed.
Hung from a cross and left to die.
Jesus had left.
His followers lost.
What to do now that Jesus no longer remained with them?

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​TO LEAVE AND REMAIN… Part 2
The Sun rose.
The world awoke.
Another day.
The past week’s event almost forgotten.
Not for his followers.
The women gathered early.
Jesus might have left, but his body remained.
So they headed out to the tomb.
When they got there, the stone had moved and the body was gone.
All that remained were the burial clothes.
Now nothing remained. All had been taken.
And then, as Mary sat weeping,
Jesus appeared.
Alive.
He didn’t leave.
Somehow he remained.
Mary ran to the others, told them Jesus lived.
They struggled to believe.
And then, then Jesus appeared.
I am alive, he declared.
“Now I must leave, I can’t be with you in person any longer.
But my Spirit will remain with you always.”
To this day, by his Spirit, Jesus remains.
Transforming lives and communities through his unconditional love,
and longing for us to remain in him and experience his love

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