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Spreading Love & Hope...
Welcome to today's devotion created for your use at home during these days of physical social isolation and virtual social connection. May this devotion and the links provided help you stay connected to God and the wider community.
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Thanks to everyone who has sent in photos and prayers to share.
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Blessings & peace, Ana & Tod
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Music
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Click on the blue button to listen to the NHS choir which Valerie recommended on Sunday and sent the link to share.
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Members of Breathe Harmony, the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS staff choir run by Breathe Arts Health Research, have created an international recording of Mariah Carey's ‘Anytime You Need a Friend’ in partnership with Musical Director Mike King and MyCool Music.
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Send in your favourite music links to share.
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A Psalm a day: Psalm 14
There is no one who does good,
no, not one.
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Psalm 14 concerns itself not 'with the plight of an individual, but with the state of society as a whole.,' writes James May. Even God, looking 'down from heaven' (v 2), cannot locate one good, wise and faithful person. What a sad state of affairs.
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What about today? What might God say of humanity in April 2020? Are we seeking God or wondering if there even is a God? Are we calling upon God in our time of need, or are we turning to other solutions, finding other answers to our questions?
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God, may we find you in the midst of trial and temptation, in the midst of virus and isolation. When you see us, may we already wisely be looking for you. Amen.
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Sunday Worship on-line 10:30
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Andover, Broad Chalke & Salisbury congregations of the United Reformed Church gather for worship. Everyone is welcome. To join the Zoom worship service, click on the button above.
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Click on the blue button above to visit Worship Words for prayers and reflections related to the Lectionary Readings for this Easter season.
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The old canal, taken on Fiona's walk.
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How the Virus Stole Easter
By Kristi Bothur
With a nod to Dr. Seuss 😊
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(photo from Clare Downing)
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Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.
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People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.
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As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.
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People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.
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April approached and churches were closed.
“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.
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“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”
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Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.
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“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.
“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”
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Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.
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The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.
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“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.
“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.
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“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.
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“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.
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And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.
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But the sound wasn’t depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn’t be so!
But it grew with abundance!
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The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!
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Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!
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It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
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And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
“Just how can it be?”
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“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”
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Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
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And what happened then?
Well....the story’s not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?
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The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.
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So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.
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May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that -
Let it start a revival.
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Shared through World Day of Prayer Executive Group, Great Britain
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In case you missed it...
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Yesterdays' Daily Home Devotions
Missed a Daily Devotion? Find it here.
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Subscribe to Daily Home Devotions
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