Easter Reflection and Prayers

Walking the Desert Road – by Mark Liebenow

After the horror of Good Friday, after the utter despair of Holy Saturday, after the unexpected joy of Easter Sunday, came Monday morning when the disciples wondered what they were to do now.
The future they had envisioned had come crashing down, and their leader, the person they loved, was gone. But they had changed because of him and, sink or swim, they were resolved to continue on and make the dream real. At this point, they didn’t know what was going to happen, but they headed into the desert and began to create a new life.
As they walked on the road, they found other people heading in the same direction. They shared with each other their struggles and what helped them get through each day, and they felt strengthened and encouraged. No longer were they alone. In those days a long time ago, it took them time to learn how to be a community. With the help of others, they kept the dream alive.
Our journey begins here every year, every day, here in the desert where nothing seems certain, doing the best we can, yet knowing that things seldom go as well as planned. It is here where Monday becomes Tuesday, then Wednesday, and then the rest of our lives.

Prayers of the Congregation

• Darshan and Geetha Thaker
• Margaret Alexander and family
• Marian Ott (health)
• Bruce Quan (health)
• Dave Gattey (health)
• Sandra Dunn (health)
• Alice Edmondson (health)
• Chuck Johnston’s dad (health)
• Ryan Parker for his dad (health)
• Myra Saxton for Margaret (health)
• John Giles as he ministers and preaches at many churches
• Emma Gordon for her son
• Sheila Zack
• Roxanne Jones for herself and her family
• Helen Harrison for Jennifer and family
• Tyrone Mack for his family
• Larry Sims for his family
• The global community as we mourn Winnie Mandela
• The family of Stephon Clark (slain by Sacramento police officers) as they mourn and seek justice
• Rev. Alvin Herring, who begins his role as Executive Director of  PICO (Faith in Action) on May 1
• The homeless residents of our community
• The immigrant residents of our community
• The people of Gaza, Palestine and Israel