#Resurrection Stories

[cyeayt]

Shout out to Characters who are shells of their former selves! You died and you’re not coming back! You don’t recognize yourself and neither does anyone else, and it’s anyone’s guess what the fuck you’re supposed to be now!

[colorful-horses]

monster high

[firstumcschenectady]

"God is Good!" by Sylvester Doyer based on Psalm 150.

Introduction: This month of April in 2024 marks the 40 year anniversary of Sylvester's diagnosis with HIV. In 1984 the diagnosis was seen as a death sentence, and indeed almost everyone diagnosed then died. Somehow, and we don't know, Sylvester didn't. In 2007/8 he came very close, and was lying in a hospital bed with 1 T-cell left expecting the end had come. But, somehow, and we don't know how, it didn't. He celebrates the love of his long time partner and now husband Denis who was the embodiment of God's grace pulling him through. This sharing is in three pieces. First words written decades ago by now Bishop Karen Oliveto for World AIDS day; second a prayer combing the sermon with the baptism we'd shared in just before the sermon; and third the sermon itself. For those in need of a reminder that there can be hope when it seems like hope has fled, may these words of gratitude penetrate your very being. - Pastor Sara Baron

*Call to Worship1 “World AIDS Day Liturgies” Karen Oliveto

One:   How have you come to this time and place?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   How has your heart weathered the many losses of ffriends and l overs?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   How has your mind grappled with the constant specter of death?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   How has your soul maintained wholeness?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's not because of government support;

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's not because of the research and medical communities;

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's not because of the health insurance companies;

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's because of the grace of God.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's because of the presence of Christ.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's because of the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   We've come this far because the love of God is made visible through the care of lovers, friends, family, and caregivers.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   We've come this far because nothing, nothing at all can separate us from this love.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   We've come this far by faith, and we will go even farther, knowing that in every step we take,

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   In every burden we carry,

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   In every setback we face,

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   Our God is a constant presence on which we can lean.

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   We can trust in God's presence.

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   Alleluia! Amen!

Many: Amen and amen!

Prayer Before Sermon

We come before you Creator of all, thanking you for allowing us to see another day. Thank you for allowing us to plant our feet on solid ground and start on our way. We thank you and acknowledge that you didn’t have to allow us to wake this morning, but you did, and we thank you. In the mist of all that is happening in the world today we cry out Father I stretch my hand to thee and you hear us. As a reminder that you are ever near and ever listening to us Lord you are constantly giving us signs of your loving presence. This morning, we thank you for putting in our midst such a sign in the little one Koa, who we welcome into your family this morning through his baptism. We pray for his parents that they maybe a source of strength and guidance for Koa so that as he grows, he may know nothing but caring and love from them and everyone around him. Amen

Sermon

We all have a tendency when times get rough to seek comfort from anywhere and anyone around us. If you are spiritual, we usually turn to the man upstairs.

And I was no different when in those early days I didn’t know if I would be around to see the next day. That’s when I remember growing up with a Catholic and Southern Baptist background, I found myself seeking and drawing comfort more from my Southern Baptist background.

I recall going to church with my dad who was Southern Baptist and there was a group of women called the Mother Board who usually would stand and sing one of those old gospel songs that they called Dr. Watts song. There was this one elderly mother who would lead the song but before she would start, she witness, testify to and about the goodness and greatness of God.

I am here this morning to join mine witnessing and testimony to hers and to shout as she shouts God is good. Back then the words she was saying didn’t make much sense till later. When in those darkest hours your soul cries out seeking comfort, I remember just lying there sometimes and listening to my soul cry out in the words of that old gospel song, "Father, I stretch my hand to thee. No other help I know. If Thou withdraw Thyself from me Ah, where shall I go." Looking back as my soul cried out, "Father, I stretch my hand to Thee ….", even in those darkest moments he was listening because sitting next to my hospital bed was Denis, he put him there saying don’t give up, never, never, never give up.

My soul would cry all the louder, "Father I stretch my hand to Thee…." There in the room working through the medical team and everything else would be that voice, "don’t give up." The louder I’d cry, "Father I stretch my hand to Thee…..", the louder that voice would become.

I’m here to tell you, he showed himself to me in those around me but especially Denis who would get up in the morning walk the dogs; go to work all day; come home walk the dogs and then come up to the hospital and be that voice that whispered "don’t give up; never, never, never give up." They would let him sit sometimes way pass visiting hour.

My soul would cry out even more but it changed the song and cried out "I Love The Lord He Heard my cries, And pitied every groan; Long as I live, when troubles rise, I’ll hasten to His throne" the song goes on to say "My God has saved my soul from death and dried my falling tears; Now to his praise I’ll spend my breath and my remaining years." My heart this morning is full of joy, full of gratitude and thanksgiving. Last month my doctor reminded me that I’ve been living with HIV/AIDS now for 40 years this month.

There were those days when I wasn’t sure I was going to be here, but my soul cried out "Father I Stretch my hand to Thee", and he heard my cry. I’m here this morning to tell you He didn’t have to wake me up this morning, but He did. He didn’t have to plant my feet on solid ground, but He did. He heard my cry and let me see another day and I am here to thank Him. My soul this morning cries out even louder "I love the Lord; He heard my cry and pitied every groan." So, I’m here this morning to join my story, my testimony to that elderly mother and to let you know even in those darkest of times the soul cries out and it’s heard.

There is a song that sums up how I feel today and every day.

Now my soul cries out How I got Over. How I got over Well, how I got over Well, my soul look back and wonder Don't know how I got over (How I got over) How I got over I'm gon' thank him for how he brought me Well, I'm gon' thank him for how he taught me

Oh, thank him for how he kept me I'm gon' thank him 'cause he never left me I'm gonna thank him for heart felt religion I'm gonna thank him for a vision I'm gonna sing hallelujah Oh, shout all my trouble over I'm gon' thank him (Thank him for) All he's done for me Thank him for all he's done (He's done) For me

Amen

1Karen Oliveto “World AIDS Day Liturgies” in Shaping Sanctuary edited by Kelly Turney, 2000, page 140-1.

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady  603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305  http://fumcschenectady.org/  https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

Sylvester (left) and Denis (right) on their wedding day in 2013.

[zorangezest]

more of this miserable thing I made, somehow it became A Whole Au… no it does not get any better for them LMAOOOAOAOOA

it’s a father/son descent into madness! im calling it DON’T DO THIS, DAD and it’s mainly about frenzy and soundwave’s extremely ill-omened endeavours to bring rumble back to life. yes rumble is very much around and actively haunting them. no he doesn't consent to this

start

next

[goryhorroor]

horror sub-genres: lovecraftian/cosmic

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Parallel Lines and Brothers.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[theghostsproject]

Ahh... The brother-in-law relationship these two have gives me life...

Don't mind Omega's sharpness. He's just upset his boyfriend is still in Tupperware right now.

Also yes, Copia does indeed have the poorly colored in grey hair. Though I'm not adding that detail in the Chapters, or else it would drive me absolutely insane and we'd probably be only pushing out 1 Chapter a month, heh. Just imagine it's there.

Also please give a hand for our boy, Aether! He's been smiling since Chapter 1!! <3

~~~~~

If you haven't read the previous chapters yet...

Chapter Listing Here!

Chapter 4 comes out June 30th! :)

I hope you all are still enjoying "Your Friend, Death" comic! I got a lot of positive feedback on Chapter 3.... so thank you all very much!!! :D And thank you all for being patient with me!! ^^ Love you, guys!

Ciao for now! <3

[kittykatninja321]

Thinking about how Bruce treated Jason’s legacy after his death is kinda pissing me off and the only consolation is knowing that whatever peace Bruce created for himself by warping his memory and telling himself that Jason’s death was due to his own recklessness and anger in order to cope was greatly disturbed and shaken by Jason’s return. Pain and suffering on planet earth <3

[arcade-confetti]

"Jason was the happy robin" this, "jason was the angry robin" that. Let's all be fully honest here Jason was the lonely robin

[fereldanwench]

i'm committed to finding a way to make phantom liberty fit into her canon in some way. there are just too many good characters in it to not bring them into her story, even if the canon events don't jive with it

vp faq | pillowfort | bluesky | instagram | nexus | ao3 ⚠️ do not reupload or edit my shots without my permission⚠️ ️ ️ 

[nidbaesenpai]

Viet blasts Loop as well ✨✨✨

[thelastunison]

forgot to mention it before but hi I finally started reading Dungeon Meshi like a week ago and now I decided to color in one of my favorite pages so far

[raineofthedragons]

More western media should start after the story ends I think. Every inciting incident these days is “here’s where the exciting stuff starts.” I need more “the exciting stuff already happened. There are no more magic destinies. No more villains to fight. Everything’s done and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Bonus points if the more we learn about the past, the more obvious it becomes that this is not a tale of glory but one of tragedy. Bonus bonus points if the main character just fucking dies. The earlier the better.

[aingeal98]

Cass would be the absolute worst person to swap scar stories with like imagine the batkids hanging out and comparing old bullet wounds. A few jokes about dying, a few brags about situations that were terrifying at the time but they survived so they get to turn it into a cool story now. And just when Damian is finishing up dragging Jason for shooting him that one time Cass finally chimes in, pointing to a scar on her shoulder.

"This one's from my dad when I was around 5. I was fighting twenty mercinaries but it was getting too easy so he shot me to teach me to always be on guard."

One long awkward silence commences. The mood of the room is officially lowered right down from light to somber. No one knows how to fix this until Cass speaks up again, this time pointing to a scar on her chest.

"This one's from when Tim and I faked my death."

And now everyone is both sad and extremely confused. Except for Tim who will thankfully take over and steer the conversation onto a lighter topic: Faking each other's murder, his and Cass's favourite sibling bonding activity

[the-delta-42]

Aphrodite after the Ithaca Saga

Aphrodite: Holy Shit. Ares: The Bloodshed... *tearing up* it was glorious Aphrodite: *Hurriedly removing all the curses she put on Odysseus* Hera, Athena, I need help! *Fifteen hours later* Apollo: Okay, I've pulled some strings and I think most of the curses will counter-act each other. Athena: *Suspicious* Most? Apollo: Well, me and Helios may have pulled a few strings and used magic to get Circe pregnant... so... Hera: So the curse of him being killed by his and Circe's son is still in play. Aphrodite: ... Aphrodite: Hera, what are your thoughts on polygamy?

[lockedtombbrainworms]

I think the funniest transgender headcanon for TLT is pre-lyctorhood Pyrrha Dve. She put so much goddamn effort into transitioning and then one day she woke up in Gideon the First's body like "aw dude what the FUCK? I have to do all that shit AGAIN??"