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b'Opening the heavy church door, I immediately saw Dan and ran to hug him. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Mark\\u2019s here,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d he whispered. Mark and I hugged. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Barb\\u2019s here,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d he said. Barb and I hugged. She said, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Ruth\\u2019s here.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I hugged Ruth and took my place in anearby pew. Soon, I noticed Jean several pews away. Once the benediction was pronounced, I found Dan, Mark, Barb, and Ruth and told them, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Jean\\u2019s here. All we need is Tracy and Jay.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nThe eight of us\\u2014four girls and four boys\\u2014were in the same grade growing up in church. Together, we attended Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and Youth Fellowship. The four of us girls sang in the church choir, three sopranos and an alto. Tracy and I worked on a presidential campaign when we were too young to vote. Barb hosted backyard pool parties. Ruth\\u2019s teenage uncles worked at the local amusement park. They let us on the kiddie rides when we were too big. Dan, the clown of the group, kept us all laughing. And true friend, Jean, sat with me in the funeral home after my father died when we were sixteen.\\nAfter high school graduation, the eight of us pretty much lost contact with each other. Most moved away. None still attend the same church where we grew up. Yet, completely unplanned, years later, six of us showed up there on Easter.\\nAnd since our friendships and our memories are centered in Christ, we were able to pick up where we left off. \\u2022 Kathy Irey\\n\\u2022 Reread today\\u2019s Bible passages. What are some godly friendships in the Bible? What does the Bible say about friendship?\\n\\u2022 Read Galatians 6:1-10. As Christians, we are meant to live in community with other believers in Jesus. Do you have a church family? Do you have Christian friends who will support you in your faith?\\nA friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nExodus 16:1-5, 31; Numbers 21:4-9; John 6:32-51'