PASTOR ELLIS: -and Lord we ask that you continue to watch over this church, and of course, its congregation, Amen
ALL: [in unison] Amen
[aged wood creaks as everyone takes their seat]
PASTOR ELLIS: Now, the good book tells us...
MAE: [internally] Ugh we gon’ be here forever
MAE: [sighs]
LOUISE: [whispering] Mae fix your face
MAE: [whispering] But Mama-
LOUISE: Shut it
MAE: But I’m bored, we’ve been here for hours and-
LOUISE: And we need to be here for more, swear your Grammy gon’ come down from heaven and box my ears for how you act
[bickering continues]
PASTOR ELLIS: ‘Scuse me!
Mae and Louise: Sorry Pastor
PEARL AND NANCY: [laughs]
PASTOR ELLIS: [huffs] LIke I was sayin’, the Bible says: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, James 4:7
PASTOR ELLIS: But I know some of you struggle to resist the call of the devil, his pull towards sin. And I understand it can be hard considerin' the devil can take many forms to tempt you
PASTOR ELLIS: He'll change his uh… serpent-like, appearance to draw you in and pull you from God's light. But no matter what form he takes, two things are always the same…
PASTOR ELLIS: His sharp teeth
PASTOR ELLIS: And an unearthly appearance that'll make you feel an almost....unnatural connection to 'em
MAE: W-What am I thinkin'? I've never even seen Lucy look like that. And we don't have an "unnatural connection"- she's just my friend
PASTOR ELLIS: So we must resist the devil, and his soldiers here on earth
[pearl raises her hand]
PEARL: 'Scuse me, Pastor?
PASTOR ELLIS: Yes young lady?
PEARL: [condescendingly] What if a friend of yours, I don't know...Mae for example looks like the devil is temptin' 'em? What should I- I mean we- do?
MAE: What?! I-I ain't been tempted by nothin', let alone the devil
[whispers erupt from the congregation]
CHARLIE: [whispers, urgency lacing his voice] Mama say somethin'!
LOUISE: [sighs, annoyed] Hush
NANCY: Oh sweetheart, no reason to get all upset, my Pearl here is just givin’ an example
PEARL: [chuckles] Yeah you’d think the devil really had you from how you’re actin’
[Murmurs continue until Pastor Ellis loudly clears his throat, silencing
the congregation]
PASTOR ELLIS: Well devil or not you must tell those you care about to resist temptation from evil, no matter what form it takes
Hi I’m back now <3 I feel better n life’s been good :3 I got promoted in my job and I did a cool college orientation thing and unmmmm I’m still ur local bnha stan moron <3
I kept like. hesitating coming back day by day but I feel great now n I missed y’all sm! So! Hi I’m back!
