Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! (ALMOST)

When you read this newsletter, we will be days away from celebrating the resurrection of our Savior and the promise of eternal life. Everyone seems to be marking the year anniversary of the beginning of the pandemic. For me, the pandemic carried the most power when we realized that we would not be able to gather for worship on Easter last year. Disbelief and fear of the unknown seemed to be the emotions that carried us along in those first months. It amuses me, now, that those same emotions carried the disciples through Palm Sunday processions and a Maundy Thursday supper in an upper room and the betrayal, arrest and crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. And then Easter.

Yet even the news and events of Easter morning carried the same storm of disbelief and fear for the disciples – though there were a brave few who were willing to believe what their Savior had promised before he died – that on the third day he would rise again. Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome had been up early that first Easter, long before sunrise. They made their way to the freshly carved tomb only to find the stone rolled away and angels waiting to greet them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen even as he said.” I imagine those words were spoken with confident proclamation by the angels who had witnessed the event firsthand. I also believe those three women, when they ran to tell the disciples, did not whisper the news of the empty tomb but instead shouted, pleaded, begged, and celebrated when they told the disciples the glorious news. Thanks be to God!

If there has ever been a year where we have needed word of the news of the resurrection to ring in our ears, IT IS THIS YEAR. We have need of the news of the resurrection for the countless number of those who have died from the coronavirus. We have need of the news of the resurrection for those who have died this year when we had little time to tend them in their dying. We have need of the news of the resurrection for those who have suffered loneliness, isolation, and the absence of loved ones. We have need of the news of the resurrection because such news brings us hope to trust that the Word of God has indeed overcome the power of death.

In every corner of the world the power of death brings grief, overwhelms courage, and causes deep and lasting pain. And in every corner of the world, there is hunger for the promise of God’s resurrection hope and joy. Yes! It is this year that each of us and all the world has great need of the news of the resurrection. And so, People of God, hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the April 2021 newsletter)