As I remind us around this time of the year, Easter is a season, not a single day. God's victory over death in Jesus and the new life God offers us through Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection demand much more than an event-filled weekend. So for seven weeks we celebrate. From Saturday, April 7, through Pentecost, May 27, we will focus on the good news that, by the grace and goodness of God, we never know where we will encounter Jesus next, how we will experience life anew, or when the light will next beam forth from darkness. So again this year I challenge all of us to do something to celebrate the good news for the entire season. Here are a few suggestions. Please add your own.
Easter proclaims the blessings of new life. Spend some time with a child reading a book, taking a walk in the woods, playing in the yard, or baking cookies. If we have access to no children, go to the library and sit in the children's section. Children have contagious liveliness and inquisitiveness. Some time with them might leave us a little tired, but our souls will be stirred.
Easter reminds us that life breaks forth without regard to chronology. All of us know people hospitalized, convalescing in a rehab facility, or unable to travel about readily. Renew or begin a friendship with some time together. I regularly discover that folks with the capacity to look back a long way also enjoy pondering the future. When we use our imaginations, noting how different things are than when we were children can fill us with wonder at what our grandchildren will see. Pondering the future celebrates the hope we have because God never gives up on us.
Look around for someone feeling a little weary and share some of their load. Mow a busy neighbor's lawn. Ask what the SEM Food Pantry most needs and go in with a friend to purchase a case of it. Make a contribution to a domestic violence shelter. Take a child of a busy parent to the zoo. Whenever we allow the light of the world to shine through us, darkness retreats.
Reread your favorite book of the Bible or explore a new topic in theology or church history. Loving God with our minds helps to keep neural pathways open and keeps our faith and ability to talk about it fresh. Invite someone to worship. Each Easter weekend has something special to offer.
April 7 & 8 Special services and lots of joyful music
April 14 & 15 The joyful feast of the Lord's Supper
April 22 Rhonda's installation in the afternoon
April 28-29 Former pastor George Baird visits
May 5-6 Patrick Heery, our most recent Timothy, visits
- reception follows
May 12-13 Confirmation weekend (service at 11 a.m. on Sunday)
May 19-20 Recognition of graduates at 9:30 a.m.
on Sunday/reception follows
May 26-27 Former pastor Jeff Kane visits
This list does not include all we have scheduled in education, caring, and serving. Easter deserves a celebration and we intend to do that for a week of weeks. Stay informed, participate, and share the good news by being part of the good news!
Easter Blessings,
LP
No comments:
Post a Comment