|
|
Archived 06/05: A Message From the Pastor
Rev. Alice Ann Bonham
|
From the Pastor's Desk -- HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!
These are the words of greeting we use on Easter Sunday morning. They remind us that the tomb is, indeed, empty and the Jesus has risen from the grave. These words are a powerful reminder that "...death has been swallowed up in victory...." death no longer has power over us. Easter is the great celebration of God's love for us all.I love Easter Sunday. There's an excitement and energy that fills the sanctuary that is different from other Sundays. People come in dressed a little fancier. The "little" girls have new dresses and gloves, maybe even a hat. I have fond memories of my Easter hats and gloves. I couldn't wait to wear them. Then after Church we have dinner with family and/or friends. After dinner we start (if we haven't already) poking through our Easter baskets. There's always room after dinner for a little something from the Easter basket. And after all of that's done, there's time for a little nap, because tomorrow we have to go back to normal. There's just one small problem with this little scenario. We act as if Easter Sunday is all there is to celebrate. That Easter is just one Sunday a year. We get dressed up, come to church, go to dinner, eat our chocolate bunnies (ears first of course) and Easter is over. We short change ourselves if that's what we really think. Easter is more than just one Sunday a year. In reality, Easter is a 50 day season in the life of the church. This is a quote from the United Methodist Book of Worship: The Easter Season, also known as the Great Fifty Days, begins at sunset Easter Eve and continues through the Day of Pentecost. It is the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian year. It focuses on Christ's resurrection and ascension and on the givings of the Holy Spirit on the first Easter (John 20:22-23) and the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). (page 368)The Easter Season is when we remember and celebrate Jesus appearing to the disciples in many different settings. It's the time that Jesus bolsters the disciples back up after their feelings of loss and abandonment. He reminds them of the work that He started and that needed to be continued. It's truly the beginning of the Church. My prayer for us during this Easter Season is that we will come to worship prepared to celebrate and ready to meet Jesus in a variety of settings. I look forward to us coming together with an air of expectation, hoping to meet Jesus in unexpected places. I want us to continue to greet one another with, "He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!" We are Easter people and we need to celebrate all that Easter has to offer us -- 50 days of Jesus meeting us and the Holy Spirit descending upon us, equipping and empowering us to live out Jesus command, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18b-20b) HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!
Pastor Alice Ann
|
| Current: |
| Current Pastoral Message |