Easter was fabulous! The music at Easter worship was powerful and full of life. Lots of faces of family members we don’t see often and a few new ones adorned the sanctuary with brilliant smiles. The ongoing message of our faith is never so clear as it is on Easter: God’s love is more persistent than hate and violence; God’s passion is more powerful than fear; God’s justice (right relationships with God and neighbor) is steady as it is sure and will prevail.

But Easter is not set alone. It is accompanied beforehand by Palm Sunday and Holy Week. This year PUMC joined forces with Eastminster Presbyterian and Open Door Fellowship for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunrise (or RainDrop, as is more often the case) services. Holy Thursday’s theme was that of service. In John’s Gospel the “Last Supper” we find Jesus replacing his robe for an apron and washing the disciples’ feet in an act of radical hospitality. So as part of our celebration we bagged up beans and dried soup mix for over 250 family meals and delivered them to Snow Cap Community Charities in a symbolic act of hospitality. Good Friday was a powerful reminder of Christ’s passion, death and placement in the tomb. We left worship in silence… to the sound of nails being pounded into the cross.

I grew up in a family deep into the traditions of the Episcopal Church, one that was and is centered in the liturgical expressions of our faith. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter are rehearsed with significant drama in many mainline communities.  The Christian faith’s liturgical center doesn’t speak as powerfully to me as it does to many of my Christian sisters and brothers. So I have great appreciation for our collaborative effort with Eastminster Presbyterian and Open Door Fellowship that would share this season’s powerful liturgy with many people. What moves me even more than Easter celebration is what comes next.

Luke’s Gospel shares a story of two disciples back on the road that first Easter morning. Discouraged, downhearted and greatly confused they were mumbling to themselves as they went on their way. A stranger appeared along-side them. It was the risen Christ but they didn’t recognize him. Later, after the stranger/Jesus left, they shared with each other, “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?” (Luke 24:32 The Message)

On fire for the Good News! Even in, and especially during, times when the world is discouraged, downhearted and confused. On fire for the Good News; community garden, music and drama camp for kids in our community, and building bridges within our diverse, changing world. Please join us.

Peace,  Bill