Eastertide

Thank you to all who made our Easter celebration such a joyous event!

Did you know that in the Church calendar Easter is not a day, not a week, but a week of weeks? Yep, the Easter season lasts seven weeks.

We think of Lent as a time of spiritual renewal. And it is. But what about this week of weeks? How can you help make this also a time of spiritual renewal for yourself?

Some ideas:

First, worship. Every Sunday is a little Easter. Last Sunday our worship centered around Stations of the Resurrection. There were seven. And then came Communion, which is a Station of Resurrection we observe each week as we partake of the crucified and risen body and blood of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I need that each week. We are bombarded constantly with news of death and destruction. It can be overwhelming and hope destroying. We can give in to that or bury our heads in the sand because it is too much to bear. Or we can face the truth of this world with truth of our Risen Lord who in God’s good time will come again knowing, in the words of the Christmas hymn In the Bleak Midwinter, “Heaven and earth shall flee away/When He comes to reign.”

Second, recognize, rejoice in, and celebrate new life. Yes, Spring is a sign of that and, boy, am I glad it’s finally here. But even more moving (at least to me) are relationships reconciled, lives transformed, the hungry fed, the refugee welcomed. This is Jesus at work.

Third, pay attention to where Jesus is at work in you, in others you know, in the world.

Fourth, Fifth, etc.

Time to Refresh. ...

Go on a Retreat. ...

Be of Service. ...

Immerse Yourself in Nature. ...

Start a New Morning Ritual. ...

Observe a Sabbath. ...

Read a Spiritual Text.

What would be most helpful to you?

Peace,

Pastor Mark Walters