Happy Easter!
We are a people born of a miracle. We are raised in a mystery.
Kindred in Christ,
You don’t know this yet, but soon enough, you come to know that I say these words often. I do so to remind us of the kind of people we as Christians are called to be. As we seek the dawn of Easter, the hope that fills that empty tomb, these words are more significant than they have ever been. In the last year there has been a lot happening to discourage us with wars and conflict continuing to rage around the world. As we look into the tomorrows to come, we need to remind ourselves that hope is part of our DNA as people of faith.
We are a people born of a miracle.
Every year Christians walk the long road to Easter, let loose with cries of joy and celebration, and then move on as though nothing had changed, as though nothing had been made new. We gloss over the miracle of the Resurrection forgetting that this is the story that we have been telling our friends, neighbours and children for centuries. It is a story that promises life made new in Christ. How can we not stand in awe of life winning out over death! How can we not grasp hold of the story that tells us, in no uncertain terms, that as dark as things get, there is always a dawn, that when things feel like they are about to end, a new beginning waits just beyond our vision.
We are raised in a mystery.
As people of faith, as any people of faith, we put our trust in something beyond ourselves. However, that something isn’t just a neighbour or a trusted friend, rather it is an unseen, intangible force that is beyond our full understanding, and yet we know it so well. We have felt God’s hand in our lives. We have seen the work of God in creation and in the power of forgiveness. This great mystery allows us to ask questions when we don’t understand, to say, “I don’t know,” when we don’t have all the answers, but ultimately it reminds us that God is at work in us and in the world in ways we can’t yet imagine, but still pray for.
Ultimately we are a people of Hope. We Hope, that even in darkness, light will shine to lead the way. We Hope, that in death we are afforded the promise of new life. We Hope, that as bad as the world might seem now, tomorrow it can be better so long as we work with God and with each other to make it so. This is what the season of Easter is truly about: celebrating the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection, and living into a world of hope. With hope and the will to make that hope real, lives can be saved, mountains can be moved and worlds can change.
In our little part of the world at Nashwaaksis United Church, we can accomplish much together. As we celebrate Easter, let us carry that joy and that enthusiasm of our faith with us into the following months, bringing new life with us wherever we go.
May your days be filled with miracles from the mundane to the magnificent.
May you find new strength and new courage to live out Christ’s call for you.
As we seek the risen Christ, may he be found risen anew within us. AMEN
Yours in Christ,
The Reverend Richard Bowley
Ways to Worship During Holy Week
- Maundy Thursday: We gather with our kindred in Christ at St. John the Evangelist on Thursday, March 28th at 7 PM to remember the Last Supper, and to share in the story.
- Good Friday: At Nashwaaksis United Church on Friday, March 29th at 10:30 AM, we will gather at the foot of the cross to hear the story of Christ’s final moments. Bring your stones as we come to the end of our journey with them.
- Easter Sunday Sunrise: At 7 AM we will come together with our kindred in Christ from St. John the Evangelist and Nashwaaksis Baptist Church at the Killarney Lake beach (or as close as we can get) as together we greet the risen son and rising sun.
- Easter Sunday Communion Service: Later on Sunday morning we will have our regular 10:30 AM worship service, as we hear again of the mystery that has drawn us together in faith, and share in the feast that feeds our souls.