Christ Is Risen!
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” – Matthew 28:8-10
CHRIST IS RISEN! He is risen, INDEED!
This past Sunday we celebrated the promise of the resurrection. We proclaimed the words the women received at the tomb, “Jesus is not here! He is risen, just as he said.” In our wonderful music, our singing, our preaching, our praying, even in our breakfast and Easter egg hunt, we proclaimed the good news of resurrection!
A couple of people shared with me what our service meant to them:
“Thank you for this Easter egg hunt. We went to one yesterday and my little girl went home with an empty basket. She didn’t get any eggs at all because the bigger kids ran too quickly. This was a wonderful experience for us and we are so thankful for you.”
Another visitor sent this email on Monday:
“I just wanted to pass along my deepest gratitude and encouragement to you all.
My fella and l I were in town for a weekend away and wanted to attend an Easter service.
By God’s great grace we ended up picking your 8:30 service.
We live 3 hours away from Kennewick and I cried the whole way home. The love of Jesus is so simple yet we believers can make it so complex, and get it wrong so easily. You guys didn’t. You preached Jesus crucified and alive. You preached hope- you gave this weary soul hope to look up at the cross and to believe that Jesus would die for me, that this last year doesn’t define me, and Jesus is on the throne. I wrestle with the question, is he on the throne of my life anymore? Could he love me? Yeah- he does. I don’t have to carry my own cross of hurt, it’s already been dealt with and I have freedom.
Wow-
So I say- thank you. Thank you for doing the Jesus thing, the church thing… right.”
Thank you to all our Deacons, Elders, Praise Team, Choir, brass, Agape Ringers, staff, volunteers, cooks and servers, and everyone who bought candy, filled, and dispersed our Easter eggs! (And anyone else who wasn’t included in this list!) Your hard work helped people worship and know that they are loved by our living Lord! THIS proclaims the power and glory of God! Amen.\
PRAYER
Loving God, help us to glimpse the risen Christ at work in our world.
Show us how to see and serve him in all those we meet, and guide us in finding your new life along our journey each and every day.
Keep us faithful in your service until the new life we see in him is real for all the world as we feast together once and for all in the joy of your eternal realm.
Forgive us for the times we neglect to love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Forgive us for not loving our neighbor as ourselves. Make us whole and make us new once more through our risen Christ.
We give you all praise and thanks and glory, eternal God, now and forever. Alleluia! Amen.
