April 19, 2022
Dear Family of Our Redeemer’s
“EASTER CHANGES EVERYTHING!”
At a recent gathering that I attended, the person giving the opening prayer used the above words as he offered thanks for the powerful influence of Easter. It was a reminder of what we know but take for granted, that the resurrection of Jesus is the most significant event of all times. We worship on the first day of the week rather than the seventh because Jesus transformed all of life for all people when He rose from the dead. Our church calendars give us fifty days of Easter to spread and celebrate this news before we move on to the next part of the Jesus story. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians put it this way: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. . . If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.” (I Corinthians 15: 17-20)
Do we live as if we really believed that this is true? We know that life can be hard. There are some days that we struggle to keep going. There are some days that we question whether we will make it. At times, we may even wonder if we want to keep trying. Is it worth the effort, or should we just surrender.
For twenty centuries the Church has been shouting: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” We have been encouraged by knowing that Jesus is alive and walks with us through each day. Jesus living presence takes a sad day and turns it into a day of hope. It makes us excited to think about the future instead of dreading what is to come. It gives our journey purpose, energy, enthusiasm, strength, and joy to look ahead. We are no longer afraid of tomorrow. There is nothing that cannot be faced when we know that the living Jesus walks with us. We are not alone today, tonight, or the next day. We are not afraid to look down the road into the coming weeks, months, or years. With the certainty that Jesus is living and shares each moment of each day and night, our outlook, disposition, personality and character is changed. It is not too much to say that we are EASTER PEOPLE.
EASTER PEOPLE are excited about the future. We are set free from past mistakes and bad choices. The heavy load of guilt and fear is taken away when Jesus is on the road with us. The joy of His living presence awakens flowers along the path. The sun shines brightly, revealing the beauty of the moment. The night is transformed into the glory of another new day because He lives. Our steps are lively and quick. Our songs fill the air as we cherish the moment.
It has been so gratifying to open the doors of the church and welcome you back to “in-person” worship. Our joy is multiplied when we are together. Thanks for being part of this great journey at Our Redeemer’s.
Blessings on the Easter Road,
Interim Supply Pastor, Fred Mai
