I wonder what other pastors and church workers ponder about in the wake of Easter euphoria.

What does it mean that Jesus died and was resurrected? How do we keep riding the crest of that wave? Maybe it’s like God’s chosen people coming out of exile. In a literal sense (read: the “C & E” folks) it is Christian brothers and sisters coming out of worship exile.  Of course, we eagerly hope that the Easter experience “took”, and that they will not return to hibernation from church. Keeping the resurrection event alive (pun intended) is the key to keep them coming back. It is a SEASON OF Easter, for goodness sakes! There are more eyewitness accounts to share. We should daringly hope and expect that this event which changed the world can still change the world we live in. Hope in any human venture or endeavor is fleeting at best. Even if the person we voted for won, it changes in four, six, eight years. Anyone who has stocks or investments knows the capricious nature of finances. Built-in obsolescence. The list goes on.

We can choose to stay out of exile. There is nothing coming up in the church year until the penitential (yes, that word) season of Advent to distract us from the Gospel of a Risen Lord and Savior. (An observation: my sentences become more run-on when I am excited about the news I am relating.) Christ has set us free from the exile of our condemnation from sin. Even death has no ultimate dominion over us. Good news, indeed! Exciting news – YES! – this unconditional love that God has for us!

Pastor Art

Today’s Reading is Hebrews 11:8-16: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A8-16&version=NRSV