Pastor’s Corner – April 24, 2025
Dear Beloved,
Easter has come! Now we are in the season of Eastertide (the church season that goes until Pentecost - more about Pentecost soon), and I am feeling overwhelmed and grateful, open and wondering. How are you feeling? I keep thinking of the poem by Howard Thurman about the work of Christmas. It has me praying and pondering - what is the work of Easter that we are being called to individually and collectively as followers of our Risen Leader - the one who saves us from sin - who frees us from anything that would keep all of us from experiencing the shalom of God - the deep and comprehensive peace and wholeness of the Gracious Creator of the heavens and the earth? What does resurrection mean? What does it look like in our hearts and homes, in neighbors and nations, in schools and social circles, in workplaces and marketplaces, in quiet times and chaos, in the world God so dearly loves and in the moments God offers each and every one - all named and called beloved? May we take time this Eastertide to be still with God to learn how we are being called to embody resurrection love, hope, and shalom and may we respond with the trust of those who showed up to anoint Jesus’ body even with all their questions. May you know you are a loved child of God who grace and compassion know no bounds - for nothing can ever separate from the love God made known by the beauty of the Creator, the courage of the Risen One, and the power of the Spirit.
With Easter hope,
Sarah
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-9)
