Pastor’s Message

WALKING IN THE EASTER FAITH

I knew that the month of March would include Easter Sunday this year, so last month’s

article was about Jesus’ resurrection and specifically its meaning for life beyond this world.

But Easter, on the Church’s calendar, is not simply a day. It is a season. Easter season,

or Eastertide as it used to be called, extends for seven weeks from Easter Sunday until Pentecost

Sunday (this year, May 11 which also happens to be Mother’s Day). Actually, every Sunday of

the year is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

The New Testament was written because Jesus rose from the dead. The people of the

New Testament Church were acutely aware that they worshipped a living Lord.

So do we. I want to lift up one way that the reality of the living Lord impacts our lives right now in this world.

The apostle, Paul, said in Philippians 4:5, “The Lord is near.” Paul was in prison because

of his faith when he wrote those four simple, but profound words, “The Lord is near.” In the

midst of his suffering and pain, Paul was aware that his Lord was with him. The Jesus who rose

had first suffered. He knew what suffering was about, and he was with Paul for strength and for comfort.

When we are in distress or pain, it helps us to remember that we are not alone. “The

Lord is near.” He is the Shepherd who has walked where his sheep walk, whose heart goes out

to them because he, too, has been there. His promise, as the living Lord, is “I will never leave

you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Shalom,

Jay