Today we celebrated Easter with great joy at St Andrew’s. It was wonderful to be able to gather in the church, even with an overflow in the hall, to worship and celebrate together. Thank you to all who made this possible, the IT in the hall was genius! A big thank you to Clare who was our cantor for today, she sang brilliantly bringing great Easter cheer.
Our prayers and thoughts were with those who were unable to join us. I will send out a link to a recording of the service when it has downloaded.
Acts 10:34-43. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 John 20:1-18
On Wednesday I duly arrived at the Allander leisure centre to bare my arm, in an almost ritual gesture, to receive the miracle vaccine. I say miracle because in many ways that is exactly what it is. When we think back to a year ago, staring at the unfolding of the pandemic, we were warned that vaccines can take years to produce, it may be a long time till we get one. But against the odds here it is and with a large percentage of the adult population having already been inoculated something feels miraculous.
But the language of miracles is not common parlance these days. We live in a culture of explanation, evidence and facts – of course, there is nothing wrong with that – but it leaves little room for mystery, miracles and divine intervention. Surely there is more to life than facts and figures?
At Easter we are certainly encouraged to believe this as we gather to celebrate that greatest miracle of all time – the resurrection! From that first day in the Easter garden, as Mary discovers the empty tomb, sees the risen Lord and then hurries away to tell the fearful and distressed disciples the most extraordinary news, Christians in so many different circumstances have gathered over the centuries to celebrate that day.
The day of The Risen Lord!
After this difficult and challenging year, I found myself reflecting on Easters past. I think of the many village churches I have celebrated the great festival in, all decorated with wild and spring flowers, pews full and resounding with Easter cheer and goodwill.
Then the outdoor celebrations; getting up in the dark, staggering up Ham Hill in Dorset to celebrate Holy communion at the top as the dawn broke. And then, also getting up in the dark, to stand in the freezing cold at Preachers Brea, rain splattering on the bible as the gospel is being read but all the time looking forward to sitting down to a breakfast feast of hot coffee and bacon rolls.
Finally celebrating our own Sung Eucharist for Easter in this church, always so beautifully decorated, the large cross adorned with lilies.
Then last year, for the first time ever, an empty church, no signs of celebration, no one here at all, shades of the empty tomb itself…… But thankfully today we can gather, not quite in the way we used to and not all our friends are with us, but we do all gather in spirit to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Jesus’ ultimate miracle, his ultimate defining moment.
This year the world has seen great suffering. It is always difficult to explain suffering and pain in the context of a loving God. However, Christ in his earthly life suffered too, suffered death on a cross. But the most extraordinary thing is that the cross was not the end but the beginning.
From the cross Jesus rose from the dead to new life, he overcame death in the triumph of the resurrection. This surely holds the key to hope and salvation for us.
Christ suffered at the hands of many. He was at the end, weak and powerless, but he rose from it all to a triumphant victory over all that is bad. This is what brings salvation and new life to us today. Many of us may feel weak and powerless, after a year of lockdowns restrictions, loneliness and at times despair. But the resurrection is proof that new beginnings are possible.
From despair come hope.
From death comes life.
With the resurrection new and fresh beginnings become possible.
“I am the resurrection and the life” says our Lord
“The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25
Happy Easter to you all!