Easter Reflections

As all of you know, Easter is much more than the joyous celebration of Sunday morning. Beginning with prayers of repentance on Ash Wednesday, through the introspection of Lent and the passion of Holy Week, we are drawn closer and closer to the Cross, the empty tomb and a resurrected Jesus. Here at FUMC, Seguin, we certainly had a celebration. An intimate remembrance of that last meal with the Disciples marked Maundy Thursday. Good Friday was observed with a properly austere and somber service. Sunday was a series of grand, passionate celebratory worship services. I believe that the pastors, staff, congregation and visitors fully experienced Holy Week. So, now, just like the faithful did after the first Easter, we can all rest and catch our breath a little.

What? You don’t remember Scripture saying anything about them kicking back and taking it easy? That is probably because it didn’t happen that way. Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and two other disciples tried to go fishing, but Jesus pursued them(John 21:1-14). The Disciples hid behind locked doors, but Jesus pursued them(John 20:19). Some took off for Emmaus, but Jesus pursued them (Luke 24:11-35). The early church was gathering momentum, even as the Pharisees and the Romans hunted and persecuted them. The Disciples responded by meeting in prayer and planning the future of the church(Acts 1:14,25). Then, Pentecost came and they really got busy. This group of ordinary men and women, mostly rural fishermen, were transformed by the Holy Spirit into evangelists, church planters, theologians and witnesses of the Gospel. Were they effective?

"With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:40-41)

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47)

If Holy Week has created spiritual momentum and passion in our churches, it seems wrong to simply let it dissipate. We work so hard to attract visitors to our worship, ought we not to invest similar effort in following up and making sure that all their questions have been answered, telling them that their attendance was appreciated and that we would love to have them back? Perhaps we were able to discern some ministry needs or opportunities that need attention. Have we profusely thanked our clergy, ushers, cancel choirs, praise bands, special musicians, nursery workers, acolytes, liturgists and all of the rest of the staff and volunteers for making worship so marvelous? Can the joy we have experienced be infused into each following Sunday?

As you can see, catching this spiritual wave is not clergy driven; rather it is the work of the laity. We are the ones who visit with our friends, acquaintances, co-workers and others about our church. If they are not members, then they know about our church from what we witness. If our witness reflects well on our church, then our church will grow. As importantly, when we remember to thank those who work so diligently to make worship at our church special, we encourage them and they grow stronger. Working together, and driven by the Holy Spirit, we can vitalize ministry in our church and community. We can parlay the joy of our Easter celebration into so much more, as Jesus pursues us and puts us to his work.

Joy!

Bill