Pastor Dan - March 2016

 I am upset with the Western Church at this point. Just once, JUST ONCE couldn't they have gone with the Orthodox calendar for Easter? The celebration of Easter is on May 01 for the Orthodox churches. But noooo, the Western Church has to have the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord on March 27. MARCH 27! That means that the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament is on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and a portion of the Elite Eight is on Easter! Who cares about resurrection when Duke is playing in the Elite Eight? Easter is officially ruined.

  Don't worry basketball fans I got your back. If the Wildcats are playing during a church service, I will give you clues to the score as I preach. I will say things like, There were 27 cats outside the door as Judas left the upper room to go and collect his promised 23 Jayhawks from the Pharisees. Or, People gathered around the cross of Jesus along with 28 cats and 21 Bulldogs. How can anyone really care about the death of the Christ when the Tournament is going on? Holy Week is officially ruined.

 Of course, I share this with you and all people of faith in Christ in jest. There is nothing in or of this world that can ruin the beauty and power of Holy Week and resurrection, for these are of the eternal God. There are some among us who can name the 16 teams that made it into the Sweet Sixteen last year, but I'm not one of them. But just about everyone in the world, of any religious belief can tell you of the events of Holy Week and of Easter. They may know of them, but that does not mean that they believe. But for those who have the faith to believe, the celebration and remembrances of these events connect us in very intimate and real ways with the Divine Risen Presence dwelling in, through and among us.

 For many in our nation, going to a worship service during the tournament is just not going to happen. The death and the resurrection of the Living God has nothing to do with them. It's fairy tale and has no power in this world. This Holy Week and Easter will reveal to God's Easter people just how much work is before us. This work will consist of sharing the hope that comes from resurrection. The sharing of the power of miracle big and small. The showing of joy in the midst of despair. This world does NOT have the last say. The last say rests in the power of God's word to raise Christ and raise you and raise me. This is not fairy tale, but this is the cornerstone of truth and life.

 May you indeed have a powerful Holy Week and a life shattering Easter. Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed.

In Christ's love and service,

Pastor Dan