Hello dear Church. And hello to all our wonderful friends and our extended family. It was so good to be back at church on Sunday. I needed the love and the joy of your singing, the sound of your voices, and the hugs I got. Thank you for allowing me space in this adventure. And thank you for your support and your love throughout this whole thing. I am overwhelmed and my family is overwhelmed by your love and support. This is what the Church looks like. This is what Jesus meant when he said to us to gather together. I love you and I will see you on Sunday.
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We had a wonderful lesson on Sunday—Praying in The Garden. Our Bible story begins after Jesus and the disciples shared the Last Supper. Jesus knew his death was coming soon. He didn’t want to die and was probably sad and anxious. He prayed that God would present him with a solution so he wouldn’t have to die, but he also knew it was up to God. After fervently praying, Jesus was visited by an angel. The angel set his mind at peace, and Jesus knew what he had to do.
In this story, Jesus provides us with a model for prayer, taking his sadness and his fear and turning it over to God—as we are taught to do. Jesus asks for what he wants but ultimately prays for God’s will to be done. This is what we are expected to do. Everyone needs to know that no matter what is happening, we can go to God, just like Jesus did. It might not change the outcome, but it will bring comfort to know that God goes with us and is present amid our fear and sadness.
We need to remind all of you that we will have an Easter egg hunt before church on Easter Sunday. Get to church early that day. Have Mom and Dad get you to church by 9:45! And ask Grandma or Grandpa! We have some real goodies this year! Lots more than just candy, I noticed the bunny already left a really big golden egg with big bucks inside!! The bunny says there are lots of toys inside. Talk to Mom about this egg hunt. We also have a movie during church complete with popcorn and juice.
See you there! Blessings….
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A Misconception
The late John Shelby Spong, Episcopal Bishop, was a skeptic. He asked of the Resurrection:
Do bodies dead for 36 hours resuscitate and walk out of graves?
Do these revived bodies have working vocal cords allowing them to speak? Do they have a functioning skeletal system so that they can walk?
And how can such a body walk through walls with locked doors and barred windows?
Clearly, Bishop Spong thought the Christian claim for Resurrection meant a resuscitated corpse. And he did not believe in that.
I don’t either.
But Bishop Spong had no other concept. And I suspect many (or most) Christians share the same misconception.
A resuscitated corpse would simply put Jesus right back in the world.
Flesh and blood again—someday to die again.
Is this what you believe?
Have you ever really thought about it?
This is where the image on the Shroud of Turin becomes a vital witness.
For those who are willing to think about what they believe, the image on the Shroud presents a powerful picture.
The Shroud image records a physical event that left physical forensic evidence.
Jesus did not resuscitate. His body transformed.
It dematerialized in a quantum physics event.
It returned to the spiritual state from which it had come.
The cloth fell through the body, recording x-ray-like images of the bones in the hands and the sockets for the teeth.
A life-sized replica of the Shroud will feature in our Good Friday service two weeks from today.
Light supper at 6:15.
Worship at 7:00.
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