Alleluia, Christ is risen!

 

“This Holy Week,” I’ve said to a few people, “felt like a really long year.” Not so much a complaint as much as a statement pointing to what this year’s Holy Week brought: in addition to the Women’s Communion Breakfast, Palm Sunday, our synod’s Chrism Mass on Tuesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter decorating, the Vigil, and Easter Sunday, we also held three funerals.

 

Imagine my surprise, then, when Bishop Foster called on Wednesday, asking, “Do you need help?”
 

Initially, my answer to our bishop’s offer for help was, “No.” Why? Because I was grateful for the help we already had: our guest preacher from the synod office on Palm Sunday, our amazing musicians handling things in stride, our altar guild who doesn’t miss a beat, Deacon Bob who led a burial while I tended to synodical responsibilities, and hospitality teams welcoming grieving families. All was well-in-hand. Yet, in the midst of so much death, even with the Easter celebrations, this preacher needed to hear a word of resurrection, so our bishop came to preach on Easter Sunday.

 

When I look through the April newsletter, I’m struck by the ways community shows up in so many ways: in worship through Holy Week, yes, but also in the senior lunch group, youth group, Scouts, the wider community of our bishop’s office and synod…this ministry we do isn’t in isolation, and I’m grateful for so many this Easter season, especially you, dear people!

 

Alleluia, indeed.

 

Pastor Zach ☩