Category: Easter
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Moving On Up! Jesus’ Ascension, The Power of Blessing, and Community
It is 40 days after Easter Sunday. Jesus has completed his turn on earth on and it is time to return to heaven. Since his resurrection Jesus has met with his disciples and others, he has shared breakfast on the beach, a walk along the road to Emmaus, and gently addressed Thomas’ doubts. Peter has…
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Everyone is Awesome!
Rarely does Jesus see things the same way we do. Jesus sees the hope and potential when we pull together. When we stand for what we know is right and true, when we follow Him and don’t give up just because life seems too hard.
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Hands-On Easter: A Unique Retelling
The wonderful thing about the fingers and thumbs Easter story is that it is unique to each of us. Each retelling involves our own hands, our own fingerprints, our own calluses and scars. When we tell the Easter story using our own hands we own it for ourselves, and invite Jesus into our story as…
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Celebrating Mothering Sunday: Traditions and Gifts
‘It’s not Mother’s Day,’ my mum would tell me, ‘It’s Mothering Sunday’. I never quite understood the difference. One apparently was American and the other British, but that’s only half the story. In other countries, Mother’s Day is simply a day to give thanks for and to celebrate our mothers, in the UK it is…
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Lent and Easter
This year’s Easter preparations focus on the Lenten season with the “Ashes to Ashes” Retreat, which includes Biblical meditations on human existence. A “Retreat in a Box” with guided materials is available for personal retreats, and resources for church leaders are provided. Additionally, various gifts to enhance spiritual observation are offered.
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I’m Coming Back!
When Peter and John peer into the tomb they notice that Jesus is not there. As they scrutinise the empty tomb before returning home, Mary stands outside, overcome with tears. It has been a long and painful few days, and now the thing which she had geared herself up to do has been taken from…
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Lead us not into Temptation
We are instructed to leave in silence as we bear witness to all that unfolds on this day, ready to entre into the pain and sorrow of Good Friday and Jesus’ death. We are to be thoughtful, prayerful, and perhaps aware of how close we come to failing Jesus in the ways that the disciples…
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Do you have anything to eat?
As Jesus eats, their wonder and disbelief doesn’t disappear, but is overshadowed with the joy of Jesus’ presence in their midst once again. Joy that he is here, and they have missed him so much, joy that he is alive, joy that his teaching has not been nullified by crucifixion.
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Shrouded in Mystery
We celebrate today, and it is right that we do, there is much to be celebrated, but we cannot help but mourn what is still happening around the world. It is hard to balance the joy of Easter and the promise of Eternal Life when we are living in the ‘not yet’.
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Disaster on the Dancefloor
We will soon be thrown into the turmoil of Maundy Thursday, the fear and dread of Good Friday, the lament and waiting of Easter Saturday, and finally the hope-filled exhilaration of Easter Sunday. Perhaps not so much disaster and hope as hope, disaster, hope?