Spring has returned to the Truckee Meadows! And our liturgical season of Easter has returned. And some of us have been able to return to in-person worship. Reflecting this month, I’m sensing that hopeful return in my life.
And, honestly, it’s been delightfully surprising. Maybe it always is, and so I’m surprised again, but this Easter season following Lent and Holy Week— this time for me is turning into what it has always promised to be: hopeful, joyful, engaging, driving forward. I do hope you’ve felt it too.
New growth returns to landscapes and animal life. The “Alleluia” returns to worship. We’re always in this cycle, which is the cycle of our lives too––need and patience, change and transformation, hope and purpose, and need again.
And all of it is okay. And all of it is holy.
So I wonder if you have perceived any returns for you these days? The cycle continues, but we aren’t lulled into complacency. Rather, the Spirit enlivens us, in each return, for new joy and further hope!
In the gospel stories after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus is returning to folks in different ways and at different times. He’s both in his same body—we know because it has scars of his death and he can eat food and converse with people—, but he’s also more/different in the ways he can appear to be alongside people. Remember (John 20) how they lock the door in fear but Jesus comes and stands among them? He’s returned! Same, and different all at once.
We all know ways that our lives have looked so different this past year, and hopefully some of the things we love and the ways we appreciate being—hopefully some of those are returning for you. I know they are for me. And, for one, it is good to be in-person for worship and fellowship and learning when we can. That’s just one “return”!
And the deeper blessing for us, I believe, is that God doesn’t leave or forsake us. We sense the gifts of the Spirit among each other and for each other, and the presence of Love is always with us in our changes and returns. In fact, it’s always been there. But what an Easter blessing: this is the time of year we can see it, sense it, hear it (and hopefully feel it and believe it).
Returning, with Alleluia’s, to God who is so gracious and merciful,
+Pastor Shaun
And, honestly, it’s been delightfully surprising. Maybe it always is, and so I’m surprised again, but this Easter season following Lent and Holy Week— this time for me is turning into what it has always promised to be: hopeful, joyful, engaging, driving forward. I do hope you’ve felt it too.
New growth returns to landscapes and animal life. The “Alleluia” returns to worship. We’re always in this cycle, which is the cycle of our lives too––need and patience, change and transformation, hope and purpose, and need again.
And all of it is okay. And all of it is holy.
So I wonder if you have perceived any returns for you these days? The cycle continues, but we aren’t lulled into complacency. Rather, the Spirit enlivens us, in each return, for new joy and further hope!
In the gospel stories after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus is returning to folks in different ways and at different times. He’s both in his same body—we know because it has scars of his death and he can eat food and converse with people—, but he’s also more/different in the ways he can appear to be alongside people. Remember (John 20) how they lock the door in fear but Jesus comes and stands among them? He’s returned! Same, and different all at once.
We all know ways that our lives have looked so different this past year, and hopefully some of the things we love and the ways we appreciate being—hopefully some of those are returning for you. I know they are for me. And, for one, it is good to be in-person for worship and fellowship and learning when we can. That’s just one “return”!
And the deeper blessing for us, I believe, is that God doesn’t leave or forsake us. We sense the gifts of the Spirit among each other and for each other, and the presence of Love is always with us in our changes and returns. In fact, it’s always been there. But what an Easter blessing: this is the time of year we can see it, sense it, hear it (and hopefully feel it and believe it).
Returning, with Alleluia’s, to God who is so gracious and merciful,
+Pastor Shaun