A Resurrection Sighting
Post date: Apr 13, 2022 1:55:38 PM
Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,
Blessings to you during this most holy of weeks.
On a walk this week I noticed at the far end of one of the cemeteries along Kings Highway a bush of dead sticks with glorious color on top of it. I thought someone must have decorated the bush with some bright ribbons for Easter. I made a mental note that I would check it out on my way back and kept on going. On my return trip I entered the cemetery and noticed that someone had indeed festooned the plant with color — nature, or rather, God had. These were no ribbons but beautiful flowers emerging from what seemed dead. I smiled and thought, well, isn’t this little bush a perfect illustration of the resurrection?
What was thought to be dead is really alive.
Beloved of God, this week is an opportunity for us to reflect and listen for God as we journey with Jesus toward the cross. But this journey does not end in death; in fact, something wonderful happens, something that defies all acts of the imagination of what should have been. For you see, even though Jesus died, life couldn’t be kept from blooming. God so loved the world — God so loves this world — that God wasn’t then and isn’t now going to let death crush grace, for nothing can stop God’s plan of love for all people.
The Consistory and I invite you to experience the beauty of God’s love and abundant grace at our various worship opportunities during Holy Week. And please make sure to come, and bring a friend on Easter Sunday at either 7 AM for our Sunrise Service in the Meditation Garden or at 10:30 AM when we will celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the joy-filled life he brings. We will have special music from the Handbell Choir, the New Jericho Choir, and the Joyful Noise Adult Choir. And, of course, we will have our annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children on the Great Lawn of the church after worship. Please know that all worship will also be streamed on Facebook live except the 7 AM Sunrise worship.
As you come to worship, we ask that you consider being generous in your Easter offering in addition to your regular offering, as we rely on your faithful giving to support the ministries of God’s church. And please let me say thank you for all the wonderful ways you already give to the life of our church. You are a loving people.
May God bless your Holy Week journey. I look forward to worshiping with you in the coming days as we walk the way of the cross into the glory of resurrection.
In gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,
Pastor Trish