[The sanctuary was filled, the Easter lilies were beautiful, the choir was superb as usual, the new sanctuary air conditioning worked to perfection, and even the sermon was "above average." We were also blessed to have former member, Joyce Lambert provide us with a video recording of the Easter scripture reading from John's Gospel. (See video recording below.) Joyce was a member of our Leadership Board and was on the committee that helped design our remodeled sanctuary. She moved to a new community before our church renovations were completed. It was great to hear her voice!]
O Risen Christ, we have come
to the garden, not alone, but with each other on this glorious Easter Sunday
morning. We came expecting to pay you our last respects, but we were startled
to find your tomb empty and lilies decorating what was supposed to be your
grave.
You have proven yet again
that there are no thorns or thistles that are too great for your love to
overcome, not even the thorns and thistles of when we have denied and betrayed
you. There really isn’t anything that you can’t overcome, is there? Not even
death itself!
Like Mary, we don’t want to
leave the Garden Tomb. We want to savor this joyous moment. We want to take in
the fresh scent of the flowers and cling to you. But you have something even
better in mind for us, yes even better than lingering here at the Garden Tomb. You
are calling each one of us to be your gardeners and sow seeds of resurrection
and new life wherever we go.
To the college students
walking by our church on their way to class. To the new neighbors who just moved
in down the street. To the people who come here for Monday Lunch. To the friend
who is anxious about an upcoming surgery. To the family grieving the loss of a
loved one.
Risen Christ, you are calling
each of us by name to be your gardeners in sowing seeds of love, hope, and new
life. Thank you for the good news of our faith that just doesn’t point back to
the Garden of Eden and the Garden Tomb, but also looks forward to that day when
all of your creation will be renewed and made whole again, that day when we
will find ourselves in the beautiful New Jerusalem Garden, where all the
nations of this world will know of your healing love.
We long for that day when
there will no longer be chemical or nuclear weapons. We long for that day when
there will no longer be wars or rumors of war. We long for that day when there
will be peace on earth.
Until that third and final
garden blossoms, we continue to pray the words that Jesus taught his disciples
and now invites us to say together,
“Our Father, who art in
heaven…”
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