Pastor's Pen - March 2008

Dear Friends in Christ,

This year the Christian Church celebrates Easter on March 23, almost the earliest date possible. Following the more somber mood of Lent, we look forward to the joy of Easter and its season. In the midst of death and darkness in this world we see the light of new life in the promise of the risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. For six weeks the "alleluias" have been missing from our worship life. At Easter we will once again join our alleluias with those of God's people of every time and place. Together we will announce once again to the whole of God's creation that death has been defeated and that the promise of life now and always has become a reality for God's people.

Easter is filled with symbols that celebrate this gift of life. The flowers of the Easter gardens, the light of the Paschal candle, the joyous music, and the readings that speak of God's great victory are all helpful in directing our attention to that which is the essence of our faith, the death and resurrection of our Lord. During this season we are reminded again of our own baptisms and the promises that God made to us in those waters of life. In baptism we are clothed with Christ and are invited to "wear" him always. In life and in death and in the promise of new life, he is our protection against the powers and the forces of this world that would separate us from the love of God. Joining Mansfield, United has received funeral palls for use with both coffins and urns. Given in memory of Randy and Vern Braund by their parents, Bonnie and Vern, these palls witness to the world our belief that having died with Christ in the waters of baptism we will live with him in eternal life.

Flowers as lovely as they are will not last forever. Nations as strong and powerful as they may be will not last forever. Money and fame as tempting as they may be will not last forever. All that lasts forever is the unchanging love of God most clearly revealed, we believe, in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. It is that love and that promise that we share on Easter and always. As the Apostle Paul wrote, death has lost its sting and we have been given new life now and always.

Let us rejoice and live our lives in the promise of this Easter joy.