Greetings From the Pastor
Pastor DeStephano's May Reflection
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
This year, it seems so strange to me that when we should be celebrating with great joy as a community in the resurrection of the Lord, we are cut off from each other. Our Easter Season call and response is not as it should be. Our refrain above seems muted and we do not hear a joyous and chorused response.
When it comes to our Easter greeting, it reminds us of who er are and what we have in common. These words about the resurrection of Jesus Christ bring us together and unite us. In these words, we are centered on what it means to be a Christian and what you believe as a people of God.
The response we use in Easter is riddled throughout our worship service. It is a constant presence and possibly upholds and holds together our Easter liturgy.
As a pastor, I enjoy the opening line, "Christ is risen!" and looking to see if anyone in the worship service has fallen asleep. It is interesting to catch someone off-guard with this phrase and know that those unready will need to respond quickly or when the while congregation responds and that person is behind. It is the little joys in life that keeps pastors going.
In these days, perhaps we ought to say this response to keep ourselves awake. While we are separated from each other, it is easy to fall asleep and to forget the joy that is ours through the resurrected Lord. Jesus exhorts us to remain awake and when he returns. Also, maybe we need to remain awake as a way to remember who we are and what we are about. Maybe we need to remain awake so that the resurrection of Christ does not startle us. Maybe we need to remain awake so that we can see the resurrection in this world as something present, not far off.
We are the people of God and we live in the promise of not only Christ's resurrection but ours as well!
Christ is risen!
Her is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor DeStephano
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
This year, it seems so strange to me that when we should be celebrating with great joy as a community in the resurrection of the Lord, we are cut off from each other. Our Easter Season call and response is not as it should be. Our refrain above seems muted and we do not hear a joyous and chorused response.
When it comes to our Easter greeting, it reminds us of who er are and what we have in common. These words about the resurrection of Jesus Christ bring us together and unite us. In these words, we are centered on what it means to be a Christian and what you believe as a people of God.
The response we use in Easter is riddled throughout our worship service. It is a constant presence and possibly upholds and holds together our Easter liturgy.
As a pastor, I enjoy the opening line, "Christ is risen!" and looking to see if anyone in the worship service has fallen asleep. It is interesting to catch someone off-guard with this phrase and know that those unready will need to respond quickly or when the while congregation responds and that person is behind. It is the little joys in life that keeps pastors going.
In these days, perhaps we ought to say this response to keep ourselves awake. While we are separated from each other, it is easy to fall asleep and to forget the joy that is ours through the resurrected Lord. Jesus exhorts us to remain awake and when he returns. Also, maybe we need to remain awake as a way to remember who we are and what we are about. Maybe we need to remain awake so that the resurrection of Christ does not startle us. Maybe we need to remain awake so that we can see the resurrection in this world as something present, not far off.
We are the people of God and we live in the promise of not only Christ's resurrection but ours as well!
Christ is risen!
Her is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor DeStephano