EASTER HAS BEEN CANCELLED… or has it?
Well, no doubt, this is an Historic Easter Sunday. Maybe the first time in church history where the church was not gathered for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
My favorite children’s book about Easter is, “The Best Thing About Easter” by Christine Harder Tangvald. It is about a little girl answering what she likes best about Easter. She is asked if hunting Easter eggs is her favorite thing about Easter. She responds that she loves hunting Easter eggs, but it is not the best thing about Easter. She responds the same about ducks and bunnies, spring flowers and candy. Finally, she is asked if getting all dressed up and going to church is the best thing about Easter. She says that she loves getting new clothes and seeing all her friends at church, but it is not the best thing about Easter. She says, “I like all of those things, but the most amazing part of God’s plan is that Jesus died and lives again…for me! It’s true! Because Jesus loves me, you see. He loves you too! Oh yes! I like Easter eggs and I like Easter candy and I like soft furry bunnies and fuzzy ducks, and I like getting all dressed up and being together on Easter Sunday, but…the BEST THING about Easter is Jesus! I’m glad Jesus loves me! I’m really, really glad, aren’t you? Happy Easter everyone!”
A friend of mine wrote:
“We might not celebrate what Easter has become in secular society. There may be no new clothes bought for Sunday. We might not hide and hunt eggs with large groups of people. We might not be able to travel to attend worship services with our extended families, but we will celebrate Easter! We should celebrate Easter every Sunday. We celebrate our RISEN Savior every day! Sure, I do not like the fact that we are not all together under one roof singing, worshipping, and fellowshipping, but we are all together in Spirit! We are the Body of Christ, equipped for every good work. This is the time for the church to shine. This is the time to share the good news with our neighbors. God did not create a building called “church” for us to attend once a week and enjoy each other’s company, like a country club. He designed us, the Church, to be His hands and feet. Now is the time to do what we have been called and equipped to do!
If you need some ideas, look at Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus said to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, show hospitality to strangers, look after the sick, visit those in prison. Of course, this may be a little tricky at this time, but we certainly were not told to sit at home and do nothing. We can write letters, make phone calls, FaceTime, check on our neighbors. This would be the actual best time ever to start worshipping as a family. Read the Bible together. For younger families, find a children’s Bible and read a story each night. Jesus is alive! He is alive in our hearts and He is alive and active in and through you, the church!
Have a blessed, wonderful, spectacular celebration of our Risen Savior!
PASTOR GREG