Pastor's Pen
A monthly message from the hand of Pastor Stockman
Easter is like awaiting the birth of a child or counting the days before an awesome vacation. There is much anticipation as we wait! Easter Sunday, the church was full and we were filled with anticipation. The hymns announced Christ is risen! We enjoyed the beautiful Easter Lilies and seeing the church decorated for Easter. We sang fantastic hymns of joyful celebration! We had a mountain-top experience.
Easter is now past, and the lilies are beginning to wilt. The Easter hymns are filed away until next year. It is just another day. Or is it? God's word echoes with the theme of Easter. God raised Jesus from the dead. If you take the time to think about this, it is a marvelous thing! Jesus suffered, died, and rose on that glorious Easter morning so we can walk in the newness of life.
Easter is over, so what do we do now? Unlike Cadbury eggs that are gone so quickly, Easter is a season that continues the joy of Christ's resurrection every day of our lives. We continue to celebrate the resurrection on the Sundays following Easter as a reminder of the ongoing importance and relevance of Christ's resurrection. It is something so great it cannot be celebrated in one Sunday. It is reflected in the church calendar. It is a powerful tool to assist us in remembering the life and times of our resurrected Lord. Christians have used the church calendar for centuries to provide daily and seasonal signposts of hope throughout the year. There is so much to celebrate about our Lord. Every season of the church year is important as it unfolds the richness of what God has accomplished for us in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
May God continue to bless us as we work together to build the kingdom of God here at Zion. May God empower us to encourage and care for each other as we walk together with Christ. May the good news of the resurrection motivate and encourage each of us to attend worship and Bible classes. The Holy Scripture and the Confessions teach us that worship is vital to the life of God's people. Worship is not an option for us as Christians, nor is it an option for the Church. It is the very substance, the essence of Christian faith and life.
Communion with God through His Word and holy sacraments is essential to us as people of God. The worship of the Lutheran Church is a celebration of the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate our Lord opening the gates of heaven for us through his life, death, and resurrection. To God be the Glory!!
Your Servant in Christ,
Rev. Reed Stockman