Dear Easter people,
Alleluia. Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
This is the jubilant call and response for the Fifty Days of Easter. The shout that Christ is risen always demands a response from us. It requires a response and urges forth a new commitment on our part. I’ve been immersed in commitment and recommitment for these last 2 weeks.
When the new vestry was commissioned on a recent Sunday morning, members were asked to commit to serve diligently, to be faithful in prayer and stewardship, to seek the will of Christ above their own, and at all times and in all ways to seek to honor God and to benefit the parish. By their response of “I will” they committed to follow Christ and exemplify his care for this church.
On the Tuesday of Holy Week, all the clergy of the Diocese are gathered by our Bishop to renew our ordination vows. I recommitted myself to the responsibility to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to love and serve you, to celebrate the sacraments with you, to read and study Holy Scriptures, to be a faithful pastor, and to persevere in prayer --- and that’s about half the list!
By my response of “I will” I committed myself to nourish you, the people of Jesus Christ, from the riches of his grace and to strengthen you to glorify and serve God.
At the Easter Vigil, we all joined with those to be baptized in renewing our own baptismal covenant with God - five promises to God and one another to live as faithful disciples of Christ. By our “I will, with God’s help” we commit to continue our journey into Christ together.
I do not think the commitments of the baptismal covenant are in a random order. The very first promise we make is to “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.”
We commit to come together week after week to worship, learn, and be fed by Word and Sacrament - not just when it is convenient, or when there is nothing else going on in our busy lives.
I am constantly amazed, puzzled, and saddened by the number of other activities that are scheduled, especially for our children, on Sunday mornings. It is part of my vow, as your priest, to call you to remember that the regular reception of Holy Communion is vital for the nourishment and health of our souls. For our spiritual lives to be healthy and strong, they must be fed week after week.
While I certainly know that there are times and reasons why folks must be absent from worship and Christian education, I ask all of you to recommit to making these two activities the primary focus of your Sunday lives.
When you are not at table or in class with the family of Christ, you are missed. We are not whole without you. We need the support and fellowship of one another and God is greatly glorified by our enlivened worship. I know Scripture says “when two or three are gathered,” but I don’t think this was talking about Sunday morning worship and Christian formation!
Come and worship, Easter people. Christ is risen - let all that is within us respond in love and renew our commitment to him and to his Body, the church.
God’s peace,
Mother Gail+
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