Dear Friends in Christ:

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!!

Like you, I have stood beside too many death beds and graves: parishioners, family, friends, and (cruelest of all) children. I am not a big fan of the “death is a natural part of life” approach. It may be technically true but I recoil when confronted with the reality of that awful stillness where there once was vibrant life. Death mocks us. Death robs us.

The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!!

About 2000 years ago, yet another itinerant preacher named Jesus strode onto the scene proclaiming; “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” I understand that he was not the only one. His name was not unusual. (It is essentially Joshua, “the Lord saves.”) His message was not unusual. (There was an absolute fervor for the coming of the messiah who would drive out the Romans and establish a new kingdom under God.) There were other such preachers throughout the period.

The Romans and the Sanhedrin (temple rulers) did what they usually did when they felt like someone was getting out of line. They made an example of him: crucified, dead, and buried— just like so many who had come before and would come after. It is business as usual.

Usually, the preacher's followers would scatter and the movement would disintegrate. Jesus of Nazareth's followers report that they ran for their lives and cowered in terror, afraid that they might be next. They had seen death and wanted no part of it.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

We are blessed to have baptisms coming up fast. Easter Day is one of the very best times to baptize people into the Body of Christ!  We say some pretty audacious things at baptisms. We proclaim that these beautiful, precious children are “buried with Christ in his death.”. Please do not gloss over that. This borders on insanity. What do we parents fear most? For me, this names it: death. We claim Jesus' death for our children.

The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!

Inside of two months after Jesus' death, his followers are found to be out in the streets proclaiming loudly that they have seen Jesus risen!! He is the Messiah! He is the Lord! Through this “Christ” God has conquered death! Through Christ, God has reconciled humanity to God! The divisions are broken down! Remember that these are the same people who were hiding in terror while Jesus was being tried and crucified. Something happened; something so life changing that they were not afraid any more. There were no riches or power to be gained. In fact most of them were executed in various ways. The accounts tell us that even in death, they praised God for the freedom and joy that they had received through Jesus Christ!

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

What we claim for our children in baptism is this: “In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.” Human life is wonderful, playful, love filled and holy. This is what God created us to be. Human life has also fallen into sin: selfishness, hatred, fear, addiction, domination. In Christ we die to that sin. That is to say, we are given a new opportunity to become what we were created to be. In baptism we choose life: the life of Jesus' resurrection, life that cannot be removed from us in suffering or even our final breath. We exist as a church solely to proclaim this life in Christ. For our baptismal candidates we will once again promise to do all in our “power to support these persons in their life in Christ.” I tell folks preparing for baptism that the people of St. John’s will keep this promise. We will provide a community in which to grow in faith, worship, education, pastoral care, fellowship, good examples, and love. This is what we are. We are the disciples proclaiming the Good News.

The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!!

                                                                 Your brother in Christ,

                                                                        Wilson +