Dear Caldwell,
It’s hard to imagine all the emotions that Jesus’ followers experienced in the days following the resurrection. Hope and mystery connected to the empty tomb. Disbelief and/or euphoria as some reported sightings, conversations and even a fire-roasted fish breakfast on the lakeshore with the Risen Savior. Fear about what the world and the authorities might make of these claims. And on an on.
We call the 50-day season from Easter to Pentecost Eastertide – and that’s an apt description of the rush,ebb and flow of the emotions and thoughts that must have run through the disciples then and which run through us now as we consider the mystery and meaning of the resurrection. Tomorrow, as we consider our “newness in life” on this side of the cross, Liz Wagner will preach a sermon titled “Life Is ….” based on 1 John 1:1-2:2 and John 20:19-31 (the storyof “doubting Thomas”). If you’re up early, join us for breakfast with Caldwell House at 8:30 (and/or help make breakfast beginning at 7). In Sunday school, we begin a study of the beatitudes – a great time to adopt Sunday school participation as a renewed spiritual discipline.
SEVERAL IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT TOMORROW:
* We’ve just learned that the parking lot across 5th street from the church will be closed tomorrow due to some work the hospital is doing (restriping, etc.). You may park on 5th, Travis and in the medical offices’ lot next to the Price Building. You may also park at Elizabeth Elementary School.
* 7th Street between Caswell and Hawthorne is closed this weekend. You can take 5th or Central or Randolph as alterantives.
* Member Linda Matney will present readings from her book Imaging Heaven at 3 pm Sunday at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter (2701 Park Road). I’m sure she’d love to have some Caldwell family there.
* From 2 until 6 p.m. Sunday, Charlotte Family Housing (CFH) will host a benefit in Independence Park – a walk begins at 3 p.m. and a celebration with food, enterntainment and children’s activities begins at 4:30. (You could go to Linda’s reading and then come to the park). CFH is a neighboring non-profit in Elizabeth, a Caldwell ally and the city’s leading agency focused on solutions for homeless families.
ONE MORE IMPORTAT NOTE: As you will read about in the April edition of our newsletter (out tomorrow – grab a copy!), the Session has voted to shift our worship on Sunday, April 29, to the closing worship service at the PCUSA National Mulitcultural Church Conference at the Hilton University at 8:30 a.m. THERE WILL BE NO WORSHIP AT CALDWELL APRIL 29. See my column in the newsletter for more.
In this season of hope, I close with one double-take piece of joyful news. Our worship attendance on Easter was 280, a new high for the new Caldwell and probably more people in regular worship here in well over a decade. Thanks be to God. Happy Eastertide!
In Christ,
John