Dear Caldwell,
Easter greetings to each of you on what is beautiful spring day. I pray that you were spared any major damage in Sunday night’s storms and that their brief but forceful visit did not take away the joy we all felt on Sunday morning as we raised our “Alleluias.”
When we ran to the tomb to find it empty on Sunday morning, we admitted that we all have our “Peter” days when we have to see all the evidence, gather the data and be convinced of resurrection … and, on our best days, like the beloved disciple, we simply “see and believe.” Jesus greets us the same either way and speaks our name, whether we mistake him for the gardener or immediately recognize him as our teacher.
Yes, Easter arrived and the realities of the pandemic and how it has reshaped our lives did not suddenly changed. As we move into the 50-day season of Eastertide, we will have our moments when we wish it did all suddenly go away. But because that’s not likely, my prayer for all of us is that we can “see and believe” even if our immediate reality take longer than we’d like to change.
Believe that “this too shall pass.” Believe that Christ is risen. Believe that our bond as a community is as strong as ever and our call to serve is as constant as ever.
Unfortunately, we have some tough news to share. Our friend and brother Leroy Stinson’s cancer is spreading and he has called in Hospice to help ensure his comfort in this last stage of life. He will move from the hospital today to be at home with his wife in Wingate. Our hearts break at the thought that we cannot be near him to express our love and gratitude. Gail and I will keep you informed as we learn more.
Otherwise in the life of the church, we lift up several of our committees as they hold important meetings this week- Hearth, Hope, Touchpoint and the Finance Committee.
The Preachers Porch discussion gathers as usual tonight at 7 p.m. We will think about the words in 1 Peter 1:3-9. Via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/313226491
Caldwell’s Earth Care Ministry team invites everyone to an online meeting Wednesday at 4 p.m. at https://zoom.us/j/238386693
Vespers switches to 8 p.m. Thursdays as its ongoing time.
Let us keep dear Leroy and his family in prayer, asking God to draw especially near him in comfort and assurance and reminding him of how he is loved by his Caldwell family. And, in our living, let us strive to be those who simply “see and believe” as we demonstrate our Easter faith on each day we are given.
In Christ,
John