Rev. Zach

I found this in my drafts folder. It's a little early yet, as it is from Eater a few years back. Not sure why I never published it. Psalm 118:19‐24       Acts 10:34-43       Luke 24:1-12  It was the women who accompanied him to the tomb. It was the women who dutifully prepared the spices and oils to give dignity to a decomposing body. This was not uncommon. It was one of the roles of women in society at the time. Perhaps it was because they were discounted and lacking power and influence that they were also humble enough to want to care for the dead and dying. Perhaps it is because of their role in bringing life into the world that they understood its passing more sincerely. It was the women, in all four gospels, who were the first to proclaim the good news – the gospel truth – that HE IS RISEN! In reading and reflecting on this passage, I wonder what it must have felt like to proclaim that truth for the first time. [three members perform “The T...

Readings: Acts 10:34-43 , Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 , John 20:1-18 Followers of Jesus throughout the world are gathering together on this Easter Sunday to celebrate the most basic confession of the Christian faith. He is risen! (Congregation responds: He is risen indeed!) So much has already been said in these few words. The man born as Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One of God who revealed God’s true nature for once and for all. This Jesus died and was raised by the power of God ( Acts 2:23-25 ), and because he is risen we know that there is no power, no other defining moment, no force of will or nature that can divert or dislodge or dissolve the claim of God’s love upon our lives! He is risen! (Congregation responds: He is risen indeed!) Yes! And because of that, faithful believers and curious seekers have followed the same pattern set out in scripture since day one. It is the pattern we see in our Gospel reading, and it is most likely a pattern that you experienced this ...