Risen indeed

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!
We get two different perspectives on Christ's resurrection in our readings this morning like we get two different perspectives in our worship. First we get a very simple, outdoor service celebrating Christ's resurrection in the beauty of nature as a new day dawns. That will be at 6 am at the end of Duran Park. It's parking area "B" but you won't actually see that sign if you're coming from the Culver side. Then we have the more detailed, but still straightforward and lovely service at 10 at Laurelton. During that service we'll have the pleasure of welcoming a new member and flowering our cross.

The readings follow the services in a way. Our first reading is a basic summary of the good news of God's love in Jesus that Peter shares with a group of gentiles who have gathered to hear his message. One of the things I love about the preaching in the New Testament is that it's not complicated or pretentious; instead it's right to the point of God's love. Our reading from Matthew is also fairly straightforward, but instead of an overview of Christ's ministry we simply get an snapshot of that first Easter morning. I hope your day is starting with joy and that God brings about a new awakening of life within us today.

God bless,
Sam

Acts 10:34-43

34Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality,35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.



39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”



*Sunday

Matthew 28:1-10

1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”


8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”