Now that the Easter bunny has gone back to his cave and all the chocolate eggs are on sale, we continue to celebrate the Easter holiday. This season of the church calendar is called Eastertide. We celebrate Christ’s resurrection for 50 days until the day of Pentecost. So, this might be the month of May but really it’s the continuation of a celebration that we have already started. Prolonged celebrations are not normal for us. For people that regularly clean up after the party and put everything back in its place it will be hard to continue. While introverts sigh now that the potluck has happened and life goes on, it does not mean the celebration stops. We have had our big to-do with Palm branches and visitors so that must mean that we have celebrated Easter and can move on to the next holy day. (By the way it’s The Ascension of the Lord on May 26, 2022) Some of us just skip to Christmas. The season in between does not mean much because they represent the dog days of the year. They are the place holders until the next big event. My challenge for us is to lean into the Eastertide this year with all its wonder, celebratory nature, and hope. What would it mean for us to live into the season? If we are going to be Easter people, then we must believe there is new life. We must consider that there is something being made new in us by the power of the Risen Christ.  Let us continue the celebration. Let us continue to look for new life around us. Let us pray to have “resurrection eyes” that allow us to see where God is wanting to do something new. Let us hope. We still have some time to experience the new life Easter proclaims.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, BUT HAS RISEN.  ⁶ Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” ⁸ Then they remembered his words… Luke 24:5b-8a

Pastor Joy