Alleluia! He is Risen!!! As we approach the season of Easter after our 40 days of wandering in the wilderness of our lives we can begin to see the first sprigs of life in creation coming to life once again; we can begin to see new life all around us, those things that have been dead are coming to life once again, those things that have been knocked down are being raised up. Alleluia! 

We have just completed our first six months together as priest and parish. This journey we began is now in full swing. I am encouraged by the number of people who responded to the recent survey and who courageously stated those ministries that interest them. It is with hopeful anticipation that we held a training last Sunday for greeters, lectors, chalice bearers and worship leaders. There is also a list of 8 people who have said they would like to sing in the choir. What this says to me is that you are a people who love to serve God and only desire the invitation and assurance that you are welcome and indeed encouraged to do so. 

The new vestments for the Acolytes have just arrived and will be debuted on Easter Sunday. The spirit of energy here is contagious and we are so blessed to sense this as we approach the season of Resurrection. All things are made new in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia!!! 

You were asked to spend this Lenten journey praying for yourself, for your spiritual enrichment, your personal enlightenment and to pray and contemplate how you might be being called to be a part of the Body of Christ. I offer prayers of thanksgiving for the fruitfulness of this endeavor. The new and fresh participation by the people of Christ Church is a very positive statement to the direction in which we are going. There is nothing that breeds new life and energy like people getting excited about what they are doing. 

I encourage you to observe as we see new life begin in our Vestry, our Choir, our Ministry Assistants. Enthusiasm is exciting and that is what Jesus wants us to experience. We are called to be joyful Christians, to show the experience of a life of faith being one that makes us all we can be in a positive way. As I think of the faith of those who were sitting on the hillside the day over 5000 were fed with two fish and five loaves of bread they must have been astounded at the abundance created from such a meager offering. To me this is such a profound statement of how God works, when we offer ourselves and our gifts to the ministry of God’s church, no matter how small or insignificant we believe it to be, God will make it sufficient and when we are able to remove our own issues from the picture we will be surprised to see the abundance of blessings and results that God will bring about. 

May the blessings of this Easter season impact your life and enable you to see the goodness of God lived out in our community of faith. 

Alleluia! He is Risen!!!

     Mother Sue +