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SUNDAY READINGS
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 20:19-31
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April 17, 2009
From the Rector's Desk
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed. Alleluia!
With those stirring acclamations we burst upon the Easter scene last Sunday morning, grateful that we had traversed the long expanse of Lent and the deep road of Holy Week. The Resurrection changes everything for us, and it was a special joy to worship with you on Easter Sunday.
During my growing up years Easter was only one day—an important one, certainly, but once it was over we were back to the other important observances such as Spring, Mother's Day, and in the too distant future, the last day of school. But the resurrection launches not just a day but a season—it's an event that we continue to celebrate and reflect upon for a number of weeks. After all, the Risen Lord appeared to many over 40 days in a variety of places, so the early church was used to the idea of the 'season' of resurrection. In the days ahead we will also gather together in the confident hope that we will catch a vision of the Risen Christ in our midst, even as we move toward the Ascension, Pentecost and Trinity Sunday (with Mother's Day somewhere in the mix).
In recapping our celebration of the Resurrection last Sunday we affirmed two important and complementary truths of the event: namely, that it is 'fact', and that it is the source of our spiritual life. Too often these are not claimed together as the church either feels it must prove the resurrection through various evidences to skeptics, or that the idea of physical resurrection is so strident to modern sensibilities that we should offer it only as spiritual reality. These vital affirmations are made against the backdrop of the cross—that the suffering of Jesus is forever linked to his resurrection, and vice versa.
The first Christians had no trouble accepting the resurrection as a 'done deal'—as physical fact. They visited the empty tomb, they saw the risen Lord and even ate with him on occasion. It's clear that the impetus behind the Christian movement and the New Testament itself is the accepted reality by those who knew Jesus of the fact of the resurrection. As I quoted Sunday from C.S. Lewis in Miracles, "The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection". To the converts in the Corinthian church who were questioning the resurrection St. Paul was very clear—"Christ has indeed been raised from the dead..." (I Cor. 15:20). However people wish to interpret the actions and words of the New Testament it's clear that the first believers were exactly that—those who believed in the resurrection and would give everything, including their own lives, because of it.
But it's important that we not stop there—that we not simply point to an event 2,000 years in our rear view mirror claiming its historicity and nothing else. The resurrection is a reality for us today, and is the source of our life. Because of the resurrection we are taken up into the life of Christ, called and enabled to live a new way of life—a life we could not live on our own. In Colossians we are pointed to this new reality of resurrection life for us, "Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3: 1-4). The resurrection is our source of spiritual life today, and baptism is a picture of our dying to sin and being raised to new life in him, even as he died and resurrected. We acclaim this each week in our communion as the 'mystery of faith': "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again". The truth and power and beauty of the cross and resurrection is not a distant fact of theology, or something just to be argued about with skeptics... but it is the very pulsing, vibrant, verdant reality that gives us the hope to go on, to believe, and to live. It is not able to be fully grasped or comprehended, yet we must become like children in simplicity to see it.
I look forward to worshiping with you in the weeks to come as we grow in our Easter journey together, even as we continue to shout "Alleluia, Christ is Risen!".
Jay
The Rev. Jay L. Greener, Rector
Church of the Redeemer
frjay@redeemernorthshore.org
An Easter Season Ordination
Please join in worship and celebration on Monday evening April 27th at 7pm, as Bishop Sandy Greene will ordain Ryan Hofacre to the Sacred Order of Deacons. Ryan is being ordained after a long season of preparation, discernment and faithful ministry among us. It is being held on a weeknight as that is the only availability Bishop Sandy has for a while, so we hope you'll spread the word as we come together to affirm Ryan and his call. Please be in prayer as we approach this important service of worship and commitment.
Parenting Teens
Mark your calendars now and spread the word that our 9am hour will return for a few weeks in early May in order to encourage our families. Dr. Perry Downs, Professor of Educational Ministries at Trinity, will teach on "Parenting Teens". Perry has been at Trinity since 1976 and is known around the world as one of the key figures in Christian education. His book on Teaching for Spiritual Growth is a classic, and he has taught many of the educators now serving in positions of leadership globally.
Perry also brings deep personal experience to his insights on parenting, as he and his wife Sandy have been foster parents to more than 30 children. Plan on being with us on May 10th and 17th at 9am, and invite those you know will be encouraged by his helpful teaching on raising children, especially in the tough teen years.
Journey to Rwanda
This summer a small team from Church of the Redeemer will travel to Rwanda to strengthen ties with our sister parish, St. Michael's church, and Sonrise School, and to deliver words of blessing and encouragement as the nation observes the 15th anniversary of the genocide. We will also receive much that we will bring back to Redeemer, even as we begin to plan a trip there next year with more people from our church.
Our Rector, Jay, will be traveling with Jason Miller and filmmaker Mark Rosengren (son of Ricki and Tom) in the latter part of June. They will serve as ambassadors from our church to St. Michael's and will help to re-establish a ministry of presence in Rwanda that we have not had for several years. Fr. Jay will be speaking at St. Michael's on June 21st sharing greetings from Church of the Redeemer. We also hope to present a plaque and a photo of our entire congregation to mark the ongoing and renewing relationship.
Each one traveling will contribute some personal funds to this endeavor as well as seek financial support outside of our church, but it is the privilege and responsibility of each of us to participate as we can, in support and prayer. This trip is not included in our budget for this year, but the Vestry has discerned that it is important that it go forward. The total cost is $9,000, with the largest part of that being airfare, and we have received offerings of $1,000 so far to cover this. Any funds raised in excess will be set aside for future trips from Redeemer people.
Thank you for praying for this, and for contributing in order to make this journey of encouragement possible. Whether you are able to give $5, $25 or $2500 this is a connection between everyone at Redeemer and everyone at St. Michael's. We're working on an event in May that will allow us to celebrate this relationship and 'send off' the team. Stay tuned for details.
Sonrise Banquet Benefit
Church of the Redeemer has been a key partner to Rwanda's Sonrise School for over 10 years, providing a significant portion of their annual operating expenses. Work is underway for this year's benefit, to be held in October. Would you like to serve on a team to help make that event as effective as possible? We need creative people who can help with designing an invitation, table decorations (centerpieces), mailing, set up, take down, publicity etc. Contact the Event Coordinator, Michele Becker, at 847-729-7455, or by email : michele.p.becker[at]comcast.net
Alpha Update
Several Alpha courses are underway this Spring, sponsored by Church of the Redeemer. Pray for those involved, especially those who have not previously made commitments of Christian faith. Pray also for our upcoming weekend retreat, May 2-4. For more information contact Ricki Rosengren, rickirosie[at]sbcglobal.net.
Stewardship at Redeemer
Thank you for your faithful giving to Kingdom work through Church of the Redeemer. God is blessing in many ways, providing employment and other provision as we pray together as His people. At Easter, as we celebrate the glorious Resurrection, we respond in the giving of our lives to God, in renewed commitment and devotion. May God continue to provide the resources for all He is calling us to, as we openly respond out of gratitude.
Offering last week: $5,223
Offering needed each week: $6,600
Upcoming Events...
April 17-18 — Vestry Retreat
April 27th — Ryan Hofacre Ordination
May 2-4 — Alpha Retreat
May 8 — Growing Leaders
and Youth Retreat event
May 10 — Dr. Perry Downs , "Parenting Teens"
Graduates Sunday, for those graduating college, graduate school, seminary...
May 17 — Parenting Teens, cont'd
Please pray for . . .
- The mission and vision of Church of the Redeemer
- God's provision and will in these days
- Ryan Hofacre and other leaders
- Alpha
- Sallie Vroom, and all who need healing
- Our Vestry retreat
- St. Michael's in Rwanda and Sonrise School
- Prayer, Discipleship and Outreach through Redeemer
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