Will the daffodils survive the storm? I wondered this after one day seeing the green shoots emerge from their long winter sleep, and then the next day watching winter continue with a blanket of snow. I am grateful that these hardy perennial plants have not been defeated. The snow has melted and the flowers have once again bloomed. These annual heralds of spring bring me joy and hope.

As the years pass the beauty of creation becomes even more meaningful to me. As Father Richard Rohr has suggested, “one of the foundational reasons for our sense of isolation and unhappiness is that we have lost our contact with nature.” Buds on trees, birds returning with their song and flowers coming forth from the earth not only proclaim that warmer weather and longer day light hours are soon arriving, but they are a regular reminder of Jesus and His Easter resurrection. We need these reinforcements of the paschal mystery. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Every Sunday the faith community gathers for the primary purpose of remembering Jesus and His resurrection. It is important that we keep doing this because it is so easy to forget this miracle. The blessing is that the more we remember the presence of Christ, the more we see the evidence of His loving impact throughout our lives.

After our long Lenten fast from proclaiming aloud our Easter Alleluia, I invite you to join with me in treasuring this message in your heart and keeping it regularly on your lips. Creation harmonizes with what God has done by raising Jesus from the grave. Keep awake to see the signs of this new and emerging reality. Faith in our gracious God and a life lived in Christ provide us with loving evidence that is too beautiful and wonderful to miss!

Pastor’s Vacation

Please note that Pastor John Holliday will be on vacation from April 15th through April 23rd.  Barbara Fitzgerald will preach and lead worship  on April 21st. Pastor Peggy Niederer of Grace Lutheran Church in Teaneck, NJ will be available to provide for urgent pastoral needs while Pastor    Holliday is away.  Pastor Niederer can be reached at  201-403-4341. 

Pastor Holliday will return to the church office on Wednesday, April 24th.