News and Notes

From the Pastor

Sitting in the pews of the church that raised me, I flipped through the pages of the United Methodist Hymnal every Sunday. I would spend time in the songs of Jesus’ birth, his life, his death, and his resurrection. Since you will be receiving this before April 1, we will take a quick (but not all inclusive) journey through Holy Week song lyrics:

”Hosanna, loud Hosanna!”
“Let us Break Bread together on our knees”
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
“What wondrous love is this? O, my soul”
“Up from the Grave, He arose!” “He arose!”
“Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!”

Beloveds, I share these lyrics and pray that you sense what they express: joy, wonder, despair, hope, love, and the kind of community God imagines for God’s creation: God’s kingdom. We have been praying to join in the holy work of imagination with God because as children of God, we are children of hope. We are children, who even in the midst of despair, have the audacity to hope and to rejoice. To still be able to experience awe and wonder. To give thanks. To even, dare I say it, laugh? I invite you to join us for Holy Humor (aka Laughter) Sunday on April 12. Laughter Sunday is a Christian tradition coming from Bavaria in the 15th century called Risus Paschalis, or God’s Joke, or the Easter Laugh, referring to the ultimate joke God played on Satan by raising Jesus from the dead. Priests would share jokes and amusing stories in the worship service to make people laugh. People would play practical jokes on one another after service. Can you imagine? Well, I invite you to imagine! Because we are going to do it! After worship on Sunday, April 12 is our Town Hall Meeting where you will receive updates from the Leadership Team and other important news from Ministry Teams. Bring your silly spirit and your sense of beloved community.

Until next time, sweet ones, all my love,
Pastor Melissa

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