My Sisters and Brothers,
Alleluia, Christ has risen. The Lord has risen indeed.
We had a glorious service Easter with ninety-four in attendance. We owe a great deal of thanks to all those who helped get everything together for the service and those who at the last minute stepped in to cover for our members who fell ill with another round of Covid. Easter Sunday is always a special time in the life of the church. It and Christmas are times when visitors are often present and when they get to take part in our forte’, the liturgy of the church. There are downsides to such celebrations. This coming Sunday is often called “low Sunday” because, after the excitement of Easter, it often has one of the lowest attendances of the church year. The church I was a member of before coming to Kentucky to enter seminary was plagued by this problem until they found a novel way to elevate the day. The church was located in Charleston, South Carolina, near both the ocean and the intercoastal waterway. One day, someone suggested, why not have “breakfast by the sea” the Sunday after Easter? Instead of gathering at the church, we met by the water and had grilled seafood, burgers, and hot dogs. There were games for the young people, lawn chairs and umbrellas to provide shade and plenty of side dishes. We celebrated the Eucharist and by the time I moved to Lexington, its attendance rivaled both Christmas and Easter. I think for some, the idea of worship is only what goes on inside the nave of the church house. I love our liturgy, but it is easy to forget that being in church is much more than formal worship. One needs only to step back and watch when we gather like we did Sunday for our meal after the worship service. They are times to catch up, to eat with each other. Times when young and old can sit down together, talk, and laugh with each other. When I was at St. John’s, Corbin, someone gave the church a print of a sketch where Jesus’ head was bent back in laughter. Some visitors took offense at it. I even remember one person affirming that “Jesus never laughed.” Yes, he had some serious work to do, but if he was a solum as this person thought he should be, I’m pretty sure few people would have been drawn to him and followed him. After all, didn’t he teach that he came to bring life and bring it abundantly?
Alleluia, Christ has risen. The Lord has risen indeed. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Alleluia.
Bryant+
The office will be closed for the remainder of the week due to illness.
