Sunday Stretch: Easter 2024
He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!
Winter decided to blow into Minnesota just in time for the Monday of Holy Week this year, long after the closure of most local ski hills and just in time for the day that happened to be my 39th birthday.
As tends to happen around Holy Week, all sorts of other strange and unexpected calamities have popped up in my personal and professional life (everyone is OK - but feel free to send some extra prayers for healing, recovery, and rest our way; and we do have a family member who’s awaiting surgery this week, so please pray for him, too).
And as usual - because Spring Break always comes right in the midst of Holy Week - I’m writing to you in advance of Easter, in the midst of the traditional challenge of finding words for resurrection when Lent still wrestles in the depths of my heart, and I feel the heaviness of the journey to the Cross.
My prayer for all of you on this Resurrection Sunday is that you have a local church community with whom to shout Alleluia(!) today. The local church is often imperfect and always sinful, in large and small ways, in its striving, and yet I must always remember that it is this very church, made up of imperfect humans, that God somehow entrusted Jesus’ mission unto, in ways made holy by virtue of its very striving and imperfection.
For those of you leading worship in various ways this Sunday, may you too feel the buoyant energy of Jesus’ resurrection, and may you rest this afternoon and evening, assured that God was with you as you preached and served and sang and played, and that Jesus’ Gospel came alive in you.
For those of you, like George who wrote of his current distance from his local church community, I am grateful for our chance to gather here virtually as well. You each are important to me, and in your own way, you are reminders and signs of the power of the resurrection and Jesus’ Holy Spirit that God promises lives in us.
***
I undertook a vulnerable exercise this Holy Week and went back to watch some old Easter sermons of my own. In doing so, I found much that made me cringe. I also experienced that moment that many preachers and teachers do, where we find that maybe the person who needs to hear our sermons most is ourself.
In that vein of imperfect striving, this Easter I want to share with you a video of a sermon I gave 7 years ago, while I was serving as Pastor of a large Lutheran Church in Orange County, Calif. I preached this sermon near a hinge point of my life. I had a beautiful experience pastoring this Southern California congregation. This is the place where I gave birth to my second son, and our family was showered with love and affection and overflowing joy. And at the same time, during these years, American Christianity changed forever, with the widespread Christian embrace of Trump’s presidency, and the growing shadow of Christian Nationalism over many of the large churches throughout the country. This would call into question my own faith in Church Growth model churches, even as it was large churches and prominent pastors of those churches who had nurtured me at so many points in my own faith walk. I think in this sermon you can see me beginning to wrestle with these tensions, ones that I still am working through today, as I seek to follow the theology of the cross and not the prevailing American theology of glory.
Somehow, the Gospel carries through. I am grateful that even then my conviction of Jesus’ presence and purpose was rock solid. And I am so grateful to that congregation, and my pastoral colleague there, the Rev. Bob Mooney, for walking with me through such an important part of my life and ministry. (There is nothing like celebrating Easter morning in Southern California with Pastor Bob’s TODAY IS THE DAY joyful cheer. IYKYK).
Easter Gospel for 2024
Easter does not mean we will be unafraid.
Mark 16:1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Easter Prayer
Dear God,
Sometimes I find comfort in rules and routine; in knowing what I can expect. Sometimes it seems like the world is changing all the time, and I never know what to expect. Then, on Easter, you break all the rules again. God, you were never supposed to die. But you did: killed by capital punishment at the hands of a cruel and power-hungry empire and religious hierarchy. And then, God, not right away - but after three agonizing days - you rose again. You’re alive! You appeared first to those who perhaps would be least likely to be believed, your women disciples and friends. May I hear their testimony anew today. May I expect the unexpected in my own life, as you remind me that resurrection is indeed possible - even if it breaks all the rules.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
AMEN
An Invitation
A Community that prays for one another is transformed by the power of the Spirit. We’ve been praying for and with each other now for over a year! For the new year, and about once a quarter, I will re-start this space for prayer requests and praises. Please email with your own requests and I will share here with your permission!
We are beginning today a new season (EASTER) of the Church Year, which means I am re-starting our section here for prayer requests. Please hit REPLY to this email or leave a comment to add a public or private prayer request to this list. Thanks for praying with me!
For our Denker Family member, who is recovering from surgery this Easter.
For all those families and friends gathered today together to celebrate Easter, and all those who aren’t present for one reason or another - that we might share love and forgiveness and acceptance of one another.
For all churches, church leaders, musicians and volunteers who worked hard this season to add extra worship services and prepare for Easter; may You bless their words and work and help to build great community in local churches this season.
For Yulia Navalnaya, Dasha Navalnaya, friends and loved ones, and all those in the Russian resistance movement who are mourning the death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison. For courage, hope, fortitude, and support for all those who continue to fight for freedom in Russia and against the Putin authoritarian regime
For ongoing war and bloodshed in Israel and Gaza, that humanitarian pathways will be opened up to make way for food and supplies into Gaza, that a way forward out of war will be heard by Israel and Hamas, that all those in danger, including hostages, will be protected and set free.
For those who continue to live and fight in Ukraine, that the world will not turn away its attention from the plight of Ukrainians and their stand against authoritarian Russia.
For the United States and her politicians. That governmental leaders might see themselves as servants and examples, and for wisdom and courage for all who serve in government, especially the judicial system as it faces former President Trump’s cases.
For all of those living with and navigating chronic illnesses and injuries, and those who are caring for loved ones in need.
For all those who don’t have a safe place to live or enough food to eat, that they might be first and receive what they need.
For all those living with addiction and mental illness, that they might find a way into recovery
For farmers and all those preparing for planting season
For all around the world who face persecution for their religious beliefs, especially for religious minorities in places where governments sanction religion-based violence
For Christians to be emboldened to speak out courageously against anti-semitism and to acknowledge how we have been complicit in anti-semitic actions and speech against our Jewish siblings
For governments and leaders to prioritize climate change solutions and not be only ruled by profit or big business
For a dear friend of mine, and fellow pastor, who is confronting a recent cancer diagnosis and multiple surgeries. Grant her strength and comfort and healing in this season, and thank you for the news of successful surgeries so far!
For all the concerns deep on our hearts, that you hear and know and acknowledge, we pray …
From Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Good Friday to Easter morning today, dear God, we pray for our awareness of your presence, and for our joy in your resurrection!
In Jesus’ name we pray,
AMEN
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I am off next Sunday with family for Spring Break! The Sunday Stretch will return on Sunday, April 14.
P.S. …
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