May 20th, 2022

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

GREETINGS IN THESE 50 DAYS OF RESURRECTION REJOICING!

How can we help but wonder what God is up to as we keep looking at death or our dead ends with hope for new life in this season of resurrection?  I hope you will keep looking. As I look, I am surprised where I see signs of death and resurrection.

I read an article about some good news for newborn babies and their parents with a possible discovery of the cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  Dr. Carmel Harrington, a sleep expert whose son died of SIDS has spent the last 30 years searching and exploring this terrifying disorder that took the life of her son in 1991.  They have discovered a biochemical marker that could help detect babies more at risk for SIDS.  Public health campaigns have helped to dramatically decline the incidence of SIDS and yet it remains the major cause of sudden and unexpected infant deaths in western countries contributing to almost 50% of post-neonatal deaths.

This mother looked long and hard at a terrible death and was part of the effort to bring new life with possible intervention and answers for parents who have lost their babies to this syndrome as she says, “These families can now live with the knowledge that this was not their fault.”  Not 30 years ago but about 22 and 24 years ago, I remember well watching my babies sleep, watching for that rhythmic breath with prayers for them as simple as “now I lay them down to sleep, I pray dear Lord their souls to keep, keep them safe all through the night and wake them with the morning light.” 

Digging through my purse in search of something, my Epiphany word fell out among the mix. The slip of paper revealed the word, “Determination.” A good word for the Easter season as I look at death and hope for resurrection.  Determination is what I heard in the mother’s story.  Determination is what I hear in the stories in the book of Acts this Easter season.  Determination is God’s word as well.  God is determined to love this world and all its peoples.  Through death and resurrection, God’s love springs forth in the most surprising ways and places.  God is determined.  I see it throughout the biblical story, and I see it in my own life and over the years and in this community of faith and the world God created. 

Sometimes I wonder if what I am doing matters, especially the little things, the mundane, repetitive, daily kind of activities.  They seem at times a dead end that goes nowhere but faith, trust and determination have me look again and new life springs forth.  Where have you seen death and resurrection lately?

Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,

Pastor Connie Spitzack

May 12th, 2022

GREETINGS HOLY PEOPLE OF GOD,

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen because Jesus lives.  I hope you are sharing your stories of resurrection, of looking in the empty tomb and then turning to see new life again in these 50 days of Easter.

With this cold, wet and windy Spring meeting tropical tempts overnight, flowers and blooming trees are just popping.  We can almost see new life spring forth.  The colors of spring are so beautiful.  God is such an amazing artist with all the shades of green leaping forth sprinkled with whites and various shades of reds, pinks and purples.  The earth proclaims resurrection.  Keep looking and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see.  We know the disciples had a hard time recognizing the risen Christ at first.  Jesus can be mysterious in revealing himself.

For Mother’s Day, I received a book, “The Truth and Beauty: How the Lives and Works of England’s Greatest Poets Point the Way to a Deeper Understanding of the Words of Jesus.” by Andrew Klavan.  He was baptized into Christ Jesus late in life- in his 50s.  It is delightful to read of the excitement of his newly discovered faith and it breathes new life into my own faith journey. 

Klavan speaks of his deepened relationship with God augmenting his clumsy talent for living. Being more Christ-like has transformed him into a more peaceful monster finding joy in little things and being alive to life in the moment and twice alive to the people and things he loves, like family and friends and books.  Each time he reached a little deeper understanding of some passage in the gospels and attune his mind more to Christ, it was like swallowing a spoonful of crazy happy sauce.  His joy increased.

He is driven to know Jesus more and taught himself koine Greek using all the tools of technology we have at our access these days.  I am impressed by his drive and determination, and I am looking forward to the read ahead of me.  His newfound joy in Christ breathes fresh air into what I too often take for granted and gives me pause to look again and find the joy and delight in life with Jesus and Christian community.

Christ is risen!  I wonder and I see new and exciting things and life is so good because Jesus lives.

Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,

Pastor Connie Spitzack

May 5th, 2022

GREETINGS HOLY PEOPLE OF GOD,

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen because Jesus lives.  We have these 50 days of Easter to look into the empty tomb, to look again at death and the new life that springs forth.

As we listen to the resurrection appearances, the disciples had a difficult time recognizing Jesus.  And those who never looked, never saw him.  The disciples had to spend some time together, eat together and when the time was right, they recognized Jesus’ presence.  He revealed himself to them.

Spend some time with Jesus, doing what you usually do but with an expectation that Jesus will come and be present with you.  Recognize his presence in the familiar places of your life.  During this season of looking and expecting, I’ve watched some movies and seen the themes of death and resurrection come to life before me.

Watch a movie you have seen before and look for themes of resurrection and new life.  Watch “Encanto” and look again at themes of resurrection.  Go to the new movie, “Brother Stu” and see death and resurrection themes over and over again.  These stories of our time help us to recognize how Jesus comes to us in the familiar places of our lives, bringing new and resurrected life.

Jesus lives and I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen.  Remember to share your stories and wonderings.

Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,

Pastor Connie Spitzack

April 29, 2022

GREETINGS HOLY PEOPLE OF GOD,

Jesus lives and I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen. 

I have had 3 unexpected conversations about the future dates of Easter and in particular about the dates of Western (Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion, Protestant Churches) and Eastern (Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches) Christianity coming into alignment with the celebration of Easter which last happened in 2017 and will again happen in 2025.

In an article in The Christian Century, history professor Steve Ware asks the question, “When Is Easter this year?”  Ware explains how this came to be. Here’s the short version of the story: In 325 A.D., Constantine, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, convened the Council of Nicaea. Among the business before the council was to establish a uniform date for Easter. Out of the discussion and debate came the “Easter Rule,” setting Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

As is often the case with church councils, the decision was not unanimous. The Eastern bishops wanted to schedule Easter in conjunction with the Jewish Festival of Passover since, after all, Jesus went to Jerusalem, in the first place, to celebrate Passover. The Western bishops preferred a date corresponding with the beginning of spring, because that was the time already established for a lot of pagan celebrations, and they figured to capitalize on the momentum.

This is why, to this day, we have such things as the Easter Bunny and colored eggs associated with Easter. This, along with other issues, the church eventually split. To this day, we, who are descendants of the Western line of Christendom, use a different church calendar than the Eastern Orthodox churches. Sometimes our celebration of Easter falls on the same day, and sometimes it varies by as much as five weeks!

Because Jesus lives, what is the exciting thing here?  No matter what calendar we use, East or West, the risen Christ goes before us leading the way whether it is forging a new way in culture or anchoring ourselves with our Jewish roots, Christ will be made known in our lives and in our world. God is faithful and determined.  God loves us and this world. The Holy Spirit, like Jesus, breaks into our closed rooms and helps us to break out as we trust God.  The Holy Spirit will take what is familiar, like Peter and the disciples' fishing trip and turn it into an amazing adventure with a boatload of fish and breakfast on shore.  The Holy Spirit will work with Saul who thought he was defending God by going after the people of the Way, (followers of Jesus) all the way to Damascus.  Saul, who thought he could see, was blinded for Jesus to show him the way.

I can’t help but see the death and resurrection Themes in these Easter stories.  The disciples go back to what they knew – a kind of dead end and Jesus showed them something new, a new discipleship rooted in love demonstrated in action.  Saul (aka Paul) thought that his actions were glorifying God as he arrested followers of the Way only to have Ananias who was terrified of Saul and his reputation, told by God in a vision to lay hands on Saul and heal him.  Ananias calling Saul his brother did what was commanded in the vision and Saul was forever changed, with new vision, a new way of seeing and proclaimed the good news of God in Christ Jesus to rulers, Jews and Gentiles alike. 

As we go back to what we know, what exciting new thing is Jesus going to do?  How is Jesus meeting us in what we have always done before?  How is the Holy Spirit helping us to see more because Jesus lives?  Turn toward God’s abundance and see what happens and share your stories.  We need to hear these stories as they have the power to breathe new life in us and help us connect in ways we might have missed.

Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,

Pastor Connie Spitzack

April 18, 2022

TO THE HOLY AND BELOVED PEOPLE OF GOD,

I’m not going to greet you with Easter greetings yet.  We get 50 days to celebrate Easter and only the three days, not celebrate but rather contemplate Jesus’ last days.  There is a temptation to jump right to celebration but trust me, Easter celebration will have more depth and dimension when we set aside time to listen to Jesus’ last words, sit with him while he dies and dwell in the power of his suffering and death and wait in vigil, remembering his time in the tomb.

At Monday chapel time with our preschoolers, I asked, “What comes before Jesus’ resurrection?”  Blank stares.  Before Jesus rises to new life, he dies.  And it is a sad, sad day.  Stories of grandparents and pets started to pour forth. I witness the power of death in these little ones.  I shared the story of the sad day that Jesus died. It’s one of the reasons we gather so many times this week for worship, to hear God’s word and sing together.  It helps us with the sad days and gives us more to celebrate when Easter finally arrives.

I invite you to give yourself to the Three Days – which is one continuous worship service.  We will use one bulletin to move through these three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil to help us experience the flow and connection of these holy days.  Your schedule may not allow you to attend all the services, so you may watch online later.  Take a bulletin with and a hymnal to help you to join in at home.

God has given us a wonderful gift in his Son, Jesus.  More than we can comprehend or imagine.  Give yourself time with God’s gift.  Explore, wonder, ponder, contemplate.  All of this requires an investment of time and concentration.  Join us in the gathered community to open the gift of Jesus, his life, his death, and his journey to new life.  It’s easy to celebrate Jesus’ entry into the world at Christmas.  This is a more complicated path to celebration but well worth it as we respond to God’s great love for us.  It is kind of like practice or exercise.  It’s hard to do but the benefits and rewards show when you do the work, when you put in the time.

Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,

Pastor Connie Spitzack