Home for Easter

The last two years, I spent Easter in Peru. In the places where I hung around in Huancayo, I couldn't even tell Easter was coming. There was no commercialism as there is here in the States. I imagine the sermon was appropriate for Easter Sunday, but my Spanish isn't good enough to understand an entire sermon. So, this year was very meaningful to me.

I appreciated the prayer and thought and time my pastors and the worship director put into the special services during Lent. On Palm Sunday, there was a special visitor to talk with us. He was a Roman cross cutter. He spoke about what he had heard about Jesus as he formed a cross and put it together. He wondered...what will happen on Sunday...is it true what Jesus said? On Thursday night, I had the privilege of partaking of the Lord's Supper with my church family. And, on Saturday, the in between day, was a service of darkness, remembering what Jesus did for me and for you. I appreciate that Scripture tells us that Jesus struggled with the will of the Father before saying, "Not My will, but Yours be done." I'm like that at times, too. I struggle before I say "Yes." Then, Sunday. A day of new beginnings. A day of new life. A day of rejoicing for death has been conquored and life is freely given to all who accept it. Thank You, Jesus!

It was good for me to be here this year. I often struggle with the question, "Where do I belong?" Yes, I belong to the Lord, the giver of life, the Savior of my soul, the Lord of my Life. But, I also belong to a church family that I love to worship with. Concord UMC is my church home. And, I loved being home for Easter!