View from the Manse

Dear Friends,

The celebration of Easter doesn't last just for a day, and some of those Easter hymns still ring loudly in the ears. Perhaps one of my many favourites has this as its chorus:

And we are Easter people, risen with Christ;
Easter people, alive in him:
Easter people,dancing, singing,
praises bringing
to our risen Saviour, Lord and King.

It is a helpful reminder to me, that WE are the Easter People. We are those who celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead. It is we who live life in the hope and joy that Easter brought. Personally, I am no dancer, and some of us may not rate our singing that much, but we can all bring praises to our God and King.

In a world where conflict seems ever present, whether it be in Sudan, Israel/Palestine or Ukraine and Russia, it is easy for our spirits to be squashed by these and many other things. Indeed, I find myself taking my own advice from the Covid lockdown days and measuring when and how often I listen to the news. Yet despite this, we are still an Easter People.

Very often, when we talk of special "mountain-top" experiences of God we talk about peace and wonder and awe. And this is of course very true. I recall once being driven around Cumbria and into Scotland and as I looked out at the scenery my heart started to sing "every valley shall be exalted" a chorus from Handel's Messiah. It was as if the joy that was within me could only be expressed through the delights of song.

To be an Easter People is to have the JOY of the Risen Lord Jesus in our hearts. This does not deny the mundane things of life, or that there are troubles in the world. But it lifts us up and brings our focus upon the wonder and glory of God and all that God has promised for us.

'Look straight ahead with honest confidence' says the proverb, 'don't hang your head in gloom.' For us, as Easter People, maybe we can hold our heads up and look out with confidence and joy because Jesus is Risen. There is a desperate need for joy in our world today, and we, as Easter People, can reflect some of that divine Easter Joy to those we meet in and out of the church. Let us not be afraid to share the joy of Easter this April.

Every blessing
Ian