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Sunday is Coming

 

Romans 5:4-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.  How glorious Easter is – Alleluia, HE IS RISEN!!  We are people who have hope because death was defeated.  The resurrection of our Lord is the most important element of our faith.

I know that all of us experience tragedy and loss.  I have hopefully been able to provide some comfort to some of you who have experienced grief and loss over the years I have served you as pastor.  It is no secret that our family has suffered another terrible tragedy.  You have been with me through the death of my great granddaughter, the death of my grandson three years ago, and now, another grandson has died.  We are devastated.

Our church is a family.  The only way we can share each other’s burdens is if we share our needs.  I have reached out to you as your pastor during my times of grief and I want you to follow my lead.  I am here to pray with you and serve you through your difficult moments. 

I am practicing what I preach.  I am grieving many things right now.  I am lamenting and crying out to God in my own pain.  I have found God faithful but in these moments of grief, it is hard to do anything but lament.  I know that God will see me through, and I also know the journey is hard.

There is a saying you may have heard.  It is Friday (referring to the death of Jesus on the cross).  But Sunday is coming (the resurrection)!  Maybe that is the message for all of us.  We have been through a season of Fridays.  We have all had losses this last year.  We have missed hugs and connection.  But Sunday is coming.  Because of the resurrection we can go on.  Death has lost its power.  Resurrection will come.

We will likely sing “Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow” over this season.  May this be our reality and our anthem.  It is true.  Regardless how deep the pain or how hard the “Fridays” are – we have “a hope that will not disappoint us.”

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