From the Pastor’s Desk…                                        April 2025 

Soon we will gather to remember the sacrifice Christ
Jesus made for us on the cross, and just 3 days later,
we will proclaim his truth: the tomb is empty. But I
don’t want it to end on Easter Sunday. The answer to
life’s challenges and consequently to our sense of
hope and peace does not remain in darkness of a cave;
the answer is found in something we often miss as we
rejoice in the proclamation of Easter. Jesus didn’t
hang around his tomb, so why do we think he did? 

“Do not be afraid;
I know you are looking for Jesus who has been
crucified.
He is not here; for he has been raised.” Matthew 28:5b-6a

“Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of
Nazareth,
who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not
here.” Mark 16:6

“Why do you look for the living among the dead.
He is not here but has risen.” Luke 24:3b

“Woman, why are you weeping?
They have taken away my Lord and
I do not know where they have laid him.” John 20:13

On many occasions, I have heard the phrase, “We are Easter people.” Perhaps you have
heard it as well. We believe Christ Jesus was raised from his tomb, to sit once again at the
right hand of his Father in heaven. We recite the words the Creed from memory - from
there he will come to judge the living and the dead – words of our faith. Some would think
it all ends there, but it doesn’t, does it?

You know me, you know my faith – especially if you listen each Sunday morning as I
reveal to you the truth that is Christ Jesus. Most of us spend a lot of time looking for Jesus,
especially in challenging and difficult times. And when we can feel his presence, we just
assume he is not here. It’s like all those who went looking for him on that Easter morning
only to discover the tomb was empty, and Jesus was not there. In John’s Gospel, it was
Magdalene who weeps, not for Jesus but rather for herself. She looked for herself and he
wasn’t there. That is, until she turned around, until she heard his voice. It was her faith
that gives us another look as to where Jesus went, and where he remained.

The answer to life’s challenges and consequently to our
sense of hope and peace is found in his voice, as he calls
our name. Whether we hear it or not is our problem.
The answer is found in our mornings and our evenings –
and everything in between.

The answer is Jesus, as he walks with us each and every
day, a part of our journey as we engage in the complexities
and detours of this life. The answer is Jesus when our
journey is finished, when we close our earthly eyes for the last time. And the answer is
Jesus as we reawaken to our new life, knowing it will be his face we see, and it will be his
arm outstretched, seeking our hand to walk us home. This is our Easter; this is our answer
in Christ Jesus.

Easter will not end at 10:30am on the morning of April 20, 2025. Easter is our every day;
Easter is our every relationship; Easter is our every challenge. Easter is his empty tomb.
Easter is Jesus Christ, risen and alive, in our lives, today and forever. Fear not, Sisters and
Brothers, for the tomb is empty and he is not there. Jesus is with us.

God’s Blessings and Peace 

Pastor Neil

Pastor’s Office Schedule

As of today, my schedule “in-office” will be: Wednesdays from 9am to 4pm. Of course,
I will be attending team meetings, and I am available throughout the week. Please call me
or text me at 419-303-7718. Thanks