Pastor's Message
March 2008
To the People of God:
"But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him." This is my message for you.' So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. The Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'" (Matthew 28: 5-10)
The closing chapter and verses of the Gospel according to Matthew are action packed. The powers to be are all shook up and the action seems intense and filled with energy packed direction. There is no standing still for anyone in the story. Everyone is moving and going somewhere in this closing chapter. Jesus has risen from the dead with a BANG! CHRIST IS RISEN!
He keeps popping up in the story as well. He keeps coming to people even as they seek to do what they are told to do. Come, go quickly, run, tell, go…go...go, and (you) will see Jesus. It is as if the story is trying to get us to understand that when we are worshiping, obeying, going toward, and doing the commands of Jesus that Jesus suddenly appears! BANG! CHRIST IS RISEN!
This Easter Sunday some of the youth will perform a short play at the late service. I have been encouraging some of the leaders of the congregation to invite more of the children to active parts in worship and in other activities connected to Emmanuel’s faith walk. I know that when children participate in worship that a special gift can be experienced by the entire congregation. The energy that seems to be expressed in the Gospel according to Matthew often gets shared when youth are truly involved with the overall ministry of a congregation.
We can experience joy in the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. Jesus also wants to show up and surprise our lives as we walk the faith. We don’t always know when and where that will be, but we trust that Jesus will rise up before us! BANG! GREETINGS! CHRIST IS RISEN!
I would like to personally offer an opportunity for Emmanuel’s members to develop a puppet ministry. I don’t know where this will go or how it will go. I can only trust that Jesus will suddenly appear in the doing of this proposed ministry. I have no real training in such a ministry, but I am game if anyone else is willing to do it. This ministry could be a cross-generational one involving those in the lower grades to those who have long left a formal educational system.
I will ask Patty to put up a sign-up sheet for those interested in sharing the good news about Jesus through puppets. I will need adults to help with this ministry. We need to keep it simple and easy, while seeking ways to share the message of true life. If there are enough folks interested I will attempt to do some training on April 5. The rule I follow is that if there are not at least three other adults willing to help with the organization and the ministry then it CANNOT be a viable ministry of the congregation. A ministry should never be only one person’s dream, but a ministry of the congregation. BANG! CHRIST IS!
One of Christ’s servants,
Pastor David A. Hendricks - CoG/I.I.M.