From the Pastor

March 2008

Recently, someone asked me why we have scheduled Easter to be so early this year. Well, in the Western Church, the date for Easter is determined by a certain formula: Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. The equinox is always 20 March (the first day of Spring, and Maundy Thursday this year), and this year the first full moon is 21 March (Good Friday). Because of this, Easter is as almost early as it can possibly be this year (it could be on 22 March). In fact, no one who is alive now will ever see Easter this early again. The next time Easter will be 23 March will be the year 2228. And unless you are 95 years old or older, you have never experienced an Easter this early, because the last time it was on 23 March was 1913! (The next time it will be 22 March will be 2285--the last time was 1818).

I have to admit that I would prefer Easter to be in April. March can be so grey and gloomy, and if the weather continues as it has been, we may even get snow! I would much prefer a nice, sunny, relatively warm April Sunday, complete with new buds on the trees and weather conducive to new Spring clothes. Somehow, that always seems fitting for Easter, as we celebrate God‘s triumph over death and our new life in Jesus Christ.

It occurs to me, however, that we need the Good News of Easter even (and perhaps especially) on gloomy days. The message we receive on Easter is so powerful and so illuminating that it can see us through times of trial, grief, doubt, and uncertainty. In fact, sometimes it is only the light of the news of the Resurrection and its promises that can give us hope in the midst of these things. Jesus' Resurrection truly is a light shining in the darkness of our world and all of its trials and struggles, and it is a message that no darkness—natural or societal—can ever overcome.

So while we might all enjoy an Easter Sunday full of sunshine, budding trees and plants, and warmer breezes, it is good to know that the warmth, power, and light of the message of Jesus Christ's Resurrection will still come through … even if we have to bundle up and shovel our way to the door to hear it!

In Christ,
Pastor Brenda