When the first “Hallelujah’s” have stopped echoing through the rafters, when the scent of lilies has faded, when all the chocolate bunnies have been eaten – Easter is still not over. The party has only just begun. Of course, in one sense, Easter is never “over” for those who worship the risen Christ. Yet, in another sense, the fifty-day Easter season is just beginning for those who worship by the calendar of the Bible. From Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, we will celebrate the resurrection power of our God. The party isn’t supposed to taper off; it is supposed to pick up the pace!

So why is the party just getting started? After Jesus was raised from the dead, he appeared many times to his disciples over the next forty days. Imagine how they must have felt having their once-dead-now-risen Lord eat with them, speak with them, and touch them. He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and their hearts burned within them. Then Jesus told his disciples something truly amazing. You are to be witnesses of these things. Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. Stay in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high. Then, to their even greater amazement, Jesus was carried up into heaven.

You’d think the disciples would be disappointed that Jesus was gone. But instead of hanging their heads, they worshipped! They ran back to Jerusalem with great joy and spent the next ten days in the temple continually blessing God. Even though Jesus was gone from their sight, they knew that something awesome was about to happen.

Forty days with the resurrected Jesus. Ten days worshipping and waiting. Fifty total days, climaxing in the biggest party of all – Pentecost (literally, the fiftieth day) – the Holy Spirit party! When the Holy Spirit fell, they didn’t need wine to be drunk. The power and pleasure of God overwhelmed the disciples beyond their wildest dreams.

And THIS is my prayer hope for St. Paul’s in this fifty day season: that the risen Jesus will speak to us from His word, that we will eat with Him at His table, that He causes our hearts to burn within us. And ultimately, that He will clothe us with fresh power from on high to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth!

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley
Assistant

On the Mark May 1st

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

It is a mystery to me that some believe in God and others do not.  Equally mysterious is the fact that some spend a part of their life not knowing God, and then knowing Him and serving Him, as has been the case with me.  Some describe this mystery as being all about God’s sovereign will, and others say it’s about the free will of human beings.  Still others stay with the mysterious by saying that belief is a mixture of free will and God’s will.  It hurts the brain to think about it!

The reality of some human beings believing and others not believing was expressed at the Cross of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was crucified between two criminals, and one of them turned to faith in Christ as the last and greatest act of his life.  The other crucified man apparently remained in unbelief.  The Cross of the Orthodox Church has a slash near where Jesus’ feet would have been.  It looks like a seesaw and it is described as representing the one thief who believed and went up to paradise and the other, who didn’t believe, going down to death without faith.

When I think about my salvation, I’d say I feel lucky but I don’t believe in luck.  It is truly a fortunate thing to be known by God and to know Him in return.  But even more, it is overwhelming to consider myself chosen and loved by God.

St. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:32:  “This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

Have a blessed Holy Week,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark April 17th

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One week from today is Palm Sunday, a day when the Church celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem. We will literally get up out of our seats and march around the front of the church, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!”. Sounds a bit ridiculous, right?

It’s not ridiculous if you are desperate. Nearly 2000 years ago, the people of Israel were desperate. They were a broken, beaten, and oppressed nation. Hosanna literally means “Save now!” When the people of Jerusalem saw Jesus ride into their city on a donkey, they expected him, their Messiah, to save them from cruel oppression of the Roman Empire. They expected him to take vengeance on their enemies with a rod of iron. They were desperate.

But they did not realize that Jesus’ vengeance was not aimed so much at the enemies of Israel as it was at the enemies of all humanity: sin, the devil, and self-righteous religion. They were desperate, but Jesus was even more desperate.

So as we come to Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, are we ready to say “Hosanna”? Are you ready to say, “God, save me!” – not just from what I think I need saving, but from what I really need saving? Are we ready to let Jesus take desperate measures to save us, to search us and know us, as we follow him to the cross? Are you desperate?

Jordan
The Rev. Jordan Easley
Assistant

On the Mark April 10th

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Why I want you to come to Holy Week:  because it is good for you.

These are our most important days together as a parish.  They are the climax of our Lenten experience, and our preparation for Easter.  Each event is planned with you in mind, to enhance your relationship with the Lord Jesus.  Your time with the Lord and with His people during Holy Week is the most important thing you’ll be doing that week.  It is also a great time to introduce a friend to the Lord and to St. Paul’s.  Ask Him who He’d like you to bring.

So, plan accordingly.  Allow your schedule to be free for the awe of being in His presence with your brothers and sisters.  If you need a ride, call the church office.  We need and want you here.  That’s why I want you to come to Holy Week.

 Your brother in Christ

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark April 3rd