What a grand weekend we had at Fleetwood CRC!
After the build-up of Lent, we went from the quiet personal meditations of the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week to the reflective, candlelit Taize service on Maundy Thursday to the intense drama of Good Friday to the hope filled sunrise service outside among the chirping birds to the big, bright, happy Easter morning service celebrating Christ’s resurrection. We reflected, lit candles, were silent, received communion (twice!), prayed, listened, gave, sang and rejoiced. We filled the stage with plants to recreate a garden. On Easter morning, for the first time ever, we spread the band out over the entire stage and it made a difference—we sang so well. And, as promised, we lit the disco ball during our singing of “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” (Go to the FAQ on our website to find out why we have a disco ball)
Added to all this were all the gatherings of family and friends, usually over meals. We had our annual Easter breakfast potluck filled with delicious food. After the service people traveled to get home on time for festive meals of turkey or ham (or both!), with all the fixings and special desserts. These were followed up with walks, games or just hanging out. An added bonus was beautiful weather on Easter. Easter is such a high time, and this year it was true again.
And now it’s back to our regularly scheduled lives. Students are back to school. University students are back to exams. Back to jobs and ordinary activities. Many of us are now quite tired out, secretly glad for a return to normal. At our staff meeting this morning we heard how all of us spent Easter Monday taking naps and doing absolutely nothing all day long. My family is having ham leftovers tonight.
This coming Sunday is appropriately named: “Low Sunday”. In contrast to the high celebrations of Easter is the next Sunday when we reflect on Thomas and his doubt. Decorations are taken down, the music team is scaled back, the bulletin is less packed. Ordinary life kicks in and we are left wondering whether Christ’s resurrection really happened, whether the witness of the disciples is true, or whether anything is changed at all because of Easter. After all the joy and festivities, what does Christ’s resurrection mean for our every day lives? Will it move us to engage fully in Christian spirituality, including Sunday worship?
Some church pastors joke that it’s called Low Sunday to describe church attendance the week after Easter—people just can’t handle that much church so there will be a lull in participation in weeks to come. And yet, as Tripp Fuller points out, “in most of the biblical narrative in the aftermath of religious experience (or God) people became more dedicated, more engaged, more devoted, more convicted to live in the experience of God…not less!” Isaiah’s high experience of God not only left him speechless but also moved him to move among God’s people as a prophet. Saul’s experience with the resurrected Christ changed his life so radically that he worked to build the church that he had been trying to destroy.
We have just come through a high day of the church year. May it inspire you to more love and good deeds as Christ calls you. May it enable you to walk and not faint as you engage your faith in your everyday life.