Spring bursts into life, new life all around, bird song, longer evenings and the promise of warmer days ahead. It’s a good time to be alive.
After 23 years in ministry at Anderson Baptist Church I am packing my bags and moving away. It is time to retire and I begin to wonder what that will mean for Anderson and what is will mean for me.
This is Easter time and it fills me with hope. Hope for our world, hope for ourselves.
The story of Easter is one of death and new life and hope-filled futures. So many small deaths and new beginnings all around us. What is on your mind at present?
Many of us celebrated Easter with friends and families. We shared good food, chocolate eggs and speak of hopeful days ahead.
Easter is the very centre of our faith as Christians – it is the hope of Easter that undergirds our way of life.
Good Friday marks the most dreadful day of Jesus crucifixion when all turned against him, when all hope was lost and all his disciples were left despairing. Then three days later the news of Jesus resurrection turned everything on its head.
The despairing, hopeless disciples became fearless, outspoken and faith-filled. There was a supernatural energy that enthused them. They began to live lives which brought hope and joy and meaning. This is the amazing hope of Easter.
This is a story we can be part of.
We all need hope. Hope for the future, hope for our families, hope for our society, hope for ourselves. The message of Easter is hope.
I move away filled with hope – and pray that you too may find the hope that excites and surprises. Easter hope.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)
The Revd Judith Wheatley is the minister of Anderson Baptist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together.
