Christ is risen \u2014 He is risen indeed!<\/i> The early Christian church celebrated Easter each time they met \u2014 to sing praises, tell the stories, celebrate the Lord’s Supper \u2014 that is to say, every Sunday. While we, today’s Christians no longer do that, we do celebrate for six weeks \u2014 from Easter morning to the feast of Pentecost. Come, join us \u2014 let us celebrate together!<\/p>\n
Wishing you all good blessings \u2014 m\u0101c. Daira<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
P.S. In addition to the Worship schedule for May and June, I also send you an Easter-time gift: a meditation written by the pastor of St. Andrews Latvian Lutheran church in Toronto\u2014Ilze Kuplens-Ewart.<\/p>\n
Funny how those small words can make such a difference. From the difference hearing \u201cplease\u201d makes when someone asks you for something, to the \u201cthank you,\u201d even if said automatically. Much more than two, small words, \u201cplease\u201d and \u201cthank you\u201d acknowledge the reciprocity in the relationship. I\u2019m sure the lord of the manor never thought to use either of those when issuing orders to his underlings, nor, I guess would someone on a battlefield or in a critical situation. But in everyday life, to use these words indicates a sense of regard for the other. \u201cI know you have other things you\u2019re doing at the moment, but I really appreciate you doing this for me.\u201d Much the same underlies the \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The absence of these words, and their associated feelings, suggests: I operate alone, I function in isolation, I don\u2019t need you. Yet while independence of thought is an admirable trait, we need community to thrive. We need that sense of belonging, of mutuality and positive regard to bring out the best in us.<\/p>\n
When Jesus, the risen Christ, appears to his followers in that locked room, his first words are \u201cPeace with you.\u201d In English it doesn\u2019t come out right: the \u201cyou\u201d whom Jesus addresses is the plural form. It\u2019s not just about peace for me, it\u2019s about the reality of peace being found within that community of his followers.<\/p>\n
And, what\u2019s more, those first words aren\u2019t an expression of hope, they\u2019re a statement: \u201cpeace with you.\u201d With you and among you is peace.<\/p>\n
Maybe those \u201cplease\u2019s\u201d and \u201cthank you\u2019s\u201d are a first step towards making this real. We belong to one another, our lives intersect, and where we look upon one another and acknowledge the value, the giftedness and uniqueness of that individual, we can find peace in our midst.<\/p>\n
M\u0101c. Ilze Kupl\u0113ns-Ewart<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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