Pastoral Easter Letter

4/16/2014

Pastoral Easter Letter

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Easter: The Resurrection of our Lord

Dear Church Members and Friends,

The commemoration of the resurrection of our Lord over two thousand years ago is the greatest highlight of the Christian faith. Theologians and Biblical Scholars everywhere agree that, was it not for the resurrection, there would be no Christian faith and no church as we know it today. The Apostle Paul, for example, considered the resurrection to be the cornerstone of the Christian faith: If Jesus did not rise from the dead the whole structure of Christianity would collapse. Paul tells us in Corinthians 15:14-17: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God…And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.” What a provoking thought from Paul. It appears that everything about us as Christians hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Our identity as Christians is bound with Christ’s resurrection, but yet his resurrection is something that eludes us, we cannot fully explain it. Scientists are left confounded and struggle to understand this phenomenon asking if such a thing is actually possible. Some are left skeptical of the possibility; others hold fast to their faith and belief that Christ did rise from the dead. In spite of those who may have some reservation about the Christian faith, a major worldwide study of religious numbers has revealed that the total number of Christians spanning the globe is 2.18 billion. This is a staggering number of people who are proclaiming and confessing the Christian faith. It is, by far, the largest religion in the world. In the light of this information, we might assume that the resurrection of Christ has a strong appeal to many people especially as it promises eternal life. The mundane cares of this world with its suffering, pain, and agony can be undesirable, but, in the resurrection, there is the promise of a world without suffering and pain, in which, there will be no cause for the shedding of tears. If there are tears, they will be tears of joy, and peace without end.

The power of Christ’s resurrection through Christianity is celebrated around world, and yet there still remains a number of people who do not truly understand the foundation of the Christian faith. The Church is called upon to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the entire world, as mandated by Christ himself. The responsibility of the Church today is to continue with that mandate. Therefore, I implore you, as part of our family and a member of the Christian faith, to continue to support the ministry which has been laid upon us, to serve our community.

Over the past winter, we have incurred heating costs far beyond normal, and that poses a greater challenge to our community ministry. In light of this, we would appreciate any special gift to aid in defraying those costs, and remember to always acknowledge your gift as being presented to God, and we will continue to pray that God will bless our ministry. Your special gifts will allow us to broaden the scope of our ministry in Saranac Lake as we meet, with stewardship, the challenges that have been set before us. May you have an enjoyable Easter Sunday.

Grace and peace,