Beloved Friends-
Shalom! Peace to you my dear ones.
As we move further into this season of Eastertide- these 50 days after the Resurrection, this Sunday we will hear a familiar story. Jesus will join two of his followers on the road to Emmaus. It is a familiar story, not because of our knowledge of scripture, but because it parallels our very own stories so well much of the time. Individually and collectively we are on the road to Emmaus everyday- and what we are able to see and know along the way has everything to do with our willingness to move beyond our doubts and fears. It also has everything to do with our ability to pay attention to everything around and inside of us.
As we continue to travel this road during a continued season of separation, I am more keenly aware of what I am noticing along the way. In our home we are cleaning and organizing, cooking and slowing down to share more meals and relish in a different pace. We are also aware of the unbelievable amount of privilege we experience with a home and food and companionship never absent or in jeopardy. That is not the case for so many and we yearn to find ways to stay connected and offer support to others. Perhaps you are feeling the same. Perhaps you are in need of support. Please do not hesitate to share how we can be supportive to each other during this challenging time.
We continue with our 4th Sunday coming together to worship from our homes. Thank you to all the people who are working with us to make this possible. We are delighted and humbled to share that more people have joined us in worship through this format than we ever could have imagined. Please continue to “invite your friends to church.”
This Sunday we will unpack this story of the disciples traveling on the road with their unrecognizable guest and hold it up as a mirror reflecting God’s grace and love back into our lives. As a musician I often think in terms of musical references and images so I hear this story, as a beautiful song comprised of 4 verses and a memorable refrain- tune in to hear more about this. Together we will unpack these verses and consider how they not only draw us further into our Eastertide journey, but also provide a pattern for how and why we boldly claim the gift of “this resurrection madness!”
I Praise you for this Resurrection Madness (by Ted Loder)
Lord of such amazing surprises as put a catch in my breath
and wings on my heart.
I praise you for this joy, too great for words,
but not for tears and songs and sharing, for mercy
that blots out my betrayals and bids me begin again,
and to limp on, to hop-skip-and-jump on.
To mend what is broken in and around me
and to forgive the breakers; for this YES
to life and laughter, to love and lovers,
and to my unwinding self; for this Kingdom
unleashed in me and I in it forever.
And no dead ends to growing, to choices, to chances,
to calls to be just.
No dead ends to living, to making peace, to dreaming dreams,
to being glad of heart.
For this resurrection madness which is wiser than I
and in which I see how great you are, how full of grace,
Alleluia!
May you never forget that you are loved.
Lisa