EASTER II
April 16, 2023
“Praise and Joy in the Midst of Destruction”
What a glorious Easter morning! Earlier in the week, damaging storms had hit our area, followed by a number of blustery, gray days. Waking up to blue sky, sunshine, and mild temps was the perfect beginning of a joyous Easter. Worship was filled with beautiful music, joy-filled preaching, communion with our church family, and sharing happy Easter greetings — what a wonderful celebration! In my mind, it was an absolutely perfect Easter.
Monday morning, relaxing with a cup of coffee and a news program, I found myself watching an Easter celebration with none of the beauty I’d experienced the day before, but the beauty of God’s spirit nonetheless. A church in Jacksonville, Arkansas, had been badly damaged by a tornado a few days earlier, but instead of a somber group of people trying to clean up and assess the damage, there was worship! A group of women were using the entry area as their platform, singing an Easter song of praise for the resurrection of Christ. Others, too, had gathered to sing, to hear God’s Word, and to give thanks. The pillars at the front had no roof to hold up, debris from the building was scattered about, the surrounding area was a total mess, and people were smiling, hugging, and filled with joy and gratitude at hearing the good news!
That’s a congregation, a church family, people who know where to turn when disaster hits. They chose to celebrate, because the news of Jesus’ resurrection is so much bigger, so much more life-changing than even a tornado, that the most important thing they could do was thank and praise God for his amazing gift. I wondered how many of them had had a reasonably comfortable place to sleep the night before, if they were dressed up in borrowed or donated clothes, if they’d even had breakfast. And I felt wonder at the witness I saw in just a few minutes, as they spoke of rebuilding, of coming back, and that they were still the church.
Something about this event seemed familiar, just with different details. A little research brought back the story — in the fall of 2018, Hurricane Michael seriously damaged St. Andrew (!) Methodist Church in Mexico Beach, Florida, and I saw a report on that congregation’s response and witness. They, too, gathered for worship in the parking lot, sang, heard God’s Word, and shared communion with supermarket bread, and wine poured from a bottle into paper cups. And God’s Spirit was there, strengthening their faith, bringing them together, witnessing to the power of God’s love.
Our ancestors in the faith experienced different kinds of storms, as many were persecuted, imprisoned, and executed for their beliefs. Although they often gathered in unlikely places — not just homes, but caves and catacombs, the Good News continued to spread, and God’s sustaining, creative power brought people to hear and to believe.
The new, growing congregations learned that, as God’s people, they were the church. The Apostle Paul wrote: “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (I Cor. 3:9)
The fellowship of believers, the communion of saints, and all who gather to worship the risen Christ are indeed the church, as our sisters and brothers have shown the world as they sing praise in the midst of loss.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers