Easter sunrise

At the Easter service today, we did not get to experience the 'sunrise'.......it was drizzling so they decided that the service be held indoors - in the foyer of the church......

It was 'early in the morning' that the first disciples first experienced the risen Lord. They, especially the women were keeping a vigil after the death of their beloved Jesus. They wanted to be near their Lord, even though he was dead, as far as they knew. Hopes and dreams broken - had they really been left alone after all this time accompanying Jesus?

But it was in the midst of their discouragement that Jesus appeared to them......and it is in the midst of trying times that the risen Jesus calls to us too. The tomb is a dark place - quiet and 'lifeless' and sometimes that is the exact way life seems to be. Yet it is by faithfully remaining there that we may be 'surprised by joy' - when the risen One calls our name...."Beloved........."

The title of today's sermon "Believing and be living" caught my attention - I do believe (though sometimes have to petition the Lord, "Help my unbelief"). The challenge is to 'be living' - to find 'life' in the midst of the trials, the busyness and setbacks. Not once and for all (I wish for that of course) but day by day, sunrise by sunrise, appreciating even the dull days, the sunsets.......for the sun will always rise again. The promise of Easter.