From the Pastor

I, like many of you, have been getting a whole lot of letters, emails, and texts from colleagues, parish members, family, and friends over my iPhone and computer internet. Here are two of the dozens and dozens which I have received that I thought were very poignant and worthy of being shared with you. The first correspondence is a text is from Rev. Tammy Heimgartner, Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, ELCA, Mountain Home, Idaho. She is a much better writer than I am, and I share her text.

“ ‘On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.’ Luke 23:56b

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what this time between Jesus’ death and resurrection must have been like for those who loved Him. Luke tells us that those who love Him rested. I don’t imagine their ‘resting’ was easy or restful. How could it be? They had just seen their Beloved Teacher and Friend killed brutally and horribly. That would not lead to restfulness – exhaustion maybe, but not restfulness.

“If we turn to Matthew 27 we are told that the Chief Priests and Pharisees spent the time not in rest, but in going to Pilate to demand that guards be put on the tomb so that those who loved Him could not take His Body away and insist that He had risen like He said He would.

“We have a choice of how to spend our time between remembering Jesus’ death and celebrating His resurrection. We can either use the time as a time to pause, to reflect, perhaps even to rest, or we can spend the time frantically and desperately trying to hold on to the power we think we have and try to control what is not ours to control.

“This Holy Saturday the world is different than it has been in our memory. We have a choice to make. Do we love our neighbor by resting away from them or do we recklessly endanger others in order that we might show how in control we are? Jesus was still resurrected despite the best efforts of those who would have it otherwise.

“We will come back together one day and greet each other face to face – maybe not tomorrow, but one day soon. The world was changed by Jesus’ Resurrection. We will be changed by our time of rest. Sabbath.

“Let us pray:
LORD, we await anxiously the time of togetherness and celebration. Help us remember that whenever we come together again it will be a celebration – no matter the date on the calendar. AMEN.”

The very first words that The Resurrected Jesus spoke in Matthew’s Gospel account (Matthew 28:9- 10) to the women coming from the tomb: 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to Him, took hold of His Feet, and worshipped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’ (Matthew 28:9- 10)

The very first words of The Resurrected Jesus are: “Do not be afraid.”

The very first words that the Resurrected Jesus spoke in John’s Gospel account (John 20:19-22) to the disciples who were behind locked doors, in the house where they were meeting, for fear of their lives:
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Judeans, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20 After He said this, He showed them His Hands and His Side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw The Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ (John 20:19-22)

The very first words of The Resurrected Jesus are: “Peace be with you.” Twice! Even after showing the disciples His crucified and maimed Hands and His Side. “Peace be with you.”

The second correspondence is an email from Mr. Dustin Allen, a member of Saint John’s Lutheran Church, ELCA, American Falls, Idaho. He also is a much better writer than I am, and I share his email.

“As we go about in our new abnormal, I am reminded of my bathroom electrical outlet. It has two buttons, a test and a reset button. How appropriate. The reset button reminds me of what many of us have had to do, be it expectations or routines. As a family, the current situation has made us reset our priorities, from busy day to day activities (a lot of the time centered around doing activities for oneself), to what is better for our family, employees, and even those around us.

“While challenging and disruptive, the reset button has allowed for re-centering as to what is most important in life, Christ, family, health, and food. I am thankful to be a part of working in an industry that allows me to work towards providing the latter. It is interesting to watch news reports of those who have ignored the reset button and kept going without any regard to the safety and need of those around them. Not hitting the reset button, or bypassing it altogether, often does not have a great outcome, as the underlying problem manifests itself soon enough, with little to no hope of rectifying the issue.

“The anxiety of why the reset button has been tripped, can and is as daunting as actually doing the reset. Anxiety and worries have put me in test mode, for better or worse. Sometimes I am not passing the test as well as I should, but I am thankful to those around me for helping me to set my anxieties on a more productive path.

“I believe that these current circumstances have allowed God to help many of us reset our lives by centering us on Him. The test button speaks for itself. We are being tested, just as Christ was tested on the cross. We also are given the greatest reset button of all Easter. We are given the gift of the reset of new life in Him.

“I know that it sounds like I am preaching to the head of the choir. That is not my intention. My intention is to give thanks and encouragement to you for the internet ministry (and to Carl, Neil, Arnie, and others!), as you have had to hit the test and reset button on not being able to worship and lead worship as you have been accustomed to all of your life. I know that this is the first Easter and Lenten Season that you have not been a part of in person fellowship with one another, but know that the internet ministry is of great importance in our lives. We appreciate all of those involved in the endeavor.

“I know that I have missed a few Christmas Eve services (and other services no doubt), but this is one of the few times, if any, that I recall not being in Saint John’s for Easter service. So, I too am somewhat empty by not being able to physically worship together. However, I am most grateful that my wife, children, and I are intending to listen to today’s service. (I may even put on my Sunday best clothes and shave before we listen. The clothes may get strange looks from the family, while the latter may evoke cheers.)”

The very first words that the Resurrected Jesus spoke in John’s Gospel account (John 20:19-22) to the disciples who were behind locked doors, in the house where they were meeting, for fear of their lives:

‘Peace be with you.’

May the Peace of The Lord, that passes all understanding, keep your hearts, and your minds, and your very beings in Jesus The Christ, our Lord!

Sincerely, Pastor Jon Beake