Most Christians, except for the Eastern Orthodox, will celebrate Easter on April 5 this year. For an increasing number, Easter has to do with chocolate or real rabbits, an Easter egg hunt, maybe even dyeing of eggs—but why? Easter is the feast of the Christian year, bigger than Christmas, because without the raising of Jesus from death what would be the point of Christmas? As I say that, I remember that Christmas is about gifts, trees. Lights, family and feasting. Oh yes and the baby Jesus. Again today, many would ask in all honesty, what’s so important about a baby’s birth over 2000 years ago. Easter is an old English name for the spring goddess. It is the result of those who brought Christianity to what is now England wanting to use the language and culture of that place. UK. In many languages, the word for Easter is one or another variation of Pascha , which in turn is the Greek for Pesach or Passover, the great Jewish festival of the passing over from slavery and death under the Egyptians to freedom and new life. God did all this, so the first Christians continued the name for Jesus’ passing over from death to life. But then as now, the Easter experience starts with Jesus and extends to all of us. The icon or image of the Resurrection, called the “harrowing of hell” in earlier times, shows Jesus leading Adam and Eve and all their children—you and me—out of the realm of death to new life forever with God. This we confess each Sunday, in the Creed, in the eucharistic prayer and in taking the bread and cup of the Eucharist—the bread of life and cup of salvation. Perhaps more than any other feature of Jesus’ good news it was this promise and gift of life always with God, new life, that attracted so many in the ancient world. What about now, today? Other religious traditions such as Judaism and Islam also revere one God and believe that God wants us to be with him, and with each other, past death. It is a deep, basic yearning in the human heart. Death is certain, like taxes, right? And aging, and illness. Yet we don’t throw the gift of life, of love and family and friends, of learning and celebrating away just because there is an end for each of us. Too bad if you doomscroll your days and nights away. Is it not better to at least wager a belief that God will stick to his promise. The new archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullaly, said this in her sermon as she was installed on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25. God always has something new to offer us, God is full of surprises. Just as the teenage girl Mary of Nazareth, despite fear and panic at God’s messenger Gabriel and the news that she would have a son who would save the world—that’s some news!—Mary held on to the faith, the trust that God would make good on his promises. Mary was there and asked her son to help out the host family when the wine ran out at a wedding in Cana. She followed him around Palestine as he healed and taught and gathered his friends to have a meal every night—where our Eucharist comes from. She was strong enough, though breaking apart inside, to see him suffer and die on the cross. But also be one of the women who came to the tomb only to find it empty. Tradition says Jesus first appeared to her when he was raised. He was in the end a good son! Against what their eyes and ears told them, Jesus’ mother and friends saw that he kept his promise to be with them, to always live with them. This is the heart of Easter. Not a magic trick of a dead body being revived. Rather Easter is the hope that God has that we all live forever with him and with each other. No matter how bad the news around us, no matter how disappointing our political leaders may be. No matter the sad things we all have to face—sickness and loss—in family and friends, God said he would always be with us, as one of us. Christ is risen!
A historic moment for the Church of England as Sarah Mullally is installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to serve in the role
In Loving Memory of Jan Jones Jan Jones was a longtime member of St. Barnabas and a dedicated presence in the Borrego community. As chief nurse practitioner at Borrego Clinic for many years, she cared for countless individuals, examining, diagnosing, and guiding them toward healing. She was truly a healer. Jan also shared her gifts within the church, singing in the choir and serving on the vestry. Even as her own health declined, she continued to care for others, including Wendy Quinn during her illness. We remember Jan for her warm smile, gentle humor, gracious spirit, and deep care for those around her. A memorial service will be scheduled and shared soon. May the Lord receive her into the communion of saints, and may her memory be eternal.
Most Christians, except for the Eastern Orthodox, will celebrate Easter on April 5 this year. For an increasing number, Easter has to do with chocolate or real rabbits, an Easter egg hunt, maybe even dyeing of eggs—but why? Easter is the feast of the Christian year, bigger than Christmas, because without the raising of Jesus from death what would be the point of Christmas? As I say that, I remember that Christmas is about gifts, trees. Lights, family and feasting. Oh yes and the baby Jesus. Again today, many would ask in all honesty, what’s so important about a baby’s birth over 2000 years ago. Easter is an old English name for the spring goddess. It is the result of those who brought Christianity to what is now England wanting to use the language and culture of that place. UK. In many languages, the word for Easter is one or another variation of Pascha , which in turn is the Greek for Pesach or Passover, the great Jewish festival of the passing over from slavery and death under the Egyptians to freedom and new life. God did all this, so the first Christians continued the name for Jesus’ passing over from death to life. But then as now, the Easter experience starts with Jesus and extends to all of us. The icon or image of the Resurrection, called the “harrowing of hell” in earlier times, shows Jesus leading Adam and Eve and all their children—you and me—out of the realm of death to new life forever with God. This we confess each Sunday, in the Creed, in the eucharistic prayer and in taking the bread and cup of the Eucharist—the bread of life and cup of salvation. Perhaps more than any other feature of Jesus’ good news it was this promise and gift of life always with God, new life, that attracted so many in the ancient world. What about now, today? Other religious traditions such as Judaism and Islam also revere one God and believe that God wants us to be with him, and with each other, past death. It is a deep, basic yearning in the human heart. Death is certain, like taxes, right? And aging, and illness. Yet we don’t throw the gift of life, of love and family and friends, of learning and celebrating away just because there is an end for each of us. Too bad if you doomscroll your days and nights away. Is it not better to at least wager a belief that God will stick to his promise. The new archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullaly, said this in her sermon as she was installed on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25. God always has something new to offer us, God is full of surprises. Just as the teenage girl Mary of Nazareth, despite fear and panic at God’s messenger Gabriel and the news that she would have a son who would save the world—that’s some news!—Mary held on to the faith, the trust that God would make good on his promises. Mary was there and asked her son to help out the host family when the wine ran out at a wedding in Cana. She followed him around Palestine as he healed and taught and gathered his friends to have a meal every night—where our Eucharist comes from. She was strong enough, though breaking apart inside, to see him suffer and die on the cross. But also be one of the women who came to the tomb only to find it empty. Tradition says Jesus first appeared to her when he was raised. He was in the end a good son! Against what their eyes and ears told them, Jesus’ mother and friends saw that he kept his promise to be with them, to always live with them. This is the heart of Easter. Not a magic trick of a dead body being revived. Rather Easter is the hope that God has that we all live forever with him and with each other. No matter how bad the news around us, no matter how disappointing our political leaders may be. No matter the sad things we all have to face—sickness and loss—in family and friends, God said he would always be with us, as one of us. Christ is risen!
A historic moment for the Church of England as Sarah Mullally is installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to serve in the role
In Loving Memory of Jan Jones Jan Jones was a longtime member of St. Barnabas and a dedicated presence in the Borrego community. As chief nurse practitioner at Borrego Clinic for many years, she cared for countless individuals, examining, diagnosing, and guiding them toward healing. She was truly a healer. Jan also shared her gifts within the church, singing in the choir and serving on the vestry. Even as her own health declined, she continued to care for others, including Wendy Quinn during her illness. We remember Jan for her warm smile, gentle humor, gracious spirit, and deep care for those around her. A memorial service will be scheduled and shared soon. May the Lord receive her into the communion of saints, and may her memory be eternal.
