A Happy Easter to you all! It was wonderful to join with others in our Campus community at our Campus Easter Sunrise Service this year as we heard and rejoiced in prayer and praise; “Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!”
The hymns and liturgy of the Easter services help us to retell the dramatic story of new life, hope, and enduring love made real for us today. On Sunday our service began in semi-darkness as the resurrection of Jesus was symbolically proclaimed with the lighting of the Easter Candle symbolizing our joy being found through the stark difference made by that same light of Christ in our lives today. Darkness and light are at the heart of God's coming among us in the person of Jesus. Although we often think of these words from the beginning of John's gospel as being read at Christmastime, they are also fitting for our Easter celebrations; “What came into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” That is the heart of our Easter celebrations – that nothing, not even the darkness of death can overcome the light of God's love.
Over this past year the whole world has lived amidst the darkness of covid-19, and we have all experienced in differing ways the darkness of despair, disappointment, loss, and confusion. But today we rejoice that that darkness has not overcome the Light. Around us now as we celebrate Jesus' resurrection, we see signs of new life and new hope, and perhaps this Easter it is easier to recognize that what we are celebrating isn't simply an historical event. For those of us who affirm the glorious victory of resurrected life two thousand years ago are also affirming the universal truth; Hope can never now be extinguished, nor death have the last word, for the Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
the passover of gladness, the passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.
Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
and listening to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
his own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.
Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.
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