Getting ready for Ordinary time?

Well here's a little tip: DON'T!

Over the past few years I have noticed that Pentecost aside, many of the Christians I get to meet seem to live their lives by reclining in a Christian hammock supported by the twin pillars of Christmas and Easter. What happens between the two of them is pretty much a doze in which people are shaken awake by Lent and Advent but otherwise they exist in some 'mark time' somnambulistic, zombie-like state and this is, if you don't mind me saying so, where many of the problems with Church and growing it are to be found.

In my book Easter Day is the most important day in the Church's calendar. This is the day when the only power that sin has (death) is broken and so with the resurrection sin loses any power it might have had over us. It is the day when full and engaged reconciliation with God is made not only real but ours! 

Christmas is a joyful day because it marks the start of the journey to the cross but Easter is the day upon which the whole of our Christian year pivots and this, I think, is where, for many, the problems begin. For it appears that there are many who regard the remainder of the year as looking away from Easter and towards Christmas and once that's done they look back towards towards Easter again.

It's a bit like our little skateboarder below. The peaks are Christmas and Easter and after those two events it all goes down hill until things are at their lowest and then it's all uphill as the other Feast is approached and then down and agin and so on until we all die of boredom!

And there's more besides - Let's keep on going a step further shall we?
This year, by popular demand, our little church did communion on the first Thursday of the year - which was also New Year's Day - and I was surprised by the surprise many expressed that we had, 'Done a service on a Bank Holiday.' Because, 'It's supposed to be a day off!'  And so it is, if you happen to be a bank! But of course we aren't a bank - we are supposed to be Church - and on the first of January one of the things Church has done for many years is celebrate the naming and circumcision of Jesus.

In my travels I regularly hear of clergy and church members alike who seem to think that keeping feasts and festivals is something from 'days gone by' rather than something for today. I meet people who tell me that Lent is not something biblical and the keeping of it is questioned and derided as being wrong practice and yet many of these same people are happy to engage in shallow theology and trite songs (which they assume is 'worship') whenever the opportunity to 'celebrate' appears. Now as someone who has a music team and is definitely in a low evangelical expression of Church to write as I do is assumed by some to mean that I am 'high church' - but obviously I'm not.

But I am authentically Anglican and fiercely orthodox and wonderfully evangelical and passionate about living in the fullness of what being Christian really means. And it means 365 days a year, each with 24 hours within them to worship, love, live and celebrate the love of a God who through the sacrificial obedience of one who is truly man brings me into relationship with that same God and enables me by the power of His (that same God's) Holy Spirit.

We don't just live for the parties - we travel through the highs and lows, the triumphs and the tragedies - Easter and Christmas are wonderful but there's so much more to be touched and changed by. So let's get off our Christian hammock and live to the full until he comes or we have run our race.

Sounds like a plan to me ;-)

So how was your Easter?

The answer to this question was: Brilliant!

During the run-in to Easter I have been engaged with an absolutely great lent course which used the excellent Mustardseed stories to enthuse and encourage those who attended to look at what others are doing in terms of being missional and then, having realised it was something they could do, they got to thinking about how they could do it too. This is something that I wouldrecommend to every church in their journey towards developing a missional congregation:

Then Holy Week arrived and it got even better as:

Monday saw our little church do a wonderfully moving and challenging stations of the Cross service

Tuesday saw us engage in a most amazing Tenebrae service

Wednesday brought us together as a Parish and a Seder meal

Thursday brought the washing of feet and an amazingly gentle communion service

Friday saw something around 500 people turn out for the town centre act of witness 

Followed by a watch service and a sublime musical journey through the Passion in the shape of 'Lift High The Cross':

Saturday didn't exist but

Sunday did as Easter started with a dawn communion service followed by bacon roll and hot drinks 

and then the 10:30 Communion service (which, as ever, saw those present staying on for ages afterwards as we enjoyed each other's company - and as ever, the biscuits for the children (they get them when they come up for a blessing) had an Easter 'He is risen - the tomb is empty') theme.

All in all,  a great Easter

He is risen!

The Paschal Candle - when should you use it?

Now, for those of you who wonder what on earth I'm on about this is a very special candle what we have in our church buildings. It's large and it's upfront because we get a new candle every year and to make the point it usually has the date on it. The new candle appears on Easter Sunday and so this year's candle looks a bit like the candle on the right:

Now this candle represents the light of Jesus, the Christ, and we light it during the services of Easter (or Paschaltide - paschal  meaning Passover which is, of course, Easter for the Last Supper was the Passover meal) and when we do baptism (some high church types might also light it at the funeral service where the light of Christ and the resurrection have a meaning too!).

It should be found by the font as that's the 'Go' of the Monopoly board that is the Christian faith in that it is the start point of our faith journey and it is lit because the third of the three elements of baptism

Chrism - anointing with oil,
Baptism - the wet bit, and
Light - the candle bit where the candle is given to the baptised person (or someone standing for them) to symbolise passing from darkness into light of Christ.

It's simple really - we light it during Paschaltide (Easter) and during the baptism (and if it's your flavour - funerals) and that's basically it. It represents the light of Christ and the lighting of the baptismal candle from it is a nice bit of symbolism - especially as all baptismal candles are lit from the same source and so it speaks of unity and oneness in Jesus, the Christ. To quote the Common Worship Baptismal service:

'God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light. 
You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father. 

Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.'

Simple innit?

Well it should be but I find a number of churches where the blessed Paschal candle finds itself placed in front of the pulpit (for reasons I have no idea of other than the someone is being liturgically dim!) or in the sanctuary (because it's 'special!') and one place I know enjoys having it lit in front of, and in the middle of the table (AKA 'the altar') on it's blinking great stand when it's a festival, Saint's day or some other occasion because (yeah, you've got it) "It's special!

Now I'm writing this in response to a question from someone who thought they were doing something 'special' when they lit the candle - because that was what they thought it meant, "Look everyone, this is a special service because I've lit the great big candle up the front/back/in front of the pulpit/by the font!' They asked me what the candle meant and so I have written this brief explanation in the hope it help them (and others) with regard to the liturgical use of the thing.

I await their response in eager anticipation because it's an area many of us are (or have been) confused by (I know, I was because I was taught by someone equally confused by it all too) and yet, when the right meaning is understood it's use becomes even more meaningful - or so I reckons.

Pax

Morning Prayer - Apr 24

Easter Season 
Thursday of Easter Week

Psalm 114
When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of a strange tongue, Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
The sea saw that, and fled; Jordan was driven back.
The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like young sheep.

What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you were driven back? You mountains, that you skipped like rams, you little hills like young sheep?

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the hard rock into a pool of water, the flint-stone into a springing well.

Psalm 148
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you stars of light.
Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded and they were created. He made them fast for ever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and mist, tempestuous wind, fulfilling his word; Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and birds on the wing; Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; Young men and women, old and young together; let them praise the name of the Lord. For his name only is exalted, his splendour above earth and heaven.

He has raised up the horn of his people and praise for all his faithful servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Alleluia.

Exodus 13.1-16
The Lord said to Moses: Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites, of human beings and animals, is mine.
Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the Lord brought you out from there by strength of hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this observance in this month. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen in your possession, and no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory. You shall tell your child on that day, “It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.” It shall serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the Lord may be on your lips; for with a strong hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. You shall keep this ordinance at its proper time from year to year.

‘When the Lord has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and has given it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your livestock that are males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. Every firstborn male among your children you shall redeem. When in the future your child asks you, “What does this mean?” you shall answer, “By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.” It shall serve as a sign on your hand and as an emblem on your forehead that by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.’

1 Corinthians 15.29-34
Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptised on their behalf?

And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour? I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised,
‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’

Do not be deceived:
‘Bad company ruins good morals.’

Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

The Collect
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen.

YOLF!

Wise words on this wondr'ous Easter morn!

How cool it is when Church works

And that was exactly wheat it did yesterday when the Christians of Tamworth came together in the town centre to witness the passion of Jesus, the Christ, and make a statement of their love of Jesus, the Son of the Living God as, once again, Good Friday came around:

The band was great. The unity found in the differing ages and accents of the speakers of the passion narrative was captivating and the feeling of culpability as the crowd cried out, as they did at the original event, against Jesus unmissable.

This was Church at its very best and a wonderful marker for a most solemn and thought-provoking day indeed.

Easter 3 and . .

the response, 'He is Risen indeed!' is beginning to sound a little hollow.

Just like those who live in places where tourist attractions are to be found (and I can plead guilty to this having had a bridge, a pier, cathedrals, museums and more bedsides) and yet see nothing special in  them, some are beginning to forget Easter Sunday and the joy it brings.

The Pascal candle is lit (and?); the greeting, 'He is Risen!' is proclaimed (yeah, we know!); the Eucharist is celebrated (we do that EVERY week?).

In the readings today we have Saul 'still' breathing out murderous threats encountering the risen Christ and losing his sight that he might see more clearly.  The Angels proclaim the truth about Jesus, the Christ and all created things worship Him - without ceasing! Peter takes up a new role as shepherd, walking in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd.

Three passages from the Bible that challenge, inspire and demand.

How can we be anything but caught up in the One who died and rose again from the dead?

How can we be anything but caught up in the love of those in whom the invisible God is made visible?

How can we not shout the words, 'He is Risen indeed!' and get loud when we come to the 'Hosanna in the highest' bits?

On this, and every mini-Easter Sunday we can stand and excitedly respond to the proclamation:

Jesus, the Christ, is Risen!

Cant' we? 

Church Noticeboard - Easter

I really hope that this is a spoof but I have to say that having passed a church with a sign inviting people to their 'Eater Celebration' (you know who you are!) I have to assume that is perhaps a disaster waiting to happen if it hasn't for real.

When I first saw it, the OCD section of my being yelled, 'Where's the question mark?'

But hey ho - I know I'm sad (thinking of carrying Tippex and black Sharpie for apostrophe watch duties ;-)

Anyway - enjoy (if that's the right expression here):

Pax

Maundy (Mandatum Novum) Thursday

Maundy Thursday is more than, 'Just the day before Good Friday,' it is THE day when the Christian Church remembers Jesus washing His disciples feet; humbling himself and taking on the lowest of jobs to out into actions the words He'd been telling them for so long. Time was short and it was time to give them one last practical demonstration before the disciples graduated out into the world without Him by their side (physically).

The messy and lowest of the jobs are there for us to take and make our own and as we do, the more like Jesus we become: servant of all - living to make God and mankind one through LOVE. Now that's inclusive Church for sure ;-)

Today is a time for us to also remember the 'New Commandment' that Jesus left us with, the one that mirrors His prayer in John 17 regarding unity - for unity comes through 'loving one another' (easier when the three are one and the same ;-) ). And so the words of John 13. 34:

'A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another as I have loved you,'

And the 'Maundy' bit?

Well like Rotten Row in London ('Route de Roi') it is a corruption of the 'mandatum' written below (the John 13 verse in Latin) :

Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos

So as we think of Jesus, not just talking about servanthood but displaying it, here's a picture (one of my favourites) and some music:

I pray that you and yours have a wonderful and challenging climax to Passiontide and a blesséd Easter.

Spiderman, Jesus, Captain America and the Hulk

What's the difference between Spiderman, the Hulk, Captain America and Jesus?

Is simple - only one of them is a real superhero!

Not only that but three of them are Marvel whist the other is marvellous!

And best of all - only one of them really existed (and amazingly still does - let me tell you about Easter!).

What colour are yours? Liturgical lessons 1

Hello people.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Long, long ago, when I was only just learning about colours and seasons in the church (having come from a cords, brown shoes, check shirt and horn-rimmed glasses church background) I went away on a weekend course teaching us about liturgy.

Friday came and went and every step was a new piece of information about the seasons, morning prayer, evening prayer and, can you believe it, night prayer too! We were invited to join one of the many groups doing prayer at the end of the first day. This was wall-to-wall revelation time for me and it was here that I learned that complign was actually complin (even though it is spelled 'compline' of course) and how it spoke of 'completeness' and the the of the day.

Saturday came and after morning prayer (the night has passed and the day lies open before us . .) we were treated definitions, descriptions and means of handling Psalms and greater and lesser endings, collects and BCP vs modern variants of them. The Gloria was explained (along with why some looked at their shoes during the first bit of it) and the means by which multiple Psalms could be said without returning to it each and every time. We discussed antiphonal readings (which being paid to sing Gregorian stuff was something, probably the only thing in fact, I actually knew about!) and the purpose of the Psalm in worship (NO, it cannot be used to replace one of the other set readings).

Lunch came and a few of us decided, having seen the scoff, to absent ourselves and visit the local hostelry for pie and a pint. Returning just a tad late there were three of us who, having signed up for the same 'break out' session, crept stealthily into the back of the lecture theatre.

The woman lecturing having finished her introduction then moved on to the session proper and it went a little like this:

"one of the tings that I really like to do is to have my clothes match the colours of the liturgical season we are in. For instance I have discovered that H&M do a really nice range of suspender belts, bras and knickers in gold for Christmas and Easter Sunday . . . ."

The three of us looked at each other and wondered what on earth was going on. I wondered whether our absence had been noted and what we were experiencing was a set-up, but 'No', she continued to explain how certain clothing outlets sold purple items of 'intimate apparel' (what she described beautifully) for Lent and Advent,

Green, for ordinary time was limited to but a few shops whilst most outlets stocked red (for Pentecost and certain saint's days).

White was easy to find anywhere and so was merely passed by with a cursory note about easter, Christmas and others festivals when you didn't want to wear your gold stuff!

I was surprised to hear that whilst many shops stocked black, this was only worn by her on All Saints and Good Friday!

Seems that the biggest problem was getting good coloured tights that were sheer for if one was not careful you'd end up with Norah Batty tights (which of course would never do)!

The lecturer went on to explain that she didn't usually disclose the underwear thing but as this was a ladies only group she felt that it was safe to do so. She then proceeded to tell the group how we were going to do an exercise with the church's calendar and what colours we thought (or perhaps knew) would be right for them and as they started to pass the papers back, the three of us crept out before we were rumbled.

A little later, during afternoon tea, we found a couple of other people who had also been signed up for our break out group and discovered that due to numbers we had been moved into the, much smaller, chapel.

Which is where we went for the remainder of the session.

Mind you, I've never forgotten the colours of the liturgical calendar.

And the women lecturer?

Her identity is safe lest her face matches her intimate apparel come Pentecost :-)

Beggars the question though   .. . . . . . "What colour are yours?

:-)

Happy Friday

He is Risen - Back in the Upper Room

It's a week since Jesus rose,
A whole week and they haven't stopped talking about it!
"You should have been there Tom," they say,
"Should have seen the marks, it was really Him!"

They're excited, relieved but not convinced.
The door's still locked and they're all still hiding!
If He'd really come back, if He'd really been there,
They'd have been out there shouting about it.
Well, I would have, wouldn't you?

And then, I look up, and like a surprise birthday party,
There He is, standing before me.
No door opened, no sound of feet,
He's just there.

"Shalom, "He says, "My peace is with you."
And you know what? It was!
"Touch me, put your fingers in the holes and see for yourself Tom,
Give up the doubting and believe."

How could I not believe?
He was there and so were the marks,
Before my very eyes, large as life and living!
I fall on my face and proclaim Him,
Lord and God, MY Lord and God.

Then He laughs that laugh and tells me,
"So Tom, seeing is believing, eh?
Blessed are those who don't see this and yet still believe."

And they are (He's never wrong)!

Loving as Christ loves us

After the Good Friday witness I met people who spoke of a man, mentally ill, needing to be 'managed' or acted against 'properly' or as one put it, "Just locked up!" Another has spoken of acting 'decisively', but what do these words mean?

As they uttered those words I had the feeling that a man, somewhere in time was holding a scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and reading thus:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn; giving them beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."

If we cannot stand with those who know the Lord and have broken minds;

If we cannot stand with those who know the Lord and have broken lives;

If we cannot weep with those who weep, grieve with those who grieve, love those who are unloveable and yet know the Lord, what hope is there for the lost?

What hope is there for the Church?

Who can be saved?

What reason is there for His rising up today?

Pax

He is Risen!

Another day begins with the sound of women's voices.
Shouting, screaming, laughing . . . I'm not sure.

Rubbing eyes, stretching limbs, struggling out,
I see them, arms waving, tears flowing, voices raising.

Then the others start to run.
Not away, but too . . .

I start to run after them. Why? What for?
I don't know,

Then catching up with one of them, they (between gasps) tell me . . .
He Has Risen!

Just as He said!

Saturday - Day two and Halfway Through

Day two and starting to realise He's gone - dead and buried!
Without the benefit of hindsight - not a Gospel in sight.
Just a bunch of confused and broken people.
His words hollowly echoing, the dreams shattered.
Fishermen, tax-collector and the others,
Confused, lost and hiding behind closed doors.
Whatever will tomorrow bring?
Can't get any worse, can't get any better,
Can it?

Nearing Golgotha

The sun has risen,
The crowds gather, there's a spectacle to be seen,
Jesus, the Gallilean, in the starring role.
Wonder what sort of show He'll put on?
Wonder if He'll do anything else before He dies,
Or is this the end of a short career as would be Messiah?

It's saving the World Day . .

Not just 'Earth day'!

As much as I endorse and support managing and protecting the environment, I have to say that those denominations who have made 'Earth Day' more important than Good Friday are flawed, fallen and, to be brutally honest, bordering on (if not already there) apostate!

Today, our Lentern journeying brings us shortly to a place of torture, mocking and in the penultimate act of today's sacrifice for the 'whole world', Golgotha - the place pf the skull.

Today is about more than being 'eco friendly', if is about becoming friends again with God in a relationship cemented by the blood of Christ.

Today, One of the world's holiest days is with us, not two as the flawed words of one columnist has it:

"Two of the world’s holiest religious holidays are set to fall on April 22 this year — Good Friday for Christians and Earth Day for environmentalists — and some religious leaders are preparing their flocks to celebrate both."

Whatever, however, wherever you are and think, 'Earth Day' won't restore your relationship with God, it will not count you as innocent when all around you cry guilty, it will not condemn you, but offer you a hand and a hope.

Earth day? Is a great intention but it's not holy, is it?

Pax

Finished? It hasn't started yet!

Four O'clock in the morning and I see the words, "It is finished! all the debt is paid!"

My mind, full of being somewhere else, the turmoil of being betrayed by Judas, seized by men with mob, clubs and swords at the ready and dragged before the High Priest and Elders, has gone. The visits to Herod and Pilate are passed by and the cries of 'crucify him' are never aired.

Before it has even begun, Good Friday is done and we can rush, triumphantly, towards the victory of Easter Sunday.

Can we not watch with him these short hours?

Must we hasten past today to avoid the guilt, the pain, the sheer bloody horror of it all to embrace the triumph and the victory?

I think not.

Lord,
Snatched from the garden,
Betrayed by a friend,
Bound and accused,
Spat upon and beaten,
All for me - I love you.

Give me the courage to follow where You lead,
To stand before accusers and bless, not condemn.
To show in my life, just a little of the reality that is You.
To walk towards the Cross down a one-way street,
knowing - this is just the beginning!

Easter Trees - A new tradition?

Putting the Germanic and Eastern European traditions of Easter Trees (psyanksi) to one side, I have to be honest and say that the trend towards these things (which is apparently coming from North America - Gee Thanks!) leaves me more than a little cold. It seems that not being content with the commercial hijacking of Christmas, we are now looking to add to the eggs, cards and ramped up Sunday lunch prices yet another bit of trite merchandising.

I rather like the traditions from the original countries where Bible passages, eggs, symbols and other Lentern and Easter symbols were used to communicate the journey to Calvary. A rather nice way of making the season of lent less static, especially for the children, rather like the journeying of the Magi as we move to Epiphany.

The problem is that it won't be about Jesus, the road to the cross, Bible passages or the like, it is (it appears reading around) all about craft and 'homemaking' and twee nicely decorated trees. It has nothing to do with 'rescuing Easter' (as one Christian site had it) and everything about getting you to spend more at the craft shops, arty farty furnishing stores and undoubtedly the 'cheap and nasty' stores too.

You can have small and pretty

You can have twiggy and attractive

You can make stuff with the kids (a redeeming factor perhaps?)

And one site I read yesterday had a file with some smashing songs you can sing around the tree (God help us all - once again it's the Christians who bring me to total despair!)

The idea is that you place the tree, twigs or metal monstrosity from which are hung eggs, chicks, racing cars whatever else you fancy and you encircle it singing a song. Here's one for you to use at home (I'll admit it, I have 'helped' with the verses, they only had two!):

Here we go round the Easter Tree,
The Easter, Tree,
The Easter Tree.
Here we go round the Easter Tree,
On an Easter Sunday Morning.

This is the day that Jesus was raised,
Jesus was raised,
Jesus was raised.
This is the day that Jesus was raised,
On an Easter Sunday morning.

Pilate's the man who washed his hands,
Washed his hands,
Washed his hands.
Pilate's the man who washed his hands,
And Sent Jesus off to die.

The Jews all said, "We'll take the blame,
We'll take the blame,
We'll take the blame."
The Jews all said, "We'll take the blame,
Go and crucify Him."

Judas said, "This is the man,
This is the man,
This is the man."
Judas said, This is the man,
Take him off to the Temple."

Jesus said, "No great love than this,
Love than this,
Love than this."
Jesus said, "No greater love than this,
Is that I lay down my life for you."

Here we go round the Easter Tree,
The Easter, Tree,
The Easter Tree.
Here we go round the Easter Tree,
On an Easter Sunday Morning.

And the problem is, many will have the trees and not realise anything of the words of my little song.

Hosanna to the Son of David

Another Bloody Easter

Or something clean and sanitised?
  
For the children Easter is fluffy chicks, Easter bonnet parades, chocolate eggs and daffodils.
  
Easter is not for children is it?   After all, how many of us have been to Easter plays at our children's schools? How many of us will have seen or heard about an innocent man dragged before puppet kings and rulers placed by occupying forces this year? How many of us will have seen the blood and the gore of a crucifixion? It's not like Christmas with the angels, wise men and stables is it?
  
Living the shortest life in history Jesus comes at Christmas and exits at Easter - job done. Many of us know nothing of the thirty-three years in between. We know nothing of the fact that we were all separated from God by the wrong things that we do, by the lives that put us first and the possessions that possess us until Jesus died in our place.
    
God wants to be part of our lives and wants to help us take the right paths and have the best we can in our lives and by the Cross, an instrument of torture, pain and death He beings for us peace, healing and eternal life.
  
Christians, like Jesus, seek to serve, restore and renew others, copying Christ, through programmes, interventions and good works. They give their time and money to bring relief, to show love and to bring healing but this is not enough. It's great to bring relief to troubles, but what the world cries out for is a cure, an end to the pain and the emptiness and confusion.
  
For all of humanity Easter is an invitation to have a relationship with the Creator of all that is. To find a peace that the world cannot take away and that never ends. For each of us, Jesus, the Christ, goes to the Cross and dies there for us. He takes the bullet for us and we, if we accept this reality, have a new life within us and before us.
  
Which will we choose - easter eggs and fluffy bunnies or a man upon a cross for us and life filled with God and good?
  
Hallelujah! Sunday's coming :)