A note from Sharon Mead on celebrating Worship in Action on this Fourth Sunday:
Throughout this week following Easter, I think we often still bask in the joy of the resurrection and Jesus' gift of life and connection to love forever. It's a joyous time. But what’s next after the Easter celebrations are all cleaned up and life moves on?
Cathy Thwing recently shared a blog post with me from the Transforming Center and I loved this excerpt about Jesus’ post-resurrection priority. His to-do list following the most transforming event in history was pretty simple. Spoiler alert: it's about putting people first.
"After all Jesus had endured to accomplish victory over death, there were so many things he could have chosen to do in the time between his resurrection and his ascension. He could have hosted a joyous celebration, showed himself (and maybe even gloated a little) to the ones who had humiliated and killed him, or staged a strategic gathering with influencers focused on how he was going to bring in his kingdom. But instead, he initiated a series of private and very personal interactions with his close ones, gently creating space for what they most needed. His people were more important to him than partying, politicking, or planning."
People first. It was and is as simple as that. No politicking or even big bashes were even considered. It was just time to be with those he was close to and those who needed his encouragement. This is the same motivation we have for Fourth Sundays - serving and spending time with our community and beyond - providing love and encouragement.
Fourth Sundays are rarely strategic or full of influencers, but it's always a time of personal interactions that just might be what you need.
Looking forward to Fourth Sunday together!