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| Movie Discussion Group (Zoom): Mon, 2:00 PM
WINGS Book Study Group (Zoom): Tue, 12:00 PM
Practical Metaphysics Class (Zoom): Tue, 7:00 PM
Wednesday "Faith Lift" Meditation: 7:00 PM Table Talk Thursday (Zoom): 12:00 PM
Exodus Class (Zoom): Thur, 3:00 PM
Good Friday Service (Facebook): Fri, 11:00 AM
Sunday Service: 10:45 AM
Sunday Social (Zoom): 12:00 PM |
| | WINGed Words The Reverend Cynthia Mackey, UCC Minister of Education |
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Hi Everyone,
Here we are approaching Easter and there is so much more hope than last year. Last Easter was our second week of online services and we were facing so many unknowns. The state was in a lockdown and Covid cases were rising daily. It is a good thing that we really did not know how difficult it would become nor the full extent of the changes that were happening to us; nor how long our isolation would be. Sometimes it is really good not to know the future!
However, today is a very different story. Easter approaches again and the full optimism of the season is upon us. We have much to be grateful for having survived individually and as a spiritual family. So today I am thinking about my pre-pandemic job of writing lessons for Youth Ministry. The elementary students were always wondering how the bunnies and eggs fit in with the Easter story of Resurrection and overcoming. Maybe you have been curious about that, too.
Just like with Christmas, the early Christians did not want to stand out by celebrating their Christian holidays during Roman times. So, they melded it with a Roman pagan celebration of spring. The Roman holiday celebrated the abundance of spring (hence the bunnies) and the potential of spring (hence the eggs and sometimes the chicks). The celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus is also a celebration of Life with a capital L. Jesus demonstrated the actual overcoming of death, but also the allegorical overcoming of all difficulties in our lives. No matter how dire the circumstance may be, with God’s grace, through the Christ within us, we can overcome. The fullness of God’s love and of God’s grace is revealed in this magnificent overcoming!
In Elizabeth Sand Turner’s book, Your Hope of Glory, she gives a beautiful and concise description of the Resurrection process that takes place in three phases, represented by the three days in the tomb. She quotes The Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, page 349. “The three days represent the three movements of mind that are involved in overcoming error. First, nonresistance and humility; second, the taking on of the divine activity or receiving the will of God; third, the assimilation and fulfillment of the divine will.” Simply put, I must surrender and open myself to God’s will for me. This makes me receptive to His will for me; finally, I must internalize and act on His will for me. This is a process and I believe that is why it is described in time measurements we can understand, like days. Creation is described similarly in Genesis, in the concept of seven days. The more we fight, the more we stay in the problem; it is in the giving up of the resistance that we find our resurrection.
So, I think it is fitting that we celebrate this wonderful resurrection demonstration in the spring. We would not want to hold on to the darkness and barrenness of winter. It is better to surrender to the coming of spring (even if it comes with a sneeze). I also think that the spring represents the cyclical nature of our process of struggle, surrender, and demonstration.
In the coming week, enjoy those chocolate eggs, bunnies, jellybeans and think of the cycle of spring. Contemplate the cyclical nature of the process of surrender and resurrection in your life. Nothing is hopeless, unsolvable, or unable to be overcome! Jesus promises us that, every Easter!
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| | If you'd like to join us on Zoom, the login info is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81007092426?pwd=SlUrRzU3MWhpZEx2bW96NTNlbW1tZz09
Meeting ID: 810 0709 2426
Passcode: 865284
Peace, Love and Happy Resurrection!
Cynthia
Today’s photos are of some little Easter reminders I have around my house. Enjoy! |
| | | | | | | | | Your Weekly Affirmation:
“DARKNESS NOW GIVES WAY TO DAWN OF EVER-EXPANDING INSIGHT & UNDERSTANDING. A NEW DAY HAS COME!”
THANK YOU, GOD! |
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