Easter Aftermath

I made it through my first easter in ministry with few injuries. Our services were well attended and I did wear a femanine colored shirt from kohls. I think the color was sunset orange. It was something. Easter was all that I had anticipated and more. As I preached easter morning, proclaiming a risen Christ, I sensed a closeness to God that I had never sensed before. Here I was (17 years to Easter Sunday a Christian, 10 years after I had been called to ministry) preaching the most important message. Jesus is alive. It was so awesome to preach hope to a people that I brought through the crucifixion scene two days earlier in our tenebrae service. By the way, you definately don't have to be a high church to have a more liturgical service like this. This service on Good Friday was powerful and moving.

I woke up monday exhausted and even a little tired yesterday. I never realized the amount of energy this weekend would take from me. Its one of those good tireds, like when I was in high school and just finished a cross country race. I had accomplished the course. Given it all and pushed beyond what I had. Through this exhaustion I feel strangly refreshed, motivated, and focused to minister.

Does the easter season really make a difference in the life of the church? Honestly, I want to know. Obviously it should, but how do we really take in the season? My sermon sunday morning was out of John 20. There were three reactions to the empty tomb in this passage. Mary weeping, John saw and believed, and Peter simply observed. What is your response to the empty tomb. What does it mean to a Christian? Im afraid, for many of us, it's nothing more than an observation. I pray that you and your churches will be deeply impacted to be changed by the easter message.

Sink or Swim: Ministry During the Easter Season

I never gave it very much consideration. What it takes to lead your congregation through the Easter season. It's not at all what I expected at the age of 12 when I received this call. As far as I was concerned, growing up, it was nothing more than a comforting sermon at a well attended service where I would wear a femenine colored shirt and tie. With the big Sunday ahead of me I realize that perhaps I 've been a bit mistaken.

Today I sense a heavy burden and passion to convey the greatest event in the history of the world accurately and in a way that penetrates lives. This week alone I will be preparing a Bible Study, Sunrise service message, and for the first time at our church, coordinating and leading a tenebrae service. I haven't even thought about when I will run down to kohls and get my manly pink or green shirt and tie.

Why do I this easter season feel different than every other year? I believe that God is permitting for me to reflect the responsability of sharing the greatest story every uttered from the lips of man. Why do I experience unrest as I am preparing this tenebrae service? I believe it is because I will lead the people of God throug a service that will envoke the realization that we truly abandoned, betrayed and crucified the messiah, king of the Jews, and the Son of God. We will not end this fridays service with a pat on the back and an empty tomb. We won't leave singing "Up from the grave he arose" just to go home and sleep well. No! We will leave in silence and a heavy heart, relaizing what really happened to Christ. Perhaps one this friday will leave the church and walk down Ohio Street, contemplating all of the times that they have denied Christ. They will not be alone, and man named Simon Peter would say he has experienced the same thing. Mabye one will get in their car, and drive home full of anger as she realizes the injustice of this crucifixion. She will not be alone, a woman named Mary walked down a hill, full of heartache and anger just the same.

This is the environment I will draw my congregation into this friday. Not one of comfort and rejoicing, but one of silence and darkness as their light and hope was brutally murdered, not for them, but more importantly, because of them. This is why Easter this year will not be the same for me.

Pastors and Christians, please do not jump and rejoice over the empty tomb before you fall and mourn over the cross.

The Lord be With You

1st Post

I'm no theologian, and I don't claim to be a great writer, but I do hope that is blog is productive and a great way for me to vent and get my thoughts down. I am passionate about being the best pastor I can at Circleville First Church. In this blog I will stand on many a soapbox. Feel free to comment or push back. I will simply make some observations of a young pastor of a conservative holiness church in Central Ohio. I will share some things that work and laugh at the many failures I'm sure that I will endure. Nevertheless, I will give God praise for everyday and every lesson he gives me as a young pastor. What is in store for a young pastor in the Churches of Christ in Christian Union? More importantly, What is in store for a young pastor in the church in America today?