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Dear beloved Passing the Peace Readers, 

Happy Easter to each and every one of you. I’m so very grateful for all of the ways in which this community gathered together to mark Holy Week this year. As people have already begun to cast ballots and we near the election day (April 28th), I am grateful that we spent our Lenten season reflecting on the spiritual gifts of being able to find God in the midst of extremes: to stay curious about where we can find connection when ideas or people seem at odds, and recognize how church is a special place where we grow and learn together in community by celebrating our diversity of ideas, identities, and beliefs. May our faith help us discern how best we wish to work together as a country caring for the poor, the oppressed, and all those Jesus’ ministry served. 

I hope this season of Easter you will be able to cultivate hope. As author Barbara Johnson said in one of her devotionals: We are Easter people in a Good Friday world. Our joy and challenge as Christians is that we are called to bear faithful witness to all the Good Fridays in our world as those who bear the image of hope found in a resurrected Christ. Love cannot be contained, even by death. God’s mercy and compassion is a power that speaks from beyond any grave. We are blessed and this is a season to celebrate! 

As the sunshine invites us outside, to witness the wonder and beauty of creation unfolding in the form of bright flowers and birdsong in the morning, may the Peace of Christ be with you, 

 

Rev Michiko

 

Photo Credit, Deb Fraser: Good Friday Service, Robson Community Room