{"id":919,"date":"2015-04-05T19:18:33","date_gmt":"2015-04-06T00:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/redeemerhouston.org\/?p=919"},"modified":"2016-02-15T20:14:37","modified_gmt":"2016-02-16T02:14:37","slug":"easter-sunday-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeemerhouston.org\/?p=919","title":{"rendered":"Easter Sunday 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Rev. Gary Jones<\/span><\/p>\n

I was in the church office the other day and picked up a business card. Really a very handy thing to have \u2013 it talks of location and service time, and the most important parts of all: the question, \u201cDo you need prayer?\u201d And the quote from John 6:47 (do you remember it?): \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the crux of the matter \u2013 that\u2019s what Easter is all about. (See how I did that?) \u00a0The fundamental practical matter of Easter is that the cross brings eternal life to those who believe. I know that you know this, just as much as I do. The Church of the Redeemer has been the place of the great, sovereign work of God for a long, long time. In the short time I have been with you, you have shared stories that were examples of how many people have been healed, emotionally, physically and spiritually. That your gifts are song and music, worship and dance, prayer and witness.<\/p>\n

Lyn and I came to you two months ago, under very tragic circumstances. This is my last Sunday as your Celebrant. So this isn\u2019t going to be your typical Easter Sunday sermon. I apologize to anyone who expected a \u201cstone rolled away from the tomb\u201d sermon. I want to speak very humbly and simply from my heart to you for just a few minutes, and this is the venue I have to use.<\/p>\n

I have enjoyed getting to know many of you and to be able to worship with you. The part I have enjoyed the most is your music and your spirituality. You pray like you know God\u2026and that is refreshing. I have served many congregations where there seems to be no sincerity and no love of God. Your prayers are beautiful, and I don\u2019t like saying that you have something unique to share, but surprisingly, even in the church, you do have something unique.<\/p>\n

But, I\u2019ve heard something else too. I have heard an undertone of grief and sadness about the way things used to be. I know that my perception might be off a bit, in no small part because of the circumstances under which the bishop asked me to be with you for a couple of months.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, though: if any of the sadness that I have heard has to do with the building at 4411 Dallas Street; or the dwindling size of the congregation; or with any part of the past, I have a message to share: let it go. Look back only with gratitude for the love and grace that God bestowed.<\/p>\n

Easter is a time of new hope and life and looking to the future. My question for you is: What do you want your future to look like? Start dreaming dreams again and claiming the Kingdom of God in your midst.<\/p>\n

Here is one very practical suggestion: When I was the rector of a parish, I would take the parish leaders away for a couple of days, and we would dream and pray and dream and pray. We would paint a picture, or tell a story of what we wanted our next year to look like. Then we would revisit this image every month, and as the dream changed a bit we would revise as we went.<\/p>\n

Another suggestion: You need to set aside time to listen for God to speak, as a community of the faithful. And then ask some hard questions like: \u201cWhat needs to change, for us to reach what we want our future to look like?\u201d<\/p>\n