Jesus Paid It All

A few weeks ago during communion, we invited you to take home a bag that contained seeds and a small pot of soil. We asked you to feel the moist earthiness of the soil and remember the tomb in which Jesus was buried. We were hopeful that you might think of the darkness the seed experiences before it can spring to life, because on the brink of creation, there is darkness. The seed has to die for the plant to be born.

As we walk through the remainder of this Holy Week, on our journey towards the joy of the empty tomb, we must first experience the heartbreak found in betrayal, the suffering found in torture and the agony of the cross. The cross represents darkness and death, but it also offers new life that emerges from the darkness of the tomb on Easter. When we gave you the bags of soil and seeds we asked that you think about what needed to die in you so that new life might break through. We have a few more days to think about and pray over that question.

I hope that you will join us on Good Friday at 7:30pm in the sanctuary for our musical drama/ Tenebrae service entitled Jesus Paid it All. It will be your last opportunity to experience the emotion and transformation of the darkness that leads to new life. And of course, I look forward seeing you all at the Easter Sunrise Service on the White Street Pier at 6:45am (golf cart transport to the end of the pier will be available) or the 11am Traditional Easter Service in our sanctuary (or maybe I will see you at both) where we will celebrate the hope and joy in knowing that Jesus Lives!

Let me leave you with this thought. Brandi Ortiz, shared with me the picture above. She took home her seeds and planted them in the little pot of soil. This is what it looks like now - new life emerged from the darkness of the soil. The promise and hope of a life surrendered to Christ!

May new life break forth from you this Holy Week and beyond!

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:5b-6a)

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline