Easter is early this year (March 23). Our special day is a
moveable feast
which predates Christianity and was Christianized but the date is still set
based upon the phases of the moon. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal
equinox; the vernal equinox is fixed as March 21. There are some highly technical rules for determining the actual date of the full moon, but when
you take all this into account the result is that Easter can never occur before March 22 or later than April 25. Once we know the date for Easter we
count backward 40 days to set the beginning of our observance of the Lenten |
It is our belief that Jesus' Last Supper with his first
disciples was indeed a Passover celebration and learning more about Passover
for ourselves will deepen our appreciation for the events leading up to the
crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. In addition on the Sunday mornings during Lent I plan a series of messages about one of the traditional themes for Lent, since it lasts 7 weeks, which is to examine the 7 statements which Jesus makes in the Gospel of John which begin with the phrase, "I am." I hope you will join me for Lent beginning this month as we gain a deeper appreciation for the identity of Christ and, thereby, also understand our own identity better. Here is a meaningful poem attributed to a Gregory of Nazianzus, A.D. 381. to wet your whistle as we focus on the person of Jesus: He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears. Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world. Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death. Love, Pastor Scott |
