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From the Pastor's Desk: "Rise AND Shine! (And Give God the Glory!) E aster Sunday this year is on April 20, 2025. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the disciples words are recorded in John 20:25 as saying “We have seen the Lord!” I’m just going to go ahead and call it a glorious morning. O what a beautiful morning it is to wake up to the rising Son and be reminded of the miracle of Christ’s resurrection. It is His resurrection that guarantees ours. All of our hope can be found in Jesus’ own words where he says - “I am the resurrection and the life. the one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25, NIV). So what ways can we live into this promise as Easter people? RISE. First, we are to rise in Christ! This promise is what sets the Christian life apart from every other belief system out there. If you go to the tomb of any other religious leader who lived and died on this earth, you will find it is still occupied. But if you go to the tomb of Jesus, you will find that His grave is empty because He is not there. He is risen from the dead, just like He said! He is alive! (Matthew 28:6). Because this is so essential to our Christian faith, this is why the devil has tried to undo it. He has tried to cause people to not believe it because the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from the dead spells the d-e-f-e-a-t of the devil. He knows it is true. He knows your belief in Christ gives you the power to put him under your feet! (Ephesians 1:20). So people of God, rise up and confess with your mouth that “Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that He is risen from the dead!” (Romans 10:9) If you believe this truth, you will not only be saved, but it will change your life! That is worth getting up for on Easter morning to sing our praise to our great redeemer, and to witness to others that He lives! SHINE! But wait, there’s more! We are to shine as Easter people for the rest of our lives. We are to shine the light and love of Jesus Christ everywhere we go in our daily lives. Some believers who receive Christ would rather go back into the tomb as if they have been “baptized, died, and buried away.” They become like the proverbial ground hog that goes back in his burrow for six more weeks of winter. This makes for a lifeless Christian and ultimately a lifeless Church devoid of any hope or joy. Before you can be a light to others, take a look at your own life. Has sin dulled the evidence of Christ in you? The reason we planned a Church Revival for March 2-4 is so we could take the opportunity to begin the season of Lent with a heart of repentance. The point of a revival is for the Word of God to shine a light on what has dwelt in darkness. In these six weeks, let’s to ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, and give us the courage to lay it all down at the cross. If we will let Jesus bury the things that are dead in us, it will restore our joy and raise us up to new life in Christ. The Apostle Paul describes the process this way: “ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4) GIVE GOD THE GLORY! Finally, let’s give God the glory! There is an old children’s song called “Rise and Shine” that points to a greater goal of the people of God to “Give Him the glory, glory!” The gospel writers and many other early Christians understood their supreme role in life and history was to live and die for Christ in such a way that their lives would point to the reality and glory of Christ’s resurrection. That is what you and I are called to go, do, and be in this world – to spread the light of Christ’s glory in this world. The glory of God is the fullness of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit seen in God’s fullness. Can you just imagine what Easter sunrise would look like around the world if every believer was doing this? Darkness would have to hide. Don't sleep in this Easter. Don’t live like those who are baptized dead and buried away. Don’t let sin cloud the holiness of Jesus Christ that now lives in you. Instead be the “light on a hill” for all to see “so they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). Take a moment to look at all of the worship, prayer and Bible study renewal events and make plans to participate in them in March and April. I hope they help lead you to a place where you will “ Rise and Shine! and Give God the Glory, Glory!” this Easter. In Christ Alone, Pastor Mary