Where is God?

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

The news from this morning’s events at Virginia Tech have left people around the world shocked, saddened and asking the question, “Where is God?” It is the question that we often ask when faced with such unexplainable tragedy.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, offered the following prayer as part of his statement released earlier today, “Holy One, you do not distance yourself from the pain of your people, but in Jesus you bear that pain with all who suffer at others’ hands. With your cleansing love bring healing and strength to the Virginia Tech community; and by your justice, lift them up, that in body, mind and spirit, they may again rejoice. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”

This is the prayer that our church council will prayer together when we meet just a short time from now for our monthly meeting. It is the prayer that I would encourage all of us to pray in the coming days, weeks and months as we struggle to make sense out of something that is senseless and as we offer our support to those whose lives have been forever changed today. May we trust that tonight and for many nights to come that God will be right there, in the dorm rooms, classrooms and across the Virginia Tech campus. May we trust that God will be right there alongside the family and friends of those who have died or been injured. May we trust that God will be right there with the law enforcement and university officials who investigate today’s events. May we trust that God will be right there, right here, right now.

Christ is Risen! Now What?

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

We began our Easter morning services yesterday with the same familiar exchange that has been used by Christians for centuries. “Christ is risen!” one person would exclaim. “He is risen indeed!” came the reply. I cannot help but wonder, however, how often this greeting will be exchanged today.

Christ is risen, alive and in our midst this day, but now what? How do we celebrate now that the Easter baskets are empty with only a few stray candy wrappers remaining? The lilies are drooping and the blackberries are buzzing reminding us that the brief Easter holiday is over. Now what?

The church celebrates not only Easter Sunday, but an entire Easter season that will take us from now until Memorial Day Weekend. We will continue to sing the hymns of old and proclaim to one another that “He is risen indeed!” In the church we celebrate every Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection, as a mini-Easter. A day to rejoice and be glad that Christ is in our midst.

Now what? On this Easter Monday morning it’s back to work, school and the daily routine. Yet we go back knowing with certain faith that Christ is present wherever we go. He is there in the classroom, in the office, at the gym, and in line at the grocery store. Thanks be to God!