Resurrection - what is it, really?

Well here I am ... my first Easter as a priest (well, a deacon in the eyes of the Anglican Church and a full minister in the eyes of my United Church pastoral charge)- what a privilege to walk with a congregation through Holy Week. We were keeping things pretty low key this year - with plans to join the neighbouring Anglican parish on Good Friday and have our Communion celebration today. I've been praying and reading and planning...

Early in the week I purchased lovely flowers to have for Easter morning. Martha Stewart would be proud, I think ;)

Then came Good Friday and a huge snowstorm. Our driveway not only had to be plowed and blown out, but even the front-end loader was needed to clear away the drifts! It was mild, with high winds and the snow was heavy and we were without hydro from 8 a.m. til 1 p.m. Needless to say, services were cancelled...it was a dark time and a sombre day...

Holy Saturday, that day of waiting, dawned clear and mild. We completed our preparations for Easter and I tried to calm myself about the resurrection sermon that hadn't quite jelled. We made the trek to Sandy Beach for the Easter Vigil - I was privileged as deacon to carry the new fire into the church and proclaim the Light of Christ, and a trained singer (an old friend from school days) gave a stirring rendition of the Exsultet. It was a wonderful night and when we came home at 9 p.m. I almost gave in to the temptation to put the flowers in the church and surprise everyone Easter morning!

Happy Easter! Another snow storm and total white-out. And, once more, all services cancelled...What does it mean? How can we live and believe Resurrection when it feels like the very life blood of the Church, the rituals that are so important to our faith, are being denied us this year? Are we being invited to look at Resurrection in a new way? To find the hope of new life in new places? Is this a sign for my ministry here?

For me, one of those signs of new life is being prepared in Dundas, ON, where my daughter-in-law labours today to give birth to a new member of our family. We wait alone here, feeling rather isolated by the storm and distance, and long for the days ahead when we will be able to gather as family and as community to talk about what has happened, to tell the stories and celebrate, and plan what to do next. Rather like the disciples, I think, needing to compare experiences and stories and come to some decision about how to live the rest of their lives... and always with the hope of Pentecost, that the Spirit will come upon us to guide and encourage and enliven us!

Christ is risen! There is New Life for all! Allelulia!