Easter Pastoral Letter

Easter 2013

Dear Alberton Methodist and my wider JohnWesleyProject Family,

Alleluia.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us;
therefore let us keep the feast,

Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead will never die again;
death no longer has dominion over him.

The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all;
but the life he lives, he lives to God.

So also consider yourselves dead to sin,
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For since by a man came death,
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

This is called the Easter Anthem and is a wonderful prayer to pray daily during the Easter Season, which runs from Easter Sunday until the Sunday of Pentecost. It is based on 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, Romans 6:9-11 and 1 Corinthians 15:20-22. Can I please encourage you to use it in your prayer life? Some congregations have a Paschal Candle which they light each Sunday during Easter Season and if you want to light a candle in your home each day or at special meals and pray this prayer, you will be blessed. You will notice that I've italicised some of it so you can pray it responsively ...parents and children or boys and girls....whatever suits your situation.

Easter Day is the beginning of the season, not its climax. Easter Season is about the resurrection of Jesus, yes.  But it is also and perhaps especially about the new life He opens up for all in the body of Christ and the unstoppable mission on which He sends us as His disciples. That mission wasn't just for "those people back there." It is for all of us here and now, in the places and among the people with whom we live and work, and everywhere and everyone our communication, influence, and resources can reach around our communities, nation, and world.

May we all be blessed as we continue in our journey towards wholeness and holiness.

Much love,

Cedric