WE SHOULD STILL CELEBRATE EASTER
On Easter Sunday, we as a community reflected on the fact that the story of the resurrection begins with death. This is why many from Denver Community Church gathered together on February 13 to observe Ash Wednesday – the gateway to Lent. On this day we remember that from dust we have come and to dust we will return.
During the Lenten Season we give some things up, and we uproot that which does not belong from the soil of our hearts, souls and lives. Lent is a season of death. This is good and necessary and right, but it is not where the story ends. Easter teaches us that life, not death, has the final word. But too often we stop with death.
Consider the fact that most of us spend 40 days during Lent grappling with our sin, brokenness and mortality, and only one day celebrating the resurrection on Easter. Over the years I have often celebrated Easter on Sunday, and then woken up on Monday thinking, “Now what?” Perhaps you have felt the same way, and maybe this is the reason we often struggle to live our life to the fullest. In light of this, on Sunday we, as a community, asked some questions. We asked:
Now that we have uprooted things from the soil of our lives, what if we planted something new? Now that we have given some things up, what if we took some things up that would bring life to us and to others?
Together, we decided that just as we spent 40 days during Lent in fasting and introspection; we will also spend 40 days in taking something up and celebration of new life. Many have responded as to what that will look like for them.
For some it’s exercise, waking early to spend time in prayer, praying each day specifically for loved ones, writing notes of encouragement to forty different people, spending time reading each day, dating their spouse and the list goes on. And so, I invite you as well.
What might you take up in celebration of life? What new seeds will you plant in the soil of your life that will give life to you and others? Perhaps you have already done this – what is that you have planted? My hope is that in this, we will spend this Eastertide Season remembering that life, not death, has the final word.