Made to Last

The Easter message has been spiritually nourishing people all over the world for two thousand years. A bold

statement, isn’t it? It is tried and true. Another bold statement. It has stood the test of time. Yes, it has. When

I was younger and considering how I was going to live my life, I discovered that I had to make some decisions.

In some aspects of my life, I decided to experiment, to try different things, to go in many different directions. I

am glad that I did. It proved to me that there are things in life which are nourishing, and there are aspects of life

which are not very nourishing. One person I was interested in during my formative years was a scholar named

Joseph Campbell. He studied comparative religions for his entire adult life. He read deeply and well. He

traveled the world in search of truth. He taught comparative religion and mythology at the university level at

Sarah Lawrence College for decades (Campbell did not have a Ph. D., but the depth and breadth of his

scholarship was so strong and impressive they let him teach without one.). He published may books. He was

made famous because of his interviews which were broadcast on PBS with journalist Bill Moyers entitled, The

Power of Myth. At the end of fifty years of reading, writing, and studying, Campbell said that for religion to

work for the individual person they had to pick one path, one tradition, and follow it deeply. For me, that was

Christianity. Christianity does work, does provide nurture, does have the capacity to heal the soul for everyone

who chooses to practice it.

In the book Built to Last – Successful Habit of Visionary Companies, authors James Collins and Jerry Porras

examine the factors which take a company from being average or failing to extraordinary. They have found a

number of items which help organizations move from mediocre to great. One thing they have found that great

companies have in common is that they ―sweat the small stuff‖ (p. 213). They work in the nitty gritty details of

what makes them enduring. For all those who say that Jesus and his life and work are not relevant, I have a

message for you. Jesus sweated the details with the people he was with. He spent time healing children. He

spoke of widows, the oppressed. He talked in everyday terms about people working, people living, people who

were sick, people who faced oppression, people facing death. We live in a world with constantly changing

ideas and values. We live in a world which the media tells us that there is no right and no wrong, that there is

only some sort of huge ambiguous gray area in the middle. For Christian people in America, when we began

jettisoning our Christian values, our country and families began to decline. Many of our families are broken.

Our money and property is becoming increasingly worthless. I believe that the value in our souls gets reflected

in the outside world. The place ―Bethlehem,‖ where Jesus was born, literally means ―house of bread.‖ When

one chooses to follow the Christian way, your life and values might change, but so will your blessings. Jesus

says this: ―As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you

what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.

When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one

who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without

a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete‖ (Lk

6:47-49).

Who among us does not want to have a life which is not based on rock solid principles? Who among us does

not want a stronger faith and family life.? Who does not want to have something solid on which to stand in this

world and the next? God offers us a new and enduring spiritual paradigm in Jesus and the story of Easter.

Want to lean on something strong for a change? God has given us the gift of blessing through Easter. When we

realize this, we can say with confidence with Jesus, ―Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid‖

(Jn. 14:27).

With Easter Joy,

Rev. Keith

Moderator’s Moment

March 20, 2012

As I am writing this article, we are still in the Easter season. There are many projects going

on which makes me proud that we have such an active church. I love this time of year. I

certainly enjoy all of the services especially the sunrise service on Easter. It is always a

good time to invite our friends to attend our wonderful church and Easter services are

always spectacular.

We are so fortunate that we had the Capital Campaign two years. I know that the economy wasn’t the best

and it seemed like it would have been better to do it at a different time. It turns out that there are many

structural needs that our church has that just couldn’t wait for another year. We had some damage to our bell

tower last year and we would have been in a bad situation without this money. Recently, we have had many

repairs done to our roof. We are going to send out reminder letters to people who have pledged to get their

donations up to date. The money is needed to pay for the roof repairs.

We are in the process of filling our church committees. We will be contacting people to see if they want to

participate in any of our church committees. It is a real blessing to participate in our church and participating

on our committees is a very rewarding experience. Please consider and pray about what you can do to help

our church spread God’s message in our community.

We are so fortunate to God that he has this wonderful church, wonderful pastor, great staff and energetic

volunteers that make things happen. If you aren’t active in a project, please ask and we can tell you where

you can help. It is always rewarding to be a part of activities going on.

Faithfully yours,

Charlie Milhans

BIRTHDAYS

4/5 Peter Mooney

4/9 Steven Keogh

Michael Palis

4/10 Debra Rooney

4/11 Elaine Loomer

4/12 Marge Campagna

Becky Davis

4/14 Robert Keogh

Diane Erdman Martin

Jeffrey Nickel

4/15 Sheila Caisse Joly

4/19 Peter Hauge

Jeff A. Raymond

Brad Stone

4/21 Holly Progin

4/22 Carol Claflin (Jr.)

Melissa Wiitala

4/23 Daniel Patella

4/24 Maria Joffrion

4/27 Elizabeth Vettese

4/28 Peggy LeClerc

4/29 Tyler Patella

4/30 Wayne Nickel

MIHN invites all its

MIHN volunteers to an

evening of

recognition in honor

of National Volunteer

Week. Please join

them at the Leominster United

Methodist Church

Saturday, April 14, 5:30-8:30 P.M.

77 Hall St., Leominster

****************************

To My Dear Pilgrim Church

Family:

Thank you so much for all of

your thoughts and prayers,

emails and visits, tasty treats,

beautiful cards (I love getting

mail) and the lovely bouquet of flowers.

I have really felt the comfort of God watching

over me because of all of you.

May God continue to bless you as he has blessed

me with you.

Michelle L. Brosseau

March 6, 2012

Dear Rev. Alderman,

Thank you so very much for hosting the search

committee of Rollstone in a neutral pulpit.

Pilgrim Church was so warm and welcoming; we

appreciate your outreach to us.

Blessings on your ministry in Leominster.

Sincerely,

Kathy Rowe

THANK YOUs…continued

March 8, 2012

Dear Friends at Pilgrim Congregational Church,

I just want to thank you for including me in your

“weekly prayers and concerns” during my illness.

The many prayers of family, friends, and the

Congregations of Pilgrim Congregational Church

and St. Luke’s UCC in Auburn, NY were heard by

our Lord.

I had a successful heart procedure at St. Joseph’s

Hospital in Syracuse and am feeling better and

hopefully on the road to recovery.

“Prayer does work”!

I have not yet returned to church, but hopefully

this coming Sunday will find me walking through

St. Luke’s doors once again.

Again my love and thanks.

Judy Weiman (Penny Alderman’s sister)

March 12, 2012

Rev. Alderman,

Thank you for your services on Thursday. The

family was pleased.

Enclosed please find a check from my late sister’s

husband, Arnold Steinke and the 3

granddaughters.

Thank you again.

Bettie Hamilton (Anna McMillan’s daughter)

Mary Mullahy will be placing APRIL orders on

Sunday, April 8th (even though it's Easter, it's

still the second Sunday of the month.). Please

think about your gift card needs and consider

purchasing some to benefit the church.

Remember we are in the season of

graduations, mothers and fathers day,

weddings, etc. Do all of your shopping with

SCRIP and the church benefits. You can give

your order to Mary or place it in the vice

moderator’s mailbox in the office. Any

questions, get in touch with Mary at

bmullahy@aol.com.

April 1 PALM SUNDAY Deacon, Mary Mullahy

Communion by Intinction – Servers, Sandra

DeRienzo and Dave Toohey

April 8 EASTER Deacon Charlie Milhans

April 15 Deacon Bonnie Hathaway

April 22 Deacon Mike Palis

April 29 Deacon Sandra DeRienzo

The Christian Education

Committee will be hosting

Coffee Hours during the month

of April.

FOOD PANTRY

During the month of April, our Food Pantry is in need of cereal and macaroni and cheese. Thanks to everyone for their generous donations of both money

and non-perishable food items.

SPAGHETTI

DINNER

The Worship

Committee is

hosting a

Spaghetti Dinner

on Saturday, April 21st, 5:00-6:30 P.M. in

Fellowship Hall. Cost: $8.00/person; $6.00

for Seniors and Children under age 14, with

a Family Cap of $24.00. Invite your family

and friends!

PROFIT ON CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE

SUPPER

Many thanks to all who prepared, served,

or cleaned up at our supper on March 17th.

We are happy to announce that a profit of

$830.00 was realized! Thanks!

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN

THE “MESSENGER”

Pilgrim Congregational Church invites

members and friends to advertise your

business in our monthly newsletter. The

cost is $25.00 per calendar quarter.

Simply submit a business card or

equivalent-size notice to the church

office, along with payment, for however

many quarters you’d like the ad to run.

This is a wonderful opportunity to

promote your business while

contributing financially to the church’s

operations. We thank Dan Piper for

advertising in the “Messenger”.

PIPER ELECTRICAL CO.

Est. 1929

COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL SERVICE

186 Main St., P.O. Box 1246 Tel: (978)537-3520

Leominster, MA 01453 . Fax: (978) 840-1112

. Toll Free: 1-800-498-3520

MA Lic. #A16512 NH Lic. #4330 ME Lic. #MS60018000

Greetings from the Central Association. I am Rev. Doreen Oughton, and I serve on the nominating

committee of the CA Board of Directors. As member churches of the United Church of Christ, we are covenant

partners with the national denomination, the Massachusetts Conference, and the Central Association of the

UCC. This covenant gifts us with blessings and rights, as well as responsibilities to each body. I am writing to

ask you to consider serving in the Association by accepting a nomination for the Board of Directors or the

Committee on Ministry. Participation of laity on these committees is vital to their integrity. The only

requirement is membership in a Central Association church.

The Board calls and plans the Association meetings; has a representative preside over Ecclesiastical

Councils, Ordinations, and Installations; meets at least five times through the year to hear reports from

standing committee, the Conference and WAMS; serves as trustee for Association assets; creates Ad Hoc

Working Groups or Task Forces to benefit the Association; and hears appeals from the Committee on Ministry

or Fitness Review determinations. The Board meetings are held on the third Thursday, mid-late afternoon, in

Worcester. The term for Board members two years.

The Committee on Ministry oversees all issues of clergy ordination, licensing, and fitness in the

Association, as well as the standing of Association churches. The term is three years, and the Committee

meets monthly on the third Thursday from 9am-2:30 pm in Worcester. One- and two-year slots are available

for people who want to try it out before making a longer commitment. It is a significant investment of time

and energy, but it is also an awesome, committed group of people doing important work. You will learn much

about the denomination, the ordination processes, leadership and ministry.

Nominations will be made at the spring meeting on May 6, so please give some thought to serving,

and let me know by e-mailing me at pastorfccleicester@verizon.net or by calling 978-846-6498. You can also

contact Rev. Phil LaFollette at revphilucc@comcast.net.

Blessings. Rev. Oughton

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SYMPATHY

As we go to press, we have just been informed of the death of

Charles Locke, Sr., stepfather of Sandra Grady. Charles’ wife, Corinne,

died on March 16, 2012. Funeral services for Charles were held on

Thursday, March 29, in the Evangelical Congregational Church,

Lancaster.

Our sincere sympathy to Sandy, Patrick and Daniel on their double loss.

Come and Visit the Shoppes at our

'Spring in Bloom" Fair

May 12th - 8 am to 2 pm

You can do your last minute shopping for MOTHER'S DAY.

Book Shoppe will have new, used, large, and small books for Kids of all ages.

Cutlery Shoppe, Beautiful and useful kitchen cutlery. You must check this out.

Flower Shoppe, come pick up flowers you ordered from Robin Gallagher or buy your

annuals for the season.

Gift Shoppe, will have items you can give as a gift to yourself, family or friends.

Jewelry Shoppe, you will be thrilled at what this table has in store for you.

Brunch Coffee, tea, donuts, etc. Lunch the famous egg salad sandwiches, among other

goodies, will be served.

Raffle Shoppe, will have beautiful Themed baskets donated by the different Church

committees, there will be several gift cards for local restaurants, etc, also set of Spinners

tickets, homemade items, just to mention a few.

Re-Sale Shoppe had secondhand items, in good shape, waiting for you to buy, cheap.

Silent Auction Shoppe, Handcrafted items, Pair of 'Red Sox tickets', Scrap booking

basket, Gardening Basket, Doggy Basket, handmade Set of Trains, other large ticket items. A

bargain waiting for you.

Sweet Shoppe, If you have a sweet tooth you should find, Cakes, Cookies, Fudge, Candies,

sweets of all kinds.

Yard Sale, Good Stuff, Cheap. bring your dimes and quarters and a few dollar bills.

Now that you have cleaned your house with items you donated to the fair, you can collect more

good stuff at the fair.

Thank You in advance for your help

Women’s Book Bash

April 29, 2012

The Women’s Book Bash continues to meet monthly and discuss a book chosen the month

before. This month we will be reading and then discussing the book “One Thousand White

Women.” We will meet at the home of Michelle Brosseau, 664 West St., Leominster, MA

from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, April 29, 2012 to share our thoughts and

feelings about the book with other women of the church. Call Beth Lyle at 978-537-6964 if

you have any questions or need a ride.

One Thousand White Women is the story of May Dodd and a colorful

assembly of pioneer women who, under the auspices of the U.S.

government, travel to the western prairies in 1875 to intermarry

among the Cheyenne Indians. The covert and controversial "Brides

for Indians" program, launched by the administration of Ulysses S.

Grant, is intended to help assimilate the Indians into the white man's

world. Toward that end May and her friends embark upon the

adventure of their lifetime. Jim Fergus has so vividly depicted the

American West that it is as if these diaries are a capsule in time.

Read Ahead:

“Caleb’s Crossing” by Geraldine Brooks. Date and hostess in May to be determined at

the April meeting.

.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS

April 2012 , volume 8

A word from the director

What a wonderful active group we have. I hope the children are having as much

fun as the teachers, CE committee and I are having with them. I look forward to

seeing all of their smiling faces each week. It energizes me to see them sharing in

fellowship each week and learning about God’s love for us all.

Bless you for finding the time to participate in our faith family.

Lenten Workshop

We had a blast with pretzels for Lent. The

children made their own pretzels from dough as

well as paper as they learned the story behind the

pretzel and how it is supposed to represent arms

crossed in prayer. We also played a game and

shared pretzels and prayers with the congregation.

What is your talent? Volunteers are needed to assist with classes, workshops and events throughout the year. Please prayerfully consider how you can best share your blessings with the children and fill out a volunteer form and return it to the CE office.

I’m starting to think about next year, so if you can find it in your heart to be a lead teacher, an assistant or just a helping hand occasionally I would love to hear from you.

Contact Natalie Stassen at Natalie.stassen@verizon.net at anytime with questions or concerns about the Christian Education program at Pilgrim Congregational Church where we believe the church teaches through all that it does.

Confirmation Class

Our 9th grade confirmands are all participating in

the ―Making Disciples‖ program. Thank you to all

of those who are shepherding them on their faith

journey.

April is going to be a busy month for these students

as they will be preforming a Holy week

presentation, for the younger children, the first

Sunday of the month, and will host a dish to pass

brunch, the last Sunday of the month.

Spark curriculum reminder

If you miss a week or your child doesn’t come

home with a family page please remember that you

can always get the family page for that week at

pilgrimchurch-ucc.sparksundayschool.org. If you

have questions about the site or about the

curriculum in general please contact Natalie.

CONGRATULATIONS

Our congratulations to Jessica Maillet and

Timothy Caouette who recently became

engaged.

Jess is the daughter of Ron and Deb Maillet.

The couple was chosen as the 2012 Clay Hill

Farm Green Wedding Giveaway winner. A

July 2012 wedding is planned at Clay Hill.

PALM SUNDAY service

will be held on Sunday,

April 1st at 9:30 A.M. The

anthem “Hosanna

Processional” will be

sung by the Senior and

Junior Choirs, accompanied by members of the

Rainbow Ringers.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Holy Week begins with the Maundy Thursday

service on April 5. At 6:30 p.m., an Agape

Meal (simple supper similar to what our Lord

ate at his Last Supper) will be provided in

Fellowship Hall.

Following that, Rev. Keith

will conduct a Service of

Tenebrae at 7:00 p.m. with

communion and the stripping

of the altar.

Sunday, April 8,

worshipers are asked

to gather at 5:45 a.m.

for the 6:00 a.m.

Easter Sunrise

Service, held jointly with members of the North

Leominster Congregational Church at Apple

Hill Farm, Leominster.

EASTER SUNDAY – APRIL 8

Easter morning worship will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Guest trumpeter James Milner will provide

accompaniment of several selections, along

with the Rainbow Ringers. The Senior Choir,

along with some Junior Choir members, will

perform the “Hallelujah Chorus”.

EASTER BAKE SALE

Following our Easter

worship service, the

Christian Education

Committee is

sponsoring a bake

sale. Members are

asked to bake goodies and bring them in

before 9:00 a.m. so they can be priced. Your

support will be appreciated!

DO YOU KNOW......Wendy and Mark Arena?

We see Wendy up front announcing for Vacation Bible School and we prayed for Mark while he was serving in Afghanistan. But do we take the time to get to know them?

Wendy is originally from Massachusetts but moved as a child to California with her mother who was a free spirit. Mark is from Lexington, MA. They met at nursing school. Wendy works as a school nurse, which affords her to have the same school hours as their two girls. Mark works in mental health nursing and serves in the U.S.

Army Reserves.

I like to find out what brought people to our church and found out that Mark was Catholic and Wendy was not. When

they had their first daughter, Rachel, Mark wanted her to be baptized and found it difficult because of Wendy not being of the Catholic faith. After letters and some difficulties, their first daughter was baptized in the Catholic Church. When it was time to get their second daughter baptized, they decided to look for a more welcoming church. Wendy and the girls came to our church for a visit and were warmly welcomed by Cherie Rivera. They decided to stay with us and Wendy and Abigail were baptized in our church.

We can now see Wendy's smiling face in our choir, and the girls are active with the children of the church. Mark still has some weekend obligations with the U.S. Military, but we get to see him on his off days. I am so grateful to have them as members of our church family.

Wendy surprised me when she said she ran track in school and she also sang in the school chorus. Mark really surprised me when he shared he had seriously considered priesthood. He still serves the people of our country and we are so grateful to both Mark and Wendy and their girls for the sacrifices that they make by being a military family.

By Bonnie Clifton

SYMPATHY

Several of our church members or their

families have suffered loss since our last

newsletter. Our sympathy is extended to the

following:

Family and friends of Anna W. McMillan,

longtime Pilgrim Church member who resided

in New Hampshire with her daughter until her

death on March 1, 2012. Rev. Keith officiated

at Anna’s funeral on March 8th.

Carolyn Whittier and Family on the death of

her son, Bruce Whittier. A memorial service

for Bruce was held on March 24th in Clinton.

Sandra, Patrick and Daniel Grady. Sandy’s

mother, Corinne Locke, died Friday, March

16th. The funeral was held on Wednesday,

March 21st in Lancaster.

Carolyn Whittier. Carol’s daughter,

Anne Montalto, passed away on March

17th. A graveside service was held in

Rutland on March 23rd.

Sally and Joe Brown. Joe’s mother,

Florence Flanders, passed away March

23rd. Her funeral was held March 28th,

officiated by Rev. Keith.

A way out

Because

possums are known for

having trouble crossing

the road, you might

think the animals aren’t

particularly bright. Yet

they’re reportedly smart

enough to enter a hole

only if two sets of tracks

lead in and out. If only

one set of tracks exists,

a possum won’t enter.

The grave was a

hole with one set of

tracks, and even the bravest souls feared to go in. But on

Easter, Jesus came out of the grave, stripping it of its

terror. We can approach death confidently, knowing that

our Savior conquered it — and provides a way out.

***

New clothes

One night of bitter cold and pitiless storm, a

mother was out in the wilds with her child in her arms.

Unable to carry her precious burden and find a shelter,

she took off her own outer clothing and, wrapping it

about her little one, laid him in a cleft of the rock and

hastened on, hoping to find help.

Next morning some shepherds heard the cry of a

child and found the babe safe and warm in the rock’s

cleft. Then, not far away in the snow, they discovered

the mother — dead! She had stripped off her own

garments and died in the cold to save her child.

Did not Jesus do the same? He took off his

raiment and hung naked on his cross, that we may stand

in the final judgment arrayed in robes of beauty.

—J.R. Miller

Special dates

• Palm Sunday, April 1, 2012 • Holy Week, April 1-7, 2012

• Maundy/Holy Thursday, April 5, 2012

• Good Friday, April 6, 2012

• Holy Saturday, April 7, 2012

• Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012

• Administrative Professionals Day, April 25,

2012

***

• “Faith does not struggle; faith lets God do it all.”

—Corrie ten Boom

• “Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs.”

—Rick Warren

• “I’ve long since stopped feeling guilty about taking

‘being time’; it’s something we all need for our

spiritual health, and often we don’t take enough of it.”

—Madeleine L’Engle

***

+ Christian

Symbols +

Doorposts

The image of a

doorframe marked with blood

comes from the Old

Testament Passover account,

when the Israelites prepared

to flee slavery in Egypt. God

directed them to slaughter

lambs for a final meal and

paint their doorposts with the

blood. God sent the Angel of

Death to kill the firstborn sons of Egypt, but the blood on

the Israelites’ doorposts served as a signal that the

Destroyer should ―pass over‖ those homes. Likewise, the

blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, saves us from eternal

death.

One didn’t

Three men were tried for crimes against

humanity. Two committed crimes. One didn’t.

Three men were given government trials. Two

were given fair trials. One wasn’t.

Three men were whipped and beaten. Two had it

coming. One didn’t.

Three men were given crosses to carry. Two

earned their crosses. One didn’t.

Three men were mocked and spit at along the

way. Two cursed and spit back. One didn’t.

Three men were nailed to crosses. Two deserved

it. One didn’t.

Three men agonized over their abandonment.

Two had reason to be abandoned. One didn’t.

Three men knew death was coming. Two

resisted. One didn’t.

One, two, three men died on three crosses. Three

days later, two remained in their graves. One didn’t.

—Author unknown

***

Believing is seeing

When the disciples saw Jesus after his

resurrection, they believed. But Thomas, who was

absent, doubted until he, too, got to see and even touch

Jesus. For him, as the others, seeing was believing.

But what of us who don’t get to see Jesus in the

flesh? If ―seeing is believing,‖ are we out of luck? No. In

fact, sometimes it works the opposite way; sometimes

―believing is seeing.‖

Try this: Despite any doubts, choose to believe,

trusting the witness of someone who’s seen God at work

— a biblical figure or present-day Christian. You’ll be

amazed at the love, healing, peace and new life that

spring out of troubles. ―With the eyes of your heart‖

(Ephesians 1:18, NRSV), you will see your Lord and

your God.

“In the Garden”

In 1912, as Charles Austin Miles grabbed his

Bible, it opened to John 20. Reading the account of

Mary Magdalene outside the garden tomb where Jesus’

body had been laid, Miles felt powerfully that he was

there. Inspired, he quickly wrote the poem ―In the

Garden‖ and later composed the music.

This hymn might seem sentimental and trite, if

understood to refer to just any garden. But the song takes

on profound meaning when recognized as Mary’s

personal encounter with the living Lord.

And he walks with me, and he talks with me,

And he tells me I am his own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known!

***

A reason to celebrate

In rural Nebraska in the early 20th century,

three of the four Koontz children died of diphtheria

in one week. On the following Easter morning, the

parents and surviving child attended church. Because

Mr. Koontz was Sunday school superintendent, he

read aloud the Easter message. Although many

people wept, he and his wife stayed calm.

Later, a boy walking home said, “The

Koontzes must really believe the Easter story.”

His father answered, “All Christians do.”

The boy replied, “Not the way they do!”

—Homiletics

***

Where was I?

Our young son often asks where he was when

something significant happened before he was born.

“Where was I when you two got married?” “Where

was I when Nana died?” And even “Where was I

before I was inside your body?”

My response is always “You were in God’s

heart.” God said as much to Jeremiah: “Before I

formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5,

NRSV).

A Good Friday spiritual asks plaintively,

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”

Clearly none of us was present when Jesus died. Yet

as we worship on Good Friday, we place ourselves at

the cross, where Jesus bore our sins.

“Where was I,” we might ask our heavenly

Father, “when they crucified Jesus?” I’m confident

that God’s tender answer is “You were in my heart.”

Indeed, only because of our place there did Jesus go

willingly to the cross — and rise to assure us of

everlasting life.

—Heidi Mann

***

Roadblock

―We can depend on God to fulfill his promise,

even when all the roads leading to it are closed,‖ wrote

Bible commentator Matthew Henry about 300 years ago.

For the disciples on Good Friday, all the roads

had closed and the gates were barred shut. Jesus was

dead — and with him, their hope. In fear and grief, they

locked themselves in an upper room.

But soon they discovered the tomb was empty.

The grave wasn’t the end. Even death wasn’t strong

enough to thwart God’s plans. Easter is proof that no

situation is hopeless. God offers a way through every

type of roadblock.

—Kari Myers

***

Volunteer perks

Celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 15-21

this year) by meeting a need in your church or

community.

Volunteering not only helps the people we serve.

It also has surprising benefits for the volunteer. Serving

others builds social and relational skills, increases self-

confidence and boosts physical health. Studies show that

volunteering can even ease chronic pain and heart

disease.

So do yourself — and others — some good by

following Jesus’ example of serving. Visit

www.VolunteerMatch.org for short- and long-term local

opportunities.

***

Bible Quiz

All four gospels

tell of Jesus’

resurrection, but each

gives a different list of

women as the first to

arrive at the empty tomb.

Which woman appears

in all four accounts?

A. Joanna

B. Mary, the mother of

Jesus

C. Salome

D. Mary Magdalene

E. Mary, the mother of James

Answer: D (See Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10;

and John 20:1.)

***

Easter Island

Rapa Nui is the current Polynesian name of a

South Pacific island where Dutch explorer Jacob

Roggeveen landed in 1722. He’d been searching for a

place named ―Davis Island‖ or ―David’s Island‖ but

found this instead. Arriving on Easter Sunday, he called

it Paasers, which is Dutch for Easter.

Roggeveen wasn’t the first person to discover

something unexpected on Easter. When the women went

to Jesus’ tomb early on the first day of the week, they

expected to find a sealed cave or, if they could move the

stone door, a corpse. They expected to pour out their

grief and anoint their dearly departed’s body. Instead,

they found an open and empty tomb — and soon after,

Jesus, very much alive.

With God guiding our journey, life is full of

joyful surprises.

***

Easter’s promise

’Twas by a path of sorrows drear

Christ entered into rest;

And shall I look for roses here,

Or think that earth is blessed?

Heaven’s whitest lilies blow

From earth’s sharp crown of woe:

Who here his cross can meekly bear,

Shall wear the kingly purple there.

—L.B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert

Easter lasts forever

I ran across a tract the other day entitled, “Easter Lasts Forever.” Easter lasts forever! Isn’t that

what we believe? This life is not always pleasant. In fact it can deal us some harsh blows —

death, loss of job, divorce, war, rejection, financial difficulties, and the list goes on and on until

it seems like Good Friday everyday. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But the

believer in Christ looks forward. Yes, it may be Friday, but Sunday is coming! This is our eternal

hope. The world may seem to be falling apart, but Jesus still reigns. His resurrection proves

that he has conquered sin, death and the devil. It guarantees that those who have died in faith

will be raised and will live forever with Jesus and all believers in heaven. When that is

considered, all of our problems of this world pale in comparison to the glory to come. Yes,

Easter lasts forever!

—John Merrill

St. John Lutheran Church, Fraser, MI

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