Easter Greeting: April 8, 2023

Easter greetings parish!

I have always loved a brief anonymous poem called “There’s More…”

“We only see a little of the ocean, a few miles distance from the rocky shore; but, oh! out there beyond—beyond the eyes’ horizon, there’s more—there’s more.

We only see a little of God’s loving, a few treasures from (God’s) mighty store; but, oh! out there beyond—beyond our life’s horizon, there’s more—there’s more!”

The poem beckons us into the surprise of Easter. The women who went to the tomb following the Good Friday sabbath expected a morning of grief-work, preparing Jesus’ body fora proper burial. They did not expect anything close to what they encountered. They thought there was no more. But there was more, much more.

Just when we think we’ve come to the end of God’s grace, we discover, there’s more—there’s more! The ‘more’ replaces our Easter question mark (?) with an Easter exclamation! Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday at the Wider Parish of UMC of Auburn and Calvary UMC, Lewiston begins with a 6 am Easter SonRise Service at the Keene residence, 775 N. River Road, Auburn (followed by coffee fellowship). From 8:30 to 10 am, at UMC of Auburn, an Easter breakfast will be served by Don Malpass and Peter Keniston. There is no charge, but a free-will offering will be collected to benefit the Youth Group Prayer Labyrinth Restoration Project. At 8:30 and 10:30 am, Easter Resurrection services will be offered at UMCA, in person and online. At the 10:30 am service, we will enjoy a new arrangement of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” crafted by Ryan Slocum (organ, piano, handbell choir, Wesleyan singers, congregation, and trumpet, I believe). John Neal and other musicians will be joining us for the music of Easter Sunday! Linger afterward, as you can, for ‘carrot cake fellowship.’

There will not be a “Growing Deeper” class this Sunday, because of the breakfast. The Youth Group will be sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt for church school children after they have visited a replica of the Holy City constructed in the Sunday School wing. We will also be dedicating the generous gift of a new smart television for use in church school, youth group and adult group Christian Education.

This coming Saturday, April 15th, 2 pm, UMC of Auburn, we invite you to a Many Waters District welcome to our new bishop Peggy A. Johnson! It is open to all and will include a reception. If you wish to attend by zoom, you will need to register on the district website to receive the zoom invitation link. I am grateful to those in our parish who are catering the dessert reception which follows the program.

Easter joy and grace,

Pastor Steve Bascom