A Message from the Hill

April brings us to climax of our faith. We experience the depths of despair as we walk with Jesus
and the disciples to the cross. On Maundy Thursday, we join them in the Upper Room as they share
the Last Supper. The Passover meal begins with the joy of remembering how God acted to free the
people of Israel from harsh slavery in Egypt to the freedom and promise of new life. But this
Passover feast ends with the betrayal, denial, death, and despair of Good Friday.
For many Christians, these events are too sad and somber remembrances. The walk to the cross with Jesus is painful for us to remember. Indeed, if these events were all we have, we would rather
forget them. But they are not the end of the Jesus story. God acts. Jesus is raised from the dead.
This resurrection is a proclamation that God is at work in our world, restoring our hope with new
life.

The Easter mystery of Christ’s resurrection is the heart of our faith. Throughout the Scripture we
experience stories of God acting to bring hope to broken, battered people trapped in despair. From
the dawn of Creation God works to bring hope to people who are overcome by sin, theirs and
others. Live spelled backwards is evil. Suffering is seen as the consequence of humanity’s quest
for power and control over others. God’s response is sending prophets with the challenge to put
aside our ways of domination and exploitation and submit to God’s vision of a world of justice and
peace.
On Easter Sunday we gather to celebrate the announcement that God has not left us alone. Christ is risen! Evil and despair have been defeated. Death is overcome. God has acted to shatter the
shackles of sin and proclaiming a more excellent way. The celebration of Easter calls us to new
life. Easter challenges us to put aside our evil and live in a new way.

Henri Nouwen writes, “Jesus didn’t rise from the grave to baffle his opponents, to make a victory
statement, or to prove to those who crucified him that he was right after all. Jesus rose as a sign
to those who loved him and followed him that God’s divine love is stronger than death. To the women and men who committed themselves to him, he revealed that his mission had been fulfilled. To those who shared in his ministry, he gave the sacred task to call all people into the new life within
him.” Every day we are called to that same promise, hope, and mission. Christ is risen! Let us
share that Good News in how we live and love.

Peace,
Pastor Frank Terhune