Clear, 49° F
This is the opening line of a hymn written by William M. James in 1979 for the United Methodist congregation he was serving in New York. He was a champion of civil rights and he led his congregation …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
The Powell Tribune has expanded its online content. To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free web account by clicking here.
If you already have a web account, but need to reset it, you can do so by clicking here.
If you would like to purchase a subscription click here.
Please log in to continue |
|
This is the opening line of a hymn written by William M. James in 1979 for the United Methodist congregation he was serving in New York. He was a champion of civil rights and he led his congregation through the gift of music. The idea behind the words to this particular hymn was to remind us that as Easter people, we are not to become complacent as Christians. We are to continually look for places and ways to raise our voices to share the good news, but we are also supposed to look for places and ways that we can use our voices and our actions to help God “right the wrongs.”
On the morning of the resurrection, there was a renewal of a commitment to go forth in the name of Jesus Christ, first by Mary Magdalene and then by the Apostles. When Easter Sunday comes, Christians are quick to say “He is not here” within the safety of the walls of our sanctuaries, but what happens on Easter Monday? When life returns to normalcy? When the alleluias and the hymns fade into the background awaiting the next Easter Sunday celebration? Are we still Easter people? Do we still raise our voices in opposition to injustices and evil in the world around us? Do we still live like Easter is every day?
The power of the resurrection should be evident every day, which would indeed make every day for us an Easter! In the words of Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Karen Oliveto:
“Every time we see someone deal with their addictions … there’s a resurrection going on!
Every time we see someone face their deepest wounds and start the healing process … there’s a resurrection going on!
Every time we see people engaged in reconciliation … there’s a resurrection going on!
Every time we see someone commit themselves to another … there’s a resurrection going on!
Every time we see a commitment to the welfare of children … there’s a resurrection going on!
Every time we see someone working for the rights and dignity of someone else … there’s a resurrection going on!
Every time we see a community come together with vision and energy for change … there’s a resurrection going on!”
The resurrection happened and there is still a resurrection going on all around us, if we open our ears, our eyes, and our hearts as we live as Easter people!
(Janita Krayniak is the pastor of the Powell United Methodist Church as well as the Lovell United Methodist Church.)
