The First Baptist Church of Redlands
T A PE S T R Y
Apr 2021
Wo v e n To g e t h e r I n L o v e : C o l o s s i a n s 2 : 2
Issue No. 4
The Sun Rises
A Message from Pastor Shawn
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, “Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?” Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished. He said, “Don’t be afraid. I know you’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He’s been raised up; he’s here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now— on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You’ll see him there, exactly as he said.” (Mark 16:1-7 The Message)
Freshman year of college I went on a weekend retreat with the InterVarsity group. We got there in the dark and when it came time for bed, we discovered that we were sleeping on these platforms that had a bunk and a roof. Each one slept two people and I shared mine with my college roommate. The sleeping bag that I brought was one that I used camping in a tent in the summertime or, more often, for slumber parties on someone’s living room floor. It was not substantial enough for that platform with a roof in the mountains above Santa Barbara in October. And so, I felt like I was awake all night being cold. I couldn’t wait until the sun rose, bringing on a new day, but more so, an end to a long, cold night. We have all experienced those long, wakeful nights when we can’t wait for the sun to rise—whether it is uncomfortable sleeping conditions, or illness, worry or sorrow, there is something about sunrise that makes it a little better. Last year at this time we stopped having in-person gatherings. We pulled together and figured out how to meet virtually, how to have meaningful, albeit online, worship services, zoom Sunday School and Bible studies and business meetings. We even figured out ways to serve our community and world. We thought in those early days
that we might miss having an Easter Sunday worship service in our sanctuary, but it wouldn’t be long until we would all be back together in the sanctuary and we would celebrate Easter then. So, here we are, planning our second Easter service to be online. We have learned a lot about technology, online options, and how to choose the best options for the particular service or meeting we are trying to have. Who would have ever imagined that we would be out of our building for more than a year! But the sun is going to rise! We plan to get a small taste this Easter as we meet on the church lawn for an early (8:30 AM) morning “Celebration of the Resurrection.” It is not inside, but a year ago we would have never dreamed to even gather in person for Easter. The sun is going to rise! It is our hope that we will be able to meet indoors on Pentecost. The sun is going to rise! No matter where we meet, the reality that we celebrate, not just on Easter, but every day is that the Son rises. We face life each day with the power of the Resurrection. That power has been with us through good times and bad, through lockdowns and re-emergence. The Sun/Son Rises! With each of life’s experiences, we discover anew the power of the Resurrection. May we continue to be shaped and molded by that power, as God’s people in the world. The Son Rises!
Grace and peace in the Risen Jesus, Pastor Shawn