A Little Easter Note

It seems that I begin many a post with this sort of phrase, but it has been a while, hasn't it? I haven't quite been sure of whether to keep up with the blog or not -- have not been sure what the place of it is, now that we live more near many of the family and friends who have read the blog over the last few years. But, occasionally, I still get the urge to write a little something here, so I do.

Happy Easter to you and your family! I must admit -- while I sense the richness of this day -- *oh, the glorious richness of what was accomplished for us who are in Christ on the resurrection day* -- my mind diverts to little bits of sadness here and there today. Moving is a funny thing. I think that it takes a year or so to really be settled where you are, and to really have a sense of "home" in your new house, church, job, etc... I am still in that phase of feeling between homes. So, my mind sometimes goes back to our house, church, and life in Colorado Springs, and that little ache for friends and church family there surfaces again. Today is one of those days. A day when, while rejoicing in the resurrection, there is some small, very human bit of longing for our Colorado church and the people in it.

It snowed a few (maybe all ?) of the Easters that we lived in Colorado. Today, it is around 80 and sunny here in Virginia (which, I really am not complaining about). Our church met in the morning in Colorado -- we woke up, got ready, and began our Easter with fellowship, worship, and teaching. Here -- our church meets at 4 PM (though, only for a little while longer). So, we have the morning to rest, be in scripture, and enjoy the sabbath. We love that, and really, one isn't a superior way to spend our sabbath above the other. But, it is quite different -- something to get used to. Our church in Colorado celebrated Easter in ways that felt rich and strong in tradition. We all ended each Easter service with the beautiful singing of the Hallelujah chorus. It moved me to tears on more than one occasion, rejoicing in the resurrection together in a way that sounded musically big -- a small reflection of the greatness of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us. Our church here is much younger, smaller, more intimate, and more contemporary in worship style. Church services look and sound very different here than they did at V7PC. There is no large choir and orchestra to do a grand version of the Hallelujah chorus, but there is a very gifted worship team that leads us in worship each Sunday, and we are so thankful for them. Like I said earlier -- one isn't superior to the other. They are just so very different. And, being who I am, I feel that a bit. While I am excited to celebrate this Easter Sunday with our new church family here in Virginia, there is this little part of me that is thinking about V7PC this morning, the worship services that will begin there in just a little while, and is longing to be with them. I suppose the best thing that I can do when I'm missing old friends is to pray for them. So, I will pray that our friends in Colorado have a blessed and beautiful Easter, rich in soul-satisfying worship of our Lord, and that the traditions that they carry on from year to year remain strong and timely reminders of what God has done to reconcile us to Himself. To our friends from V7PC -- we miss you very, very much. You are continually on our minds and in our prayers. We love you all and hope to see you soon!