​AN EXPERIENCE OF EASTER JOY Pastor Tom

Something really beautiful happened at our Governing Elders meeting this past Monday—we experienced Easter joy together. Let me tell you about it.

To open our meeting Arnie Steenbergen, our chair, read the Easter story from Matthew 28:1-10. He didn’t follow his reading with a meditation, as is common practice when leading a devotional like this. Instead, he just said “Wow!” And then he added: “It just seemed right to read that!” His awe at the reality of the resurrection was evident.

Arnie’s statement of awe was followed by others of us sharing our impressions about the amazing news of Christ’s rising from the dead, as explained by Matthew. Then we spoke to God together in prayer, aware that the risen Saviour was in our midst.

It was a sweet and joyful time, however brief. It was a taste of the reality of the resurrection that believers are invited to regularly enjoy.

I am so grateful for our leaders. Month after month at these meetings, I witness their sincere love for Christ, and the deep humility out of which they lead the church. It would be easy for you to think of our office bearers as merely decision makers. It is important for you to know that they are also people of deep character who love Jesus.

As grateful as I am for our leaders, I am even more grateful for the Easter reality we celebrated together at our meeting. It is this reality that gives us reason to meet each month to discuss ministry. It is this reality that gives us reason to thrill at what God is doing in our church. It is this reality that gives us all reason to work hard, even when COVID-19 threatens to rob us of the usual rewards of our service in the church.

It is the reality of the resurrection makes it all worth it. That’s why our chairman said, “Wow!” Just, “Wow!”

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