The Significance of the Resurrection

I have added a new book to my list of favourites. It is "The Resurrection Life" by Myron Augsburger. Much writing has been done with regard to the significance of the cross, but much less is available on the significance of the resurrection. Augsburger gives us a look into this theme with the Anabaptist perspective in mind. The book is available to purchase from Hearld Press and to borrow at the Columbia Bible College library.

Two things have been impressed upon me recently concerning the Resurrection. One is that, since the word Easter comes from a pagan celebration, it would be better to refer to Easter Sunday as "Resurrection Sunday". I don't think it's a real big deal because we as Christians know exactly what we are celebrating when we speak of Easter, but for those who are new to the story of Jesus, it would clarify the reason that this "holiday" exists.

The congregations that I have served in my years of ministry have given recognition to Lent (the season of reflection on the suffering and death of Jesus through the six Sundays leading up to Easter). I always felt it to be a bit odd that we would give so much time to the suffering of Jesus, but only one day to the resurrection of our Lord. This leads me to the second thing that has impressed me. Sometime in the last number of years I came to realise that in the layout of the church year, the Resurrection is to be celebrated from Easter Sunday all the way to the Sunday before Pentecost. Now that makes sense - a seven Sunday celebration of the Resurrection!

On a personal note, Diane and I were back home (Rosthern, Saskatchewan) to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday in the middle of March. We were also there to see my Mom, who suffered a brain anuerism on Boxing Day. She is doing much better - talking, walking - but not well enough to come home. Just this week she was admitted to a nursing home. Please pray for her and my Dad as they make these adjustments. Thanks.

Easter

It is Saturday; the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In my life it usually becomes just an ordinary day to work at home, do some business, or do something with Diane.

When we were mission workers in Africa (Botswana), the churches we worked with celebrated Easter by gathering together for the whole weekend. They would meet on Thursday at the location where their church was founded. Friday would be somber, with worship gatherings and communion. The worship would begin on Saturday night and go all through the night with lots of preaching and singing. As the sun rose, the Resurrection of our Lord was celebrated with baptisms. After breakfast they would return to their homes. But, Saturday was also a day of relaxing, hanging out with church friends from other locations, sleeping, etc.

What should we do on this day of confusion and grieving for the disciples, Mary and the women? It is hard, even for the African Indigenous Church people, to hold the intensity of the story through the whole weekend. Is it irreverent to return to ordinary life after the intensity of the cross on Good Friday? Some of us start returning to ordinary things already on Friday afternoon. My best answer to this question is that, while this is a weekend of commemoration filled with immense grief and great joy, and the most important weekend in the church year, it is only a commemoration. What we do with Jesus' calling on our lives through the rest of the year is what matters most to him.

I welcome your thoughts.

More Annual Meeting photos just in

Mr. Thien is the representative of the Karen group from Myanmar who have become a part of Living Hope Christian Fellowship in Surrey.



The worship team, led by Heidi Epp at the piano.


A worship display, including: the Bible, candles and a beautiful quilt.

Pictures of the MCBC Annual Meeting

The first picture is of Nhien Pham, pastor of the Vancouver Vietnamese Mennonite Church, a newly accepted member congregation into MCBC. On the right is Jack Suderman, representing their membership also in Mennonite Church Canada.

The next two pictures are of my installation service as Executive Minister.
It was really neat when Erwin Cornelsen came up in front of Diane and myself to pray over us as the whole assembly held hands in a chain of prayer. Erwin is the founding pastor of Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver and a very important mentor to me.

I haven't been able to get any other pictures yet.

Going for a ride

I talked about organising a motorcycle ride for anyone who is interested. I have heard a lot of positive response, so we might have to do two rides, one starting and returning to Vancouver, and one from Abbotsford. I was thinking that somewhere in the middle or towards the end of July would be a good time. We'll see once we get closer. Remember, bikers in the oulying areas (Burns Lake/Granisle, Kelowna and Black Creek) that you are encouraged to join in. Also, I would love for anyone to suggest some good one-day routes. I guess an over-nighter might be fun too.

On this same topic, I hear a group from Emmanuel Mennonite have joined the Abbotsford Toy Run the last couple of years. I think you can contact their youth pastor, Rod Wiebe, to join. It would be fun to also get a group of Mennonites joining the Vancouver Toy Run. I don't know the dates yet.

I have chatted with a few of you, expressing the idea of riding motorcycle to the MC Canada Assembly and Summit in Winnipeg. But, being a prairie boy, I have reconsidered the long ride across the flat land. I think this might be an idea some year when the conference is in Edmonton or Calgary.

A Sip of Scripture

I want to draw your attention to a new feature on the MCBC website. Go to Links and scroll right down to the bottom. Click on "A Sip of Scripture" and you will get a daily Scripture reading. You can go as deep as you want. There is a daily verse or two, or you can read the larger context of that Scripture, or you can go to a blog about that Scripture called "A Simple Desire". The blog serves as a devotional based on the Scripure. There are six bloggers that take turns writing their thoughts about the daily Scripture.

So, for example, March 4th follows the topic "Do Not Fight". The daily verse is 1 Kings 12:24a. The larger context is 1 Kings 12:1-24. This day's blog, at "A Simple Desire", is written by Carole Boshart. I have found that the blogs may come a little late at times.

You can also get "A Sip of Scripture" sent to your email, so it automatically shows up everyday for you. If you click on "Pondering at the Well", you are sent to a page with some options. Click on 'Email Subscription'. It takes you to a page from which you can subscribe to a number of different Anabaptist related items, including "A Sip of Scripture", that you can have sent to your email address.