From The Pastor's Pen

Being an "Easter People" means that we emphasize the transformative power of Jesus Christ's resurrection. It means living with hope, joy, and a sense of mission inspired by the resurrection. As St. Augustine famously said, "We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song," highlighting the call to live in the light of Christ's victory over death.

To be an “Easter people” is to embody the values of faith, hope, and love in daily life. It means imitating Jesus in actions, thoughts, and words, and embracing the mission to bring healing, justice, and compassion to the world. The resurrection is not just a promise of life after death but a call to live fully and abundantly in communion with God, our neighbors, our enemies, and God’s creation here and now.

But what does living as an Easter People mean in our daily lives? The Belhar Confession is a Christian statement of faith that originated in South Africa during the struggle against apartheid. It was adopted by the Dutch Reform Church and served as the religious foundation to resist the perpetrators of oppression and violence. It asserts that we are unified under Christ and “that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways:”

in that we love one another; that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another; that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another; that we share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind; have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one name, are obedient to one Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope; together come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ; together are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity; together know and bear one another’s burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ that we need one another and upbuild one another, admonishing and comforting one another; that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness; pray together; together serve God in this world; and together fight against all which may threaten or hinder this unity (Phil. 2:1-5; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; John 13:1-17; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:1-6; Eph. 3:14-20; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; Gal. 6:2; 2 Cor. 1:3-4)

As we continue our journey together, may we live as Easter People, united and freed by Christ’s resurrection promise. May we find ways to imitate Christ, offering healing, love and compassion to the world and resisting evil in all its manifestations, all for the glory of God.

Rev. Russ Goliger