Just a few weeks ago when I was a kid, Easter Sunday was (once I was up and awake) a happy, busy ordeal. My family would get up an hour before the sun, be dressed, out the door and in place at church for Easter Sunday morning services – services which started precisely at sunrise. The hymn singing was interspersed by uncontrolled yawns.
Then, there was the Easter Morning Sunrise Breakfast. Donuts, pancakes, syrup, a choice of juices and plentiful homemade baked goods all brought by members of the congregation were absolutely wonderful. And, to make all this even better, the decibel level from the Easter breakfast crowd in Fellowship Hall was such that nobody really cared how much noise all us kids were making.
Easter morning breakfast was followed by two very full Easter morning worship services. Each service was the same in terms of Easter hymns, order of worship, sermon and the OFFERING, in order to accommodate the “Chreaster” crowd – the affectionate term given to all those who were never seen at church except on Christmas Eve and Easter. The choral groups changed, but that didn’t matter for us. We were in all of them. In fact, there was not a choir, breakfast cleanup crew, an Easter lily decorating committee or ushering group of which some member of the family was not a card-carrying member. My mother was also the church organist! So, to be sure, on Easter Sunday we were all in for the long haul.
All those years ago I never would have thought that I would have missed all that. But, truth be told, I really do. The memories are a great blessing to me. And, truth be further told, after growing up, in spite of all the preparations and busy schedules, the Easter Sunday worship services I led as the pastor of three marvelous congregations for 43 years remain truly fulfilling high points in my ministerial experience.
I miss those great Easter Sunday mornings…very much. And especially so as this 2020 Easter Sunday morning arrives. Indeed, past memories may be the best things any of us have this year. For most of us, our 20/20 Easter vision will be like looking into a rearview mirror – looking back at times we gathered together to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with words, music, dance and, yes, pancakes. The present-day Easter experience will be from a far different and likely “live streamed” point of view, seen through a much different lens. We shall see what we shall see.
But here’s the thing about this Easter Sunday morning: no matter how or where we see the resurrection celebration, or whether we’re together or apart, God still sees us. We may not be shaking hands, giving hugs or sitting in a pew, but God is still with us. We’re never alone. And this Sunday morning, when our memories remind us of Easters past, we can be assured that OTHERS are recalling those memories as well, and thinking of us as a result. So, let’s use this Easter morning…and its memories…to be together again in spirit. Because when we do, and just as Jesus did, our spirits… will rise! Hallelujah!