As I write this, we've just finished with an early spring snowstorm that for moments whited-out the backways to Chesley. Another long, cold winter that's growling as it slinks away, and an Easter Sunday a week away that promises not much warmth or sunshine.
I'm reminded again how major church celebrations are tied to seasonal weather. Up here in Grey Bruce, what would Christmas be without cold or snow? Or Remembrance Sunday without overcast skies, maybe drizzle in the air?
Easter is tied to springtime flowers, grass greening, warmth and sunshine. Easter in the midst of snowstorm just doesn't feel like Easter for so many of us up here near Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Even with sunshine, relentless deep cold and snowbanks in March makes Lent feel forever.
Coming as it does this year wrapped in late winter, Easter AD 2015 in Chesley and district forces us to face the realities, without the cushion of all-out Spring. Do we really believe Christ is risen? Everybody gets Christmas--families, children, presents, candlelight, softly-falling snow. Minus Spring, Easter is like the Reubens painting, a semi-naked, somewhat startled, muscular guy flung out of a rock-hewn tomb, blinding and terrifying cowering onlookers-- a hard sell, indeed!
Yet that's the nub of the Good News, whatever the weather-- "We preach Christ, and Him crucified," as St Paul has it.
St Mark's, Chesley, is a regularly small Sunday congregation of Gospel people. I think worship is like throwing a party, and I always hope for a lot of partygoers on Easter Sunday.
Given the weather, that is proving a vain hope this year.
But our regular congregation here gets it, and they'll all be there on Sunday to shout "Hallelujah!" Surely, that's what counts in God's eyes, and that's what most pleases King Jesus.
I'm reminded again how major church celebrations are tied to seasonal weather. Up here in Grey Bruce, what would Christmas be without cold or snow? Or Remembrance Sunday without overcast skies, maybe drizzle in the air?
Easter is tied to springtime flowers, grass greening, warmth and sunshine. Easter in the midst of snowstorm just doesn't feel like Easter for so many of us up here near Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Even with sunshine, relentless deep cold and snowbanks in March makes Lent feel forever.
Coming as it does this year wrapped in late winter, Easter AD 2015 in Chesley and district forces us to face the realities, without the cushion of all-out Spring. Do we really believe Christ is risen? Everybody gets Christmas--families, children, presents, candlelight, softly-falling snow. Minus Spring, Easter is like the Reubens painting, a semi-naked, somewhat startled, muscular guy flung out of a rock-hewn tomb, blinding and terrifying cowering onlookers-- a hard sell, indeed!
Yet that's the nub of the Good News, whatever the weather-- "We preach Christ, and Him crucified," as St Paul has it.
St Mark's, Chesley, is a regularly small Sunday congregation of Gospel people. I think worship is like throwing a party, and I always hope for a lot of partygoers on Easter Sunday.
Given the weather, that is proving a vain hope this year.
But our regular congregation here gets it, and they'll all be there on Sunday to shout "Hallelujah!" Surely, that's what counts in God's eyes, and that's what most pleases King Jesus.
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