Easter, Unplugged & Outside

 

Bay of Quinte, early Easter morning -- photo Ruth Mundy

God of resurrection,

you have rolled the stone away

and the tomb of our world has been opened wide.

With the dawn has come a new creation.

Let our celebration today

empty our tombs,

renew our lives,

and release your power;

through the risen Christ we pray. Amen.

                                          Voices United 174

Through the decades Easter Sunrise services did not appeal to me, at all. In the earlier years I was presiding at services for several congregations. I was also pastor of congregations where we had more than one service on Easter morning, not to mention Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and even Holy Saturday gathering during Holy Week. I love the outdoors, but why would I want to freeze by a lake in the cold of March or April. 

So, what did Ruth and I do early this morning? Down to the Bay of Quinte we ventured, with a bible and fixin's for communion. We walked through the decayed remnants of an industrial area and out to a point where we could witness the dawn. And despite the forecast the rain held off and there was a sunrise. It was mild and virtually windless and we found a sheltered spot where the waves lapped against the rocks. Ruth read a prayer and we also prayed for our family and others. 

                                            Home Communion set used through four decades of ministry

I read the resurrection story from Mark rather than the beloved passage of Mary's encounter with Jesus from John's gospel. Mark was almost certainly the first of the gospels and scholars tend to agree that the earliest versions declared the empty tomb and resurrection promise but ended with an admission of terror and fear. This is such an honest report of how Jesus' followers responded to what was Good News. 

This seemed to be more appropriate on an Easter when we're all wondering what will come next in the face of a pandemic which has dumped our assumptions about what is normal in the world on their keesters. In our circle of friends and family there is anxiety and fear and, yes, terror. These aren't wimps, and many are Christians but what we are experiencing is unprecedented. 

Our time by the water was a declaration of hope, even though there was an element of whistling in the dark. It was more singing in the dawn, actually. The choir was the birds of the air, and we saw a kingfisher, a blue heron, our first swallows of the Spring. A swan took off nearby and we could hear the sound of wind through its wings. 

Before we left the house we sang some Easter hymns with an awareness that so many favourites have rather triumphalist and even militaristic theology. And then there is "Welcome Happy Morning" which claims that "hell today is vanquished, heaven is won today."

It struck me that so many have been experiencing hell on earth, but there will be more to the story, God willing. Whatever these next weeks bring we want to live with hope, both with and beyond fear, trusting that Christ is with us. 

Christ is Risen!