Pastoral Pondering
Written by Rev. Martha Langford, Senior Pastor at Second/First Church of Rockford, IL
Easter People
Followers of Jesus hold resurrection faith—we believe that God raises the dead to new life. In the fifth-century, Augustine of Hippo coined the phrase “Easter People” to talk about those who hold resurrection faith.
We understand that we live in a “Good Friday” kind of world—a world that is broken and torn, where oppression and heartbreak seem to rule the day. Yet, we are Easter People—servants of hope—who believe in God’s goodness and God’s power to heal the world even through our feeble hands.
So what does that look like in practice?
Easter People practice “holy noticing”—they look for God’s presence in the face of others, in the world around them, in the events unfolding across the globe.
Easter People seek out “moral beauty”—they pay attention to acts of compassion, courage, tenacity, and grace and are inspired to awe and gratitude through them.
Easter People hold “active faith”—doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8).
Easter People “speak the truth in love”—giving honest, authentic witness to God while upholding the dignity and worth of those to whom we speak.
If Easter People had a theme song (and I would argue they do) I think it might be “Go to the World!” This hymn by Ralph Vaughan Williams comes out of the United Church of Canada—a union of Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians. Today it serves as my charge and benediction:
Go to the world! Go into all the earth.
Go preach the cross where Christ renews
life’s worth, baptizing as the sign of our rebirth.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go into every place.
Go live the word of God’s redeeming grace.
Go seek God’s presence in each time and space.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go struggle, bless, and pray;
the nights of tears give way to joyous day.
As servant church, you follow Christ’s own way.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go as the ones I send,
for I am with you till the age shall end,
when all the hosts of glory cry “Amen!”
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Happy Easter,