Pastor’s Column
April 9, 2026
My dear Church Family,
After the death of F. Scott Fitzgerald, a collection of his essays and personal correspondence was published. In the essay entitled “The Crack Up” Fitzgerald wrote,
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.”
Holy Week asks us to hold opposing ideas: death and life; burial and resurrection. Rationally, it is close to impossible to hold those two ideas in mind simultaneously. Yet, as Christians, we believe these two events to be historical.
Our sacred text records that the women who went to the tomb looking for the body of their deceased Lord held these opposing ideas in mind with “fear and great joy” (Matthew 28:8). In Matthew’s telling of the resurrection, the angel gave them a chore, an action, “Go quickly and tell his disciples.” The women ran! They were able to function. And on their way, they met Jesus.
Have you experienced meeting the risen Jesus? Have you known the presence of the Holy Spirit, assuring you of the grace of God, the forgiveness of Jesus, the guidance and comfort of the Spirit?
Ray Anderson writes,
It is not merely the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead that secures our faith and offers us hope. Rather, it is the fact that this Jesus, who was dead is now alive, and that He comes to us with life-giving words of assurance. It is His presence that causes our hearts to leap within us and burn with faith and hope.[1]
The disciple John described appearances of the risen Jesus to his disciples and others. He then wrote that there were many other signs which he didn’t record. He articulated his purpose saying, “But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”
Friends, as we move beyond Holy Week and the Easter celebration, it is my prayer that each of you will experience the presence of the risen Christ, that you will believe, and that you will experience life in his name.
In faith and hope,
Pastor Cindy
[1] Anderson, Ray S. “The Gospel According to Judas” page 107