iHOPE

Quotes from Easter

I know this is a little late in the week to be posting quotes from last Sunday, but I have been asked by a couple of folks about the two that I used, so here they are!

The first is from Stanley Hauerwas. He was co-author of a book that changed the way I think about church and ministry in 1989: Resident Aliens. 25 years later and I still think it is one of the most relevant and challenging books I have read about being the church in the modern world. Hauerwas has continued to be prolific and profound. This quote is from his commentary on the gospel of Matthew: 

The real challenge of the resurrection is whether we live lives that would make no sense if in fact Jesus had not been raised.

The second quote is from an author I discovered this year. His name is Christian Wiman and the book is, "My Bright Abyss: Meditations of a Modern Believer". I find myself going back to this book time and again.

“The task is not to believe in a life beyond this one,
but to perceive it.”

Christianity is more than just embracing a set of beliefs and propositions. It's more than just hoping that someday, God will bring new life. It's about being open to the realities of what God is doing in our midst- right now. It's about living into the possibilities of what God has made possible in Christ.

 

He Is Risen!...Now what?

Last Sunday was Easter Sunday.

Do you know what some churches call the Sunday after Easter?

Dead Sunday.

One Sunday is full of energy, celebration and people. The next Sunday typically has the lowest attendance of the year. The energy is low and so are the expectations.  Some churches even us Easter as the final big Sunday of the year and start easing into Summer. All the energy has gone into a big celebration, but there isn’t much thought that goes into “what’s next?”

Thankfully, that doesn’t happen at New Hope. This Sunday is anything but “dead” and this season is anything but easing into summer.  Last week, I talked about being “open” to a reality that the resurrection made possible. Easter is supposed to be more than just a big holiday. It’s supposed to signal a new beginning. Because of Easter, we can talk about the abundant life and affirm that we were born to be fruitful and fulfilled. Its more than an Easter slogan that we celebrate and then put away until next year.

It takes more than talk. It even takes more than just attending a big holiday. The fruitful and fulfilling life takes effort and intention. The Fruitful and fulfilling life is still a “God Thing” but its not particularly mysterious.  There are things that  you can do to make “fruitful and fulfilling” more than just a slogan. It can be a way of life.  It can be the irrepressible direction of your heart. It really can.

Last Sunday was Easter- and it was terrific. This Sunday begins to answer the question, "Now what?”

Easter: By the Numbers

By all accounts, Easter was a wonderful day at New Hope. Here are some of the numbers that go with it:

 1,431: The total attendance of people in worship over four services

32: The number of Greeters who were needed to welcome, greet and seat all those people.

197: The total number of children in Sunday School.

30: Volunteers, teachers and helpers in Sunday School and Nursery

$12,405.77:  The amount donated in the special offering for Youth Mission Trip

14: the number of people needed to prepare and serve hot drinks for the sunrise service and  food between the services for the musicians and worship leaders.

28: The number of pints of blood that were donated for the Blood Bank

9: The number of people gave blood for the first time!

83: The number of lives that could be saved from those donations

8: The number of volunteers staffed the Blood Drive

5:  Confirmands joined the church at the 11:00 service

59: The number of musicians who were part of the four services

248: The number of days between Easter and Christmas Eve (just in case you were wondering!)

Greeters: Passing the Baton

Who are the most important people on a Sunday morning?

Some people will say the minister, worship leaders or the musicians. Others will say, “Whoever is in charge of coffee and doughnuts!” 

I have another nomination. Before someone hears a word of the sermon, sings the first note of a hymn or can sink their teeth into a doughnut, their impression of the church is set by the first people they meet:  The Greeters.

By the time a person finds a seat in the sanctuary, it is the Greeters who greet them with warmth and welcome.  It’s the Greeters who help them find a seat. It’s the Greeters who help new people navigate the facility, locate the Sunday School,  and hand them their bulletins. Before they have a chance to say hello to anyone else, people have likely already been welcomed by 2-3 Greeters.  In other words, it’s the Greeters who set the tone and create the first experience for most people as they come to worship.