Rectors Report
Week Ending April 11th

Greetings:
Last Sunday, as you may recall, I sent the Sunday school children off to look inside a box I had placed in the pulpit. When they looked inside they discovered that the box was empty. I asked them, "Is something that is empty ever a good thing?" Many replied 'no.' Then I reminded them of the empty tomb we encounter on Easter morning, our first clue that something has happened. That something becomes clear in our second encounter, experienced through the person of Mary, who for the first time witnesses the Risen Lord.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The children, as is often the case, then provided us with another Easter encounter. When I asked them where Jesus had gone the obvious answer came back. "Heaven." When I asked them 'Where do we find Jesus today" the answer showed maturity beyond their years. They answered, "in our heart." When we find Jesus in our hearts and look for Jesus in the hearts of others the Risen Lord lives and makes his presence daily in our lives. Thanks be to God for the wisdom of children... thanks be to God for the Risen Lord.

Following our services last Sunday I was pleased to be able to travel to Westville to visit my son his wife and our two of our grandchildren. On Monday morning we continued our trek on to Glace Bay where we visited my daughter, her husband and our other two grandchildren. I get a lot smarter every time I visit with my grand children. They open my eyes to so many possibilities and provide ample evidence of the presence of the Risen Lord. I'm sure their parents would at times associate them with a certain 'other' Bible character, but hey, I'm a grandparent.

I returned to the office on Thursday morning to clear off emails and return phone calls and generally catch up on things happening during the week. While I was there Judy Sanford came by, as she has faithfully over the past couple of years, to prepare, copy and fold the weekly service bulletin. This is Judy's last week performing this ministry, a ministry of service, a ministry in response to the Risen Christ. Judy's ministry in this service has ended and for that dedicated service we offer our sincere thank you!! Job well done!! And now with resurrection fresh in our minds we give thanks for Wendy Wells who now will take on this ministry. Thanks be to God for all serve in the various ministries of Christ's church.

On Friday morning I was pleased to visit members of our community who are patients in the hospital. Five individuals from our communities are currently in hospital. As always I remind you to inform me if you are going to be in hospital, or if you are at home and would like a visit. I will gladly arrange a time with you.

We have twelve days of Christmas, we have fifty days of Easter. We have just begun the season. As I explained last week I encourage you to consider standing as a posture for our liturgies, when we use the Book of Alternative Services, as a response to the joy and hope of Easter, a result of the victory which Christ has won for us.

May your encounters with the Risen Lord become a regular part of your life and may they be a blessing to you, to those you know and the Lord we follow.

He is risen. Alleluia!

Rev. Mike