Easter Dawn

From the Manse.....

Soon, but not yet, our Lenten journey will reach its culmination and find its glorious fulfilment when together we proclaim the message of Easter.

When warmth breaks through the cold and light comes to the dark places,
CHRIST IS RISEN!
When sadness turns to joy and fear turns to rejoicing
CHRIST IS RISEN!
When we take courage and share the good news
CHRIST IS RISEN!
When the shroud is left behind and the banner of Christ is unfurled
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Christ is risen!
HE IS RISEN INDEED! Alleluia!

Our proclamation is often loud, echoing as it is said around our churches, Rightly, it is the first thing to be said on Easter morn. No Easter service should ever begin with the weekly notices!

Having mentioned Malcolm Guite the English poet, singer-songwriter, Anglican priest, and academic last month in the context of his sonnet for Ash Wednesday, I thought it would be both apt and fitting to share his sonnet "Easter Dawn" as we contemplate the miracle that is Easter and announce to the world that Christ is alive!

Our Easter proclamation is understandably said with feeling and passion, shouted from the roof tops so that all may hear. Yet, as Guite reminds us in his sonnet it also comes in the quiet and gentle encounters.

He blesses every love which weeps and grieves
And now he blesses hers who stood and wept
And would not be consoled, or leave her love's
Last touching place, but watched as low light crept
Up from the east. A sound behind her stirs
A scatter of bright birdsong through the air.
She turns, but cannot focus through her tears,
Or recognise the Gardener standing there.
She hardly hears his gentle question 'Why,
Why are you weeping?', or sees the play of light
That brightens as she chokes out her reply
'They took my love away, my day is night'
And then she hears her name, she hears Love say
The Word that turns her night, and ours, to Day.

However it comes, whether through the whispers of the still small voice or the cacophony of jubilant raised voices, may the truth of Easter be ours once more as we acknowledge "He is risen indeed!"

With love and God Bless

Keith