Seeds for the Soul | April 23, 2025
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Seeds for the Soul

April 23, 2025

From the Pastor’s Desk…


I want to express my gratitude to all of you for helping to make this Lenten season a wonderful and meaningful experience. So many of you graciously offered to assist in any way you could.   


We are a strong church, strong in both attitude and faith. Mother Teresa once said, “God has not called me to be successful; God has called me to be faithful.” We are rich in the eyes of God. Many of us give and give all in the name of love. I thank you all for the opportunity to serve in one of God’s fine churches. Sometimes, we become so busy with life that we don’t notice how fortunate we are to have the things we have. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge these blessings and express my gratitude for being a part of the community that shares and lives in the Faith of Jesus Christ here at Christ Methodist Church. 


Remember, our journey with Christ is not confined to Easter Sunday morning when we joyfully proclaim, “Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen indeed.” I pray that this Lenten season has inspired you to do great things through our Father’s love. When you experience these moments of greatness, I encourage you to share them with your church family. Our individual experiences, when shared, become a source of strength and inspiration for one another. Through this sharing, we can truly appreciate and support each other. Let's remember to thank Him daily for the wonderful community He has blessed us with, and let's continue to share our experiences, no matter how big or small, with our church family. 


Come Grow With Us, 


Misty

Originally in five stanzas, “Easter People, Raise Your Voices” by Rev. William M. James first appeared in the Songs of Zion Hymnal (1981), in its present form. 


The first stanza seems to echo Charles Wesley's "Christ, the Lord, is risen today." Wesley states, "earth and heaven in chorus say." James proclaims, "sounds of heaven and earth should ring." The musical metaphor continues with Wesley – "Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply" – and James – "heavenly music, let it ring. . . Easter people, let us sing!" Both acknowledge the cosmic connection between heaven and earth. The Wesleyan connection is unmistakable in James' hymn. 


Both hymns share "victory" language. Wesley, citing I Corinthians 15:55, asks, "Where's thy victory, boasting grave?" James sounds a battle cry at the end of stanza two, "On to victory now we go." 


The triumph of the Resurrection over evil is the theme of "Easter People." In stanza two, the poet reminds us that the "fear of death" cannot stop us from doing all we can to overcome evil "here below." The final stanza insists: "Every day to [Christians] is Easter" because our God is one who "rights the wrong." 


William James' ministry and his 97 years of life reflected his belief in the power of the Resurrection to make a difference in the lives of those whom he served. 


John 20:19-31

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.