Dear Partners in Mission:

Χριστὸς ἀνέστη: Christ is Risen!

I pray your observance of the Triduum (the great 3 days) and Easter Sunday were filled with meaning, power, and the joy of celebrating the Resurrection. Across our synod I know you have spent time and energy to proclaim the message of life over death. Christ’s victory found through the cross and empty tomb. The theology of the cross that we as Lutherans hold central to our being.

This Easter comes in the midst of great instability in our nation and violence within our world. The ongoing military actions of our nation and the state of Israel against Iran have generated a predictable response which creates global impact. For our siblings in Sierra Leone Bishop Momoh reports that energy prices have tripled and with that the cost of food and basic necessities has also increased. Creating more hardship for the church as it does its work serving those on the margins.

For our partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (all three of these pictures are from their social media) their lives are made even more challenging by these actions. They live under the real threat of violence not only from potential retaliatory strikes on Jerusalem and the West Bank, but also increased boldness of Israeli settlers continuing to intimidate and expand illegal settlements. Making daily life more challenging and threatening the church’s very existence.

Yet, Easter comes. The ELCJHL, our siblings in Sierra Leone (ELCSL) and here in NT-NL celebrated and will continue to celebrate the Easter feast. We celebrate the joy of knowing God has raised Jesus from the dead ones to life. Just as God promises us in baptism to raise us to new life. Life we then get to live in the promise and hope of the resurrection. Life we live for the sake of our neighbor, seeking peace and justice, not grasping after power and privilege. Following the example of our Lord Jesus who poured himself out for us.

 Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη: Christ is Risen, Indeed!

Bishop Gronberg