This was my first year in 25 years of ministry that I have not been serving in a congregation for Holy Week and Easter. That’s been a huge adjustment for me. The flow of the liturgical rhythm just was not there for me as in the past. But it was nice for me to be a participant in the pews for a change.

That being said, I did get a chance to preach the Resurrection Good News on Easter Sunday anyway. Because Emanuel Lutheran in Dallas is between pastors, I got to be their supply pastor for Easter. Resurrection takes on new meaning when you are preaching to people who are going through a transition. I expected to see people who were in need of the good news, but they sure did bring it for me instead.

For Easter Sunday, they had one combined bilingual service, instead of their usual English language worship and Spanish Language worship. On top of that, we were blessed to welcome 15-year-old Angelica into the family of Emanuel through Holy Baptism. The worship was packed, and the joy was overflowing! Could this be what Easter really is supposed to look like?