From The Interim Senior Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

On behalf of our staff and my family, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter, that celebrating Christ’s resurrection brings renewal and hope to all.

Several reports of crocus blooming, birds arriving from down South and so forth have made me hope and anticipate Spring’s arrival.  Knowing that this is Michigan, and anything can happen, makes me wary.  Experiencing both hope and wariness together is probably a good balance to have right now.

As All Saints’ community moves forward in the transition-call process (yes, it is, see related articles elsewhere in this issue), maybe those are good words for us too-hope and wariness.  We hope and renew that hope because we see things happening.  I have personally rejoiced at the number of new initiatives I see here which focus on reaching the community around us and worldwide with signs of God’s love.  Whether it is food, helping hands for home repair, walking to raise funds to fight cancer, or many other events, All Saints folk are busy being the heart, hands and voice of Jesus, especially on behalf of those whose voices are often silenced in our society.

On the other hand, wariness can be a good tempering-we know that there are realities out there that are beyond our control.  Maybe caution is a better word.  We are cautious because we know that the search for a permanent pastor for All Saints will not be easy.  There is a definite shortage of available pastors.  There are challenges here that would daunt many.  Our financial situation is not good-as you heard from our Council in March.  The economics of the Livingston-West Oakland area are still struggling to turn around.  We are undergoing a major shift and refocus of mission, vision and values. (Don’t miss a chance to have your say at an upcoming Cottage Meeting this month). There is unease in people now.  Sweeping social changes unsettle people looking for stability
and change.

But now we speak a word of Easter.  We speak a word of God’s incredible love, a word of powerful resurrection and defeat of sin forever.  And this is a word of truth and hope, my friends.  No social, political, economic or even natural disasters can change the God who ‘changest not’.  Nothing can undo the miracle of Easter. 

And so I say to you, “It’s time.”  It’s time to brush away the shadows of winter.  Time to seek the positive, the good in each other.  Time to set aside our grumbling and unease.  Jesus is risen!  We are forgiven!  Everything else follows from that.

Easter Blessings to you all!
Pastor Mary Duerksen