According to the church calendar, we have walked through the season of Lent and have now entered the season of Easter.  With Easter, we experience surprise, hope, joy, and delight.  But in the reading for   Sunday  from the Gospel according to John, we find the disciples of Jesus hiding out in fear.  The reading opens on the evening of the resurrection, and is not the scene one might expect.  But then into their midst Jesus appears, and offers them peace.  The disciples are astounded.  One would assume that the appearance of Jesus would change everything... And it does, but not until a week later!  We'll discuss the fears and the doubts of Thomas, the disciple missing from the first gathering but who is present for the second gathering and sees Jesus, the peace Jesus offers, and the belief of the disciples as to who Jesus is.  In the meantime, I invite you to consider these questions:  Where do you see yourself in this resurrection story?  Where is the Spirit's transforming presence needed in your life?  Where have you encountered God this week?  Where has God found you?  

May you experience God's presence in powerful, prayerful, peaceful ways this week!  

See you   on Sunday  as we consider "Strange Things."  

The art of theological reflection happens when individuals and groups think about their life experiences using the language of religious tradition. I would argue that theological reflection makes up most of the content of the New Testament. This third   Sunday  in the Christian season of Easter is sometimes called "Meal"   Sunday, because it's the   Sunday  we hear stories about Jesus appearing to his disciples after his death and them recognizing him as he breaks bread, or eats fish - Jesus' recreation of his last meal with his disciples, which happened to be a Jewish Passover feast. At Passover the Jewish people celebrate God's power to deliver from every force that would oppress our freedom. It is a feast held in remembrance of God's "exodus;" God's gift of a "way out" of and through and past all oppressive powers and principalities. The early community of Jesus' followers used the language of their religious tradition to talk about their experience of Jesus: as Moses led God's people on the way out of bondage to freedom so Jesus leads his followers on the exodus from the ways of death to the ways of life. "Look at my hands and feet," he exclaims to a room full of surprised disciples, "It is I myself! Touch me and see." We've kept on with the practice of theological reflection, looking for Risen Christ in all kinds of risen lives - hands and feet that have found a way out of death and into new life.

Rev. Kristin Philipson

Also on Sunday:

Women's Scholarship Tea Invitations are ready!! If you can pick up your invite (and a few others for friends) this Sunday we won't have to send them out and use postage. This is a wonderful event where we will celebrate our scholarship recipients and we hope you plan to attend and bring a friend or two!! All proceeds this year will go directly to the scholarship fund. Kevin Cordova-Brookey is signing up folks to bring their specialty dish for the Tea. See him if you are willing to bring a homemade savory or sweet dish. The date is

Saturday May 5th!!