“From the fig
tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its
leaves, you know that summer is near.” (Mark 13:28)
If
you’re like me, apart from the pollen, Spring is among my most favorite times of
the year. Plants begin to bud, trees and flowers start to bloom, there is a
warmth in the air, and everywhere one can see signs of new life springing up
after the cold and apparent deadness of winter.
This
is, of course, why springtime is often used as a metaphor for the Christian season
of Easter (which is not just a day
but an entire season lasting for 40
days after Easter Sunday!). During this
time, we celebrate the new life that Jesus spent with his disciples following
his resurrection.
But
Spring is also a metaphor for our own personal
lives – for the fact that every one of us has “winters” from which God’s power can
wake us up and bring us back to life through the warmth and new life of his “Son”
Jesus. For some of us, those “winters”
take the form of grief, job loss, pain and hurt from the severing of a
relationship, financial insecurities, and other things. But the resurrection of Jesus can give us not
only hope for a better future, but actually begin in us a new life in that hope, as well.
Yet,
I believe that Spring is also a fitting metaphor for what our church here at
McKendree UMC is experiencing this year, as well. While we certainly have a strong past to celebrate,
this Spring we are also seeing signs of renewed life and vitality in and
through our church’s ministries and programs.
If you were around for Holy Week, you know that we experienced very meaningful
and moving services on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. But in addition,
we also saw over 1100 people in worship on Easter Sunday itself, we welcomed 30
new members into our fellowship on April 28th (including 19 youth confirmands!),
we’ve experienced increased financial giving in April, are already having great
response to signs up for our upcoming children’s Vacation Bible School, summer
camps, and Fall 2019 Preschool program, and our church’s Vision Team continues
their good and fruitful work on our behalf to discern God’s future for all of us.
As
with Spring and Jesus’ resurrection, all of these things are indicators that
something good is happening here at McKendree, and that even greater things are
still to come! So, wherever you find
yourself in your own personal spiritual walk with God, my prayer is that you
will use this season of Spring as a time to re-engage and re-connect with the God’s
work through McKendree UMC. You’ll be
blessed when you do! Remember that God
loves you and I do, too!
