What a joyous morning! There was an abundance of music with both the Chancel Choir and PraisRing performing. We also had two trumpets, two trombones, and an electric guitar to accompany all the hymns and perform the prelude and the postlude music. There was a reaffirmation of baptism and the announcement of several children that were baptized yesterday. Children’s time was the Cross of Flowers with all the children sitting up front after placing their cut flower on the cross. The sermon by Pastor Paul Lundborg was called, “Named and Known” and was about John’s account of the scene at the tomb where Mary is weeping and Jesus calls her name, “Mary”. She recognizes his voice and calls him “teacher” and then goes and tells the other disciples what she had seen.
The Easter banners were the reverse side of the Lenten rainbow banners with the name MARY in the middle and the names of all members of the congregation! The explanation of the Easter Banner is the following:
EASTER BANNERS
Some years ago I saw a photo of an explosion and that picture evolved into an Easter explosion. Some of you may remember it. If the original creation started with a “big bang” maybe the “new creation” could also be depicted as a “big bang.”
But this year there was a bit of a “problem” – the Easter gospel was from John. And Easter in John is quiet. Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb, sees Jesus but thinks he’s the gardener. But Jesus simply calls her name, says MARY and Easter happens. She is named and known. And she knows Jesus is risen when he calls her name.
I remember thinking back then that I should have done the “big bang” last year or next and just painted everyone’s name on the front wall. So here it is! On the rainbow – the covenant with Noah, Abraham, Sara, Moses, and the others is fulfilled on Easter when God calls YOUR NAME!
— David I. Nelson
