Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 (from Easter Sunday, April 23, 2000)

Seeing More Than Just the Gardener

Read: John 20:1-18

There are some things that you have to do alone. No one else can do them for you.
Your birth is your own.

You must breathe for yourself, eat for yourself, and sleep for yourself. And, in all honesty, you must die an earthly death for yourself. If you have faith or not – well, you have to answer that for yourself, too.

Consider, then, the individual and somewhat solitary encounters with the Resurrection that the Gospel of John records. This Gospel tells us that Mary came to the tomb alone. In fact, she came to the tomb while it was still dark. Finding the stone rolled back and the grave empty, she ran to tell the others. Peter and the "Beloved Disciple" started running together, but they reached the tomb separately.
Alone each one looked at the grave. Each one entered alone – saw alone – believed alone.

Mary stayed at the empty tomb and heard with her own ears the words, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Thinking that it was only the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Then Jesus called her by name: "Mary," he said.

Sometimes I wish that the Lord would call me by name on Easter morning. And so do many others.
The woman who is a widow, who weeps alone; the one who is in prison alone; the one who bears sickness alone; the orphan who is left alone; the many Thomases who doubt alone. 

Today we celebrate new life: Especially life that cannot be shut up in a tomb. Today we celebrate together with those like us who find the merger in their own existence with the living Lord.
Today we begin a new story – our story.

Frederick Buechner writes:

"It is precisely at such times as this that Jesus is apt to come, into the midst of life at its most real and inescapable time: At suppertime, or walking along a road. This is the element that all the stories about Christ's return to life have in common. Mary waiting at the empty tomb and suddenly turning around to see somebody standing there – someone she thought at first was the gardener.
He never approached from on high, but always in the midst, in the midst of real people, in the midst of real life and the questions that real life asks. Sacred moments of miracle, are often the everyday moments, the moments which, if we do not look with more than our eyes, or listen with more than our ears, reveals only the gardener."

The whole church of Christ is singing of new life on Easter. So in the midst of Easter morning, we too, look and expect to see the miracle of the living Lord. 

Today we join our voices and our hearts and celebrate the reality that we, too, have seen the Lord!

Rev. Robert D. Wright

Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025 (from Easter Sunday, April 14, 1974)

The Gift of Joy and Life

Read: Matthew 28:1-10

“It began to dawn toward the first day of the week.” – Matthew 28:1

The fragment of the first verse of the 28th chapter of Matthew carries a prophetic truth that comes to us as a thin ray of light against a dark background. These who are making their early morning journey are coming burdened down with the weight of death and dying. In their hands are baskets filled with winding cloths and ointments. In their hearts are carried the defeat and fear of Good Friday's awful event. It is in darkness that they moved toward this painful morning.

So it is that many of us move toward the morning of resurrection. In the dark valley of painful crucifixion our lives are stripped of their glib and easy faiths; the idols of our casual and careless worship are cast down. With only the sense of doing our duty we move forward, but in that movement comes the upsurge of promise and hope.

So moved the women to the tomb of Christ. Their duty was disrupted; the body was not there. The appointment with death and the appointments of death are lost in the staggering affirmation “He is not here; He is risen!” Beyond the confounding emptiness they met Christ giving to them the gift of joy and life. This is the Easter gift, not isolated to a day or a season, but ours now and always.

Prayer: Lord of life, we thank you for the glorious truth and the experience of the resurrection. Raise us to joy and love so that people meeting us on the highway of our lives will see Jesus in us and through us. Amen.

Thought for the day: Easter's gift of life is not for one day or one season, but for all days and forever.

Rev. Perry A. Thomas

Good Friday, April 18, 2025

Assurance

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

On March 1st of last year my 30-year-old nephew died in a car accident, leaving behind a wife and three young children. It was a tragedy our family struggled to understand and accept. Dillon was a caring young man with a deep faith. My sister and brother-in-law, his parents, were devastated. 

Dillon managed Caberfae Ski Resort in northern Michigan and was a beloved employee. The owners offered the ski lodge with dinner afterwards for his memorial service as a gift to the family. They gave his family a lifetime family pass for skiing, a sport they all love. This alone spoke to his impact. At such a young age, Dillon left a legacy of love. Hundreds of people packed the lodge and we heard about his kindness and sweet personality. A friend created decals with the quote “I appreciate you” on each, with his name, date of birth and passing – his common response for thanking someone. Over and over people shared how Dillon had impacted their lives. 

While we never want to be in a heartbreaking situation like this, what comes from such a loss is the gathering of people who share memories, talk about the love, and pull together to support one another. We hear stories we might never have heard. We tell each other how much we care. We are grateful for the moments we are sharing together.

What are we to take from this? How do we make these horrific life experiences less painful? Knowing God is truly with us, walking the path as we grieve and begin to heal, brings comfort. Committing to tell those we love how much they mean to us brings us a little peace. And finally, while the work of grieving and healing is never over, we can continue to tell the stories of love, appreciation, and remembrance so that the impact of this young man’s life continues to be present in our daily lives. Isn’t that our challenge as followers of Jesus? We trust when it isn’t clear what we are to trust. We follow His word when we are still seeking to understand. And we know that amid all the immense sorrow, God is good. He leads us through these times of sorrow and sadness with the assurance that life with Him is everlasting.

Marcia Wright

Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025

Close Your Eyes and Open Your Mouth

Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! – Psalm 34:8 

“Dad, close your eyes and open your mouth.” 

Have you ever had your kid (or friend or spouse) say something like that to you?
What does it take to comply?
Trust.

Yes – but not just trust that my 4-year-old means well by me, I also have to trust that he knows what’s OK to put in Dad’s mouth.

I need trust and faith.
What? Faith?

Yes, and it’s just like that when we follow God.

We can’t just believe that He has our best interest at heart; we also have to trust that He knows what’s OK for us – even better, that He knows what’s right, what’s best for us.

So – close your eyes and open your mouth. 

Taste and see how good the Lord is.

Thank Him for all He has given you.

Tell Him you love Him.

Tell Him your deepest needs, thoughts, feelings.

Taste the goodness of the Lord, and be ready for Him to give you the best, and now that your mouth is open, be ready to tell everyone you meet of God’s goodness!

Prayer:
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise! Amen. (Psalm 51:15)

Charlie van Becelaere

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Anna – A Woman of Grace

Last year I wrote a devotion about by neighbor George, entitled “All In.” I promised to write a separate one for his wife, my friend Anna, for this year’s devotion booklet. So here goes.

As I mentioned, I have lived next door to my Greek neighbors, George and Anna, since May of 1996, and it has been a joy. Anna, like George, has been an inspiration to me. She is a perfect yin to George’s yang. Anna is a behind the scenes person, compared to George’s more gregarious personality. They are different, but the same on matters that really count. Anna is a beautiful person inside and out. She is creative, giving, and has a distinct eye for fashion.

So, what have I learned from Anna? Like George, Anna has demonstrated a love of and devotion to family. Last year I talked about how she and George took care of their three grandsons from when each was born until they went to preschool. Anna cooked countless batches of chicken soup, made their lunches, mended their stuffies, found stylish bargains for them at TJ Max, and in general loved them up. They of course are crazy about their Yia Yia. Through the years I also witnessed Anna’s dedication to her daughter, son-in-law, mother, sister, and her brothers. The summer their daughter Georgia, and son-in-law Trevor were married, Anna’s mother Dora, and her sister Evgenia came for several weeks to help prepare for the wedding. They were amazing. They hand sewed paraments for the altar decorations, made baskets for the junior bride’s maids, and baked countless cookies and pastries for the reception. Creativity runs in the family! Dora, also known as big Yia Yia, visited regularly from Greece, until she was unable to travel. Anna went for an extended visit each year to be with her mother and sister in Greece. She was very loving and faithful to her mother who passed a few years ago.

Anna is the perfect combination of Martha and Mary, the two friends of Jesus. Anna is a doer and a giver like Martha. She is also very devoted to the spiritual aspects of her faith like Martha’s sister Mary.

On the Martha side She is an active member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, an organization that provides support to those in need, and promotes the Greek Orthodox faith and traditions. She and members of the group sponsor several bake sales, and other fund-raising programs throughout the year. Her baked goods are famous for their deliciousness and beauty. Anna spends hours in her kitchen fastidiously preparing cookies, spanakopita, and other baked goods to help raise funds. It is not unusual to see her kitchen light on until the wee hours. Beautiful plates of cookies are prepared and delivered each Easter and Christmas for family and friends. Anna is kind enough to make a baklava for GPUMC to sell at the annual Palooza fundraiser, often creating a bidding war, as it is a sought-after prize! Anna is continually active in her church, offering her time and talents in many ways. As her lucky neighbor I am quite sure I would be fifteen pounds lighter if it weren’t for Anna sharing food with me.

On the Mary side Anna practices her faith both inside the walls of the church and in her daily living. She adheres to the traditions of fasting, prayer, and attends services wherever she is located. When they travel, she and George often visit monasteries, churches, and religious sites. Anna emulates Jesus every day. She is always making a meal or paying a visit to friends who need a little extra care. She does these generous acts without show. She just does them quietly with love. In thinking about this devotion, I decided to look up the meaning of the name Anna before writing this, and it turns out her name means “grace.” That is so fitting, because she serves God and the world with grace.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

Nancy Grose

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Reflections on Shelter Week

Read: Hebrews 13:1-6

Ground beef vegetable soup, chopped salad with a selection of dressings, warm dinner rolls and butter, and a heaping tray of homemade chocolate chip cookies! Coffee, decaf, tea, and lemonade were Thursday’s dinner during shelter week. Hot popcorn, bags of chips and pretzels, tea and hot chocolate, and quiet conversations completed the evening. I overheard the breakfast menu: Toasted English muffins with turkey sausage and fried eggs–the eggs made with egg rings so they fit the English muffin precisely! The following morning’s breakfast menu was to be egg strata.

A basket of toiletries was available for anyone’s needs. So many considerate provisions! It seemed evident to me that shelter week was a labor of love involving thoughtful reflection on what would help make guests most comfortable.

My first time as a shelter week volunteer brought to mind something I’d read in The Long Loneliness (1952), the autobiography of Catholic social activist Dorothy Day, who. had established hospitality houses in New York the 1930s. During an interview with author Robert Coles, she was asked how she’d like to be remembered: 

I hope for some of the talks here with our guests; I hope they remember I tried to make good coffee for them, and good soup! I’ve enjoyed getting to know them- they have been good teachers. You listen to them, hear the troubles they’ve faced and you realize how much courage they have needed to go from one week to the next…I hope they have earned my respect.

Day explained that as the hospitality houses and breadlines grew in number served (hundreds came twice a day for meals), so did the hospitality: 

…with the best of whole wheat bread made from whole grain which we buy by the half ton. What a delightful thing it is to be boldly profligate, to ignore the price of coffee and go on serving the long line of destitute men who come to us, good coffee and the finest of bread.

“This is our favorite church,” I heard a GPUMC guest say.

“Thanks for listening to me”

“God Bless” were themes in their conversations.

During this relentless winter, I have gratitude for a warm home and food, and gratitude that I could do this one small thing: being present for a couple of hours. “Not all of us can do great things; but we can do small things with great love.” (attributed to Mother Teresa).

Holly Feen-Calligan

Monday, April 14, 2025

The Lord God Made Them All

”But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” – Luke 18:16

Kenny and I often get a kick out of the differences in our children. These little humans we create and nurture are, from the very beginning, unique. 

To celebrate Valentine’s day at school, kids are invited to bring in a card or treat for their classmates. One of our children likes to digitally design and print their own cards, one is okay with store bought, and one doesn’t want to participate at all. 

Something as simple as Valentine’s cards is a reminder to me of the beauty God sprinkles into our lives through our children. Sometimes our, or society’s, expectations and desires for our children don’t match the people God made them to be. I’ve learned to meet our kids where they are, as they are. 

Being in ministry with children has been such a special gift in my life. One thing I love about working with our children at GPUMC is getting to know them, how they see the world, and how their unique gifts bless our lives. 

There are many things children bring to our ministry at GPUMC: a fresh perspective, energy, honesty, creativity, unity, and opportunities for mentorship to name a few. 

God made them the unique and wonderful people they are and we are so lucky to have them in our ministry!

Emily Bianchi