FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 4,2007
He
is Risen!
(Editor's note: The following inspirational Easter messages
were contributed by local ministers.)
Christian Life Center
40 days that shook the world
Matt. 28:1-9
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the
week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look
at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel
of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the
tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance
was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The
guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became
like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be
afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was
crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and
tell his disciples, “He has risen from the dead and is going
ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now 1
have told you.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb,
afraid yet filled w ith joy. ‘Greetings,’ He said. They came
to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him.”
Acts 1:3
“After His suffering. He showed himself to these
men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive.
He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke
about the kingdom of G od.” All four Gospel writers
included the Easter story. The names of those who saw
Christ after the resurrection are carefully recorded. The
historical evidence for the resurrection is stronger than that
of any other miracle mentioned in Scripture. The Apostle
Paul also gave the importance of this event in I Corinthians
15:14: "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is
useless and so is your faith.” The most important event to
Christianity is the resurrection. Take away this fact and it
is just another organization trying to do good to mankind.
The resurrection is what gives the Christian faith its
dynamic.
The symbol of the church is really the empty tomb,
not the cross.
Jesus did not return to the Father right away after
the resurrection, but remained for 40 days to give evidence
to His resurrection. The world would never again be the
same because of those magnificent post-resurrection
appearances.
The first thing He did was show Himself to His
followers. He appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden.
He appeared to the women returning from the tomb. Later
that same day. He came to Peter. Luke tells us of Christ’s
dramatic appearing to the two disciples on the road to
Emmaus. The Lord spoke to more than 500 believers on a
mountain in northern Galilee.
W hat’s even greater is the fact that He is still
appearing to men and women today. We can meet Him
whenever we open up our hearts to Him and let Him come
in and take up actual residence in our lives. He will change
our whole way of life. Paul says in Colossians 1:27, “Christ
in you, the hope of glory.”
The disciples encountered the resurrected Christ
during those 40 days. What about you? Have you
encountered Him during your life? Those 40 days that
shook the world still live on in the lives of believers today.
Jesus Christ knocks at the door of your heart, offering you
eternal life. What will you do with the resurrected Christ
today? Will you let him in?
Pastor Tim Van Cleave
Church of the Nazarene
Do not let your hearts he troubled and
do not he afraid
This is Holy Week. Easter Sunday is coming. Don’t
hurry into Easter. R ather rem em ber, the beauty of
resurrection Sunday is made brighter when you take the
walk through the many dark places that occurred during
Holy Week.
First, the garden where our Lord prayed His
agonizing prayer.
Second, then follow Him into the court of injustice.
Third, then labor with Him up the hill called
Golgotha.
Fourth, feel His pain when nailed, blow-by-blow,
as He was laid on the cross.
Fifth, experience His em otions o f rejection,
suffering alone on the cross. His disciples and friends
abandoned Him. He felt that God His Father had forsaken
Him.
Sixth, watch as His lifeless body is removed and
carried away.
Also this week be reminded that He took your place.
He took the punishment of your sin. Pray as you journey.
Pray for yourself. Pray for lost people. Pray for your church.
Pray for a glorious day of resurrection celebration. Invite
Christ to come to your place of worship and raise some
people dead in sin to new life.
I am impressed when someone says, “ I know God.
that’s why I follow Him by faith.” However, I’m not
impressed when I hear someone say, “I don’t need to go to
church on Sunday,” or “Oh, I believe in God.” Why Am I
not impressed by faithless believers? James 2:19 says it
fully well.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the
demons believe that-and shudder.
Rejoice in Christ’s new resurrected life. Live for
Him, today, tomorrow and for eternity. You need not be
afraid and shudder and tremble.
Jesus said. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
The Rev. Duane Jones
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Resurrection faith
The Acts of the Apostles, the Gospels, and St. Paul
refer to apparitions of Jesus after he died on Calvary. These
included apparitions to Mary Magdalen, the Apostles, the
two disciples on the road to Emmaus. It would seem that
all of these people had a special responsibility to proclaim
the kingdom of God. Some of them dared to go outside on
that first Easter morning and venture to the tomb. The holy
women went. They had linen, oil, and perfume. They were
going to assure His proper burial. John and Peter made
their way there. John being much younger, got there quicker.
Yet, he waited and let Peter enter first. All of them must
have been surprised.
Obviously, the account of the resurrection is about
Jesus. Yet an interesting sidelight is about the “others".
They came to the tomb. They saw Him in the Upper Room.
They witnessed Him by the lake. Something happened to
them, and they believed. Were the apparitions granted to
them because they believed? Or to strengthen them for the
difficulties and persecutions ahead? We do not know.
So, Easter is about belief. It is about belief in the
resurrection of Jesus. It is about the belief that inspired the
apostles to preach his teachings at the risk and the sacrifice
of their very lives. They must have come to realize that
light overcomes darkness, good overcomes evil, and life
overcomes death.
We who have not seen Him, are nonetheless, asked
to put our faith in Him. So, it is appropriate that we recall
His words to St. Thomas. As you will remember, Thomas
had doubted. Thomas had stated, “I will never believe it
without probing the nail prints in his hands, without putting
my finger in the nail marks, and my hand into his side, I
will not believe.” Very emphatic words. When the Lord
appeared to him. He said: “Thomas take your finger and
examine my hands. Put your hand into my side. Do not
persist in your unbelief, but believe.” Then Thomas had
responded: “My Lord, and my God.” Jesus then said to
him: “You became a believer because you saw me. Blest
are they who have not seen and have believed.” May these
words of Jesus strengthen each of us on our spiritual
journey.
Fr. Gerry Condon
Holy Week church schedules
lone Community
Church
St. Patrick's and
St. Williams
Catholic Churches
The Maundy Thurs
day Candlelight Communion
E v ery o n e is w e l
will be held April 5 at 7 p.m. come to join the members of
Thirteen candles will light St. Patrick’s Parish and St.
the sanctuary, one for Jesus, William’s Parish for the fol
and 12 for the disciples gath lowing Holy Week events.
ered for the last supper. One
St. Patrick’s sched
at a time, a candle will be ule: Holy Thursday, April 5:
snuffed as those in atten 7 p.m.. Mass of the Last
dance hear how that disciple, Supper; Good Friday, April
and each one of us, has be 6: Way of the Cross: 12.05
trayed our Lord. Only the p.m., 7 p.m. Commemora
Christ candle will remain lit tion of the Lord's Suffering
as they partake of commun and death; Holy Saturday,
ion. Participants will leave April 7: Easter Vigil 7.30
the service in darkness, an p.m., Service of light, Eas
ticipating the events of Good ter Proclamation, Renewal
Friday.
of Baptismal Promises, Vig
An Easter ham and il M ass; Easter Sunday,
pastry breakfast will be held April 8: Resurrection Mass
on Sunday, April 8, begin 11 a.m.
ning at 8:30 am. Ham, muf
St. William's sched
fins, fruit, juice and coffee ule: Good Friday: Way of the
are on the menu. Breakfast Cross 5 p.m.; Easter Sunday:
will be served anytime be R esurrection M ass: 8.45
tween 8:30 and 9:30 am. The a.m.
breakfast is free and dona
tions will be accepted.
All Saints'
The Easter worship Episcopal/Hope
service will be held on Sun
day, April 8, at 10 a.m. Note Lutheran
the time change. Worship Churches
will be at 10 a.m. to allow
All Saints’ Episcopal
people to come to breakfast, and Hope Lutheran Church
stay for worship, and still be es invite everyone to attend
home around 11 a.m. Any services during Holy Week.
one wishing to donate an
A service of Recon
Easter Lily should deliver ciliation and Eucharist will
them to the church by 9 a.m. be held Wednesday, April 4,
Saturday, April 7. A sign up at 7 p.m. at All S a in ts’.
sheet to indicate “in memo Maundy Thursday and Eu
Pioneer Memorial Hospice
ry/honor o f ’ will be provid charist will be held Thursday,
ed. That information will be April 5, at 7 p.m. at Hope.
Thank you, Jesus
printed in the Easter worship Good Friday Solemn Prayer
bulletin. Those participating Service will be held Friday,
Thank you, Jesus Christ, that through your death, are rem inded to take the
A pril 6, at noon at All
burial and resurrection, we all have been given the Easter Lily home on Sunday. Saints’. Tenebrae, a service
opportunity to choose eternal life. Those who follow you,
of prayer, scripture and dark
Jesus, here on earth will also be able to follow you in
ness, will be held Friday,
Sonrise
Service
resurrection and be with you forever.
The Easter ‘Sonrise’ April 6, at 7 p.m. at All
Rev. Patti Smith, Hospice Chaplain
service will be held this Saints’. On Easter day at 9
Sunday, April 8, at 7 a.m. at a.m. an Easter breakfast will
the
M orrow
C ounty be held by the youth group,
All Saints Episcopal and Hope
at Hope Lutheran. The cost
Fairgrounds in Heppner.
Lutheran Churches
Speaker will be the is $5 per person. The Easter
Rev.
Keith
Brudevold of the day Celebration of the Res
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen
Heppner United Methodist urrection will be held at 11
a.m. at Hope.
indeed. Alleluia!
Church.
T he serv ice is
sp
o
n
so
red by the South United Methodist
On Easter Sunday, Christians around the world will
Morrow
County Ministerial Church
unite in this ancient acclamation of faith— faith in a Lord
and Savior who has redeemed the world, not just through Association.
The Easter service at
his death but also through his life and resurrection. Death
the
H eppner
U nited
is swallowed up in victory, and all of creation rejoices in
Methodist Church will be
new life.
held at the regular tim e,
So, what does a day over 2000 years ago have to
10:30 a.m., on Sunday, April
do with us in Heppner? Everything! For because of this
8 .
day we are assured of forgiveness of sin, of the power to
begin life anew after our worst screw ups, and of life
everlasting as we believe in this Risen Lord.
The resurrection of Jesus affects our daily life, not
just our eternal destiny. For because of the resurrection,
Now a member o f
we no longer have to be captive to our fears or our doubts;
Regional M ultiple Listing Service
we are able to rise above our problems to see them through
the eyes of the resurrection. Those are the eyes of hope
and of faith.
To better serve our real estate clients David
I said to someone recently that for some of us, faith
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Christians are an Easter people...basking, if you
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For the night before He died, Christ told His disciples, “A
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Easter people live in Love. As we look anew at this
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Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The Rev. Janis Johnson
listings.
Contact David Sykes to discuss listing your
property or learning more about RMLS™
and other marketing ideas we have for your
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E-mail: daviddsykesrealestate.net
Website: SykesRealEstate.net
188 W. Willow
P.0. Box 337
Heppner, OR 97836
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