Young Adults: Showing Up For Purpose

Many young adults in our church and in our culture are filled with purpose.  They have a vibrant sense of meaning for their lives and a desire to benefit others.
At times, however, young adults go through seasons where they lose connection to identity, mission, and meaning.

Dr. David White, C. Ellis and Nancy Gribble Nelson Associate Professor for Christian Education at Austin Seminary, has recently written an article about feelings of purposelessness in teenagers and young adults.  How are we called to be witnesses and mirrors for young people, so that they can recognize their worth and purpose?

Here is a quote from David White:

"Purposelessness in young people represents, in a sense, a failure of the Christian church to communicate a robust gospel.  We are guilty of attaching God like a paper-clip to a forgotten corner of our unreflective, middle-class lives, reducing God to brief of dreary table graces rather than the revolutionary love that changes us utterly, lifting us from mourning into dancing, from silence to joy, from purposelessness to purpose.  The domestication of God inevitably leaves Christians adrift, without purpose, in a life collapsed in upon itself.  Yet, the Christian tradition, at its best, insists that every Christian has a call to participate in God's purposes.  The theological notion of vocation frames human purpose as subject to God's call upon our lives."

-"Finding Purpose: Igniting Sparks in the Lives of Young People" in Windows:Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Spring 2012

Storycorps: Remembering John and Joe, Two Sons

Becoming An Innovative Church!

We believe that Pasadena Presbyterian Church is in a season of dreaming. Who are we?  Where have we been together, and how are we called to move forward now?  How is God stirring our hearts and minds?

As part of our ongoing mission and call, we want to be Sacred Space for the City.  And in that posture toward the people and neighborhoods around us, we are curious about innovative forms of ministry and mission that are happening within our larger Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination and in other churches and community groups.  We are also interested in questions being asked around us - by those who have a faith commitment and by those who do not.  

We have much to learn from everyone!

Here are some news stories and blog posts.  We hope that they will call us anew to be an innovative, creative church that meets the needs of people around us!


Pastor Who Lived on Motel Roof Has New Vision: Raising Awareness About Gun Violence
Church Works to Turn Old Orlando Motel Into Faith Arts Village
More Churches Turning to High-Tech Outreach

PPC: Pasadena Portal Central!

Portals!  Portals!  Everywhere!  Portals!

Portals. . .?   What’s this all about?

Portal -- It’s a word that has seemed to stick around Pasadena Presbyterian Church these days.  We’ve used other words too: Doors, Hot Spots, Gateways, Grace Margins. . . But somehow the word ‘Portal’ has stuck with us.

And the word has emerged from a set of questions.  How does a church become accessible to its neighborhood?  What are the tangible ministries (read: Portals!) that exist now or could exist in the future which allow current members and friends of PPC. . .

1) . . . to get outside in the community where we can serve, love, and learn from our neighbors?

And provide spaces where. . .

2) . . . newcomers, who feel like outsiders, can start to feel like insiders?

How do portals get us outside and create safe spaces where people can come inside the life of this church, so that they can deepen a relationship with Jesus and find community for themselves?

Pasadena Presbyterian Church is quickly becoming Pasadena Portal Central!  God is currently using you and your gifts to make this a reality. 

How do I know this?  I can see it everywhere.

You're breathing new life into old ministries (portals!) and you're beginning new ministries (portals!) Groups of people are informally gathering around portals by pouring their energy, imagination, and love into this congregation and this neighborhood.  I will name just a few below:

-- Sunday Night Dream Team: A group of people is currently discerning ways to plan an Evening Worship Service for PPC.

-- Green Team: A group of people is exploring ways to care for our local and global environment by inviting our neighborhood into projects and discussion.

-- Mission Plan Team: A group of people has created a vibrant five-year Mission Plan for Spanish Language ministry.  

-- Sacred Space for Children Team: A group of people is exploring how we can create a visible, colorful area for children and caregivers in our sanctuary.

-- Outdoors for the Neighborhood Team: A group of people is considering ways to make our church building and landscaping more inviting to newcomers.

These are only a few portals.  Others keep popping up all around, and they are creating the spaces that 1) get us outside and 2) invite people inside.

What's your dream for PPC?  What's your dream for this neighborhood?  How can you use your gifts to portal-ize our church?

Keep thinking.  Keep dreaming.  Keep watching this happen!

Renee Roederer, Associate Pastor, Pasadena Presbyterian Church

Homeless Teens in America

Young Adults in the News!

As a young adult community, we want to stay aware of the particular gifts that young adults bring to our world as well as the particular challenges that young adults face.  We are curious to learn about culture and trends among young adults.


Here are some recent news stories and blog posts that concern young adults:


Huffington Post: Young People Are Not Invincible
Prime Time TV Loses Viewers, Especially Young Adults
New Report: Melanoma Increases Among Young Adults

The Problems With Peacemongering

Merrit Martin is a blogger who lives in Washington, D.C.  With her permission, we've requested to repost her recent blog entry from Waiting For Morning. She raises some interesting questions here, and we invite you to join the conversation in comments below.

Thanks to my good friend Renee, who keeps me plugged in to all things Presbyterian (and blogs here), I have just discovered that the PC(USA) is considering becoming a peace church—i.e. officially opposing wars and violence out of principle, regardless of the circumstances. For generations, the Presbyterian Church, like most American mainline denominations, has operated under Just War theory, a theological framework that offers a number of criteria under which fighting is justifiable, in order to make faithful folk feel less terrible about going to war.

Because let’s face it: war is terrible. It destroys countries, depletes natural resources, disrupts governments, and devastates local economies. It stirs up hatred of one group for another, which can perpetuate conflict for generations. It ends lives, violently. In our modern warfare, which takes place less and less on isolated battlefields, it often results in the deaths of women and children and innocent civilians. And the soldiers who come home may face PTSD, substance abuse issues, loss of limb, and other physical and mental health struggles. War is not a good thing.

On the surface, then, “Just War” sounds absurd and somewhat revolting. Why should we try to justify violence of any kind? Of course we should embrace nonviolence! It’s the job of the church to be a witness to peace and justice in the world! And other such platitudes.

On the other hand, a move to become a “peace church” is a total cop-out. It is a more of a witness to our desire for purity than for peace, as if we don’t want the PCUSA to be ‘defiled’ by any association with violence or any appearance to condone war.

But the fact of the matter is, we live in a broken world, and war and violence are a part of that world. We can—and should—lament violence without ending the conversation completely. Rather, I think we have a responsibility to struggle with each new conflict that arises. It is a way to remember what we believe and to renew our commitment to our faith. Besides, the theory defines “just wars” fairly narrowly. I believe that abandoning Just War theory would be a theological overreach, and there are two main problems I’m afraid that the decision would create:

1)    There would essentially be no place in our church for members of the military and their families—and if anyone can teach us about self-sacrifice, it’s them. If anyone needs healing and love, it’s them. Military families should feel welcomed in our congregations, without the tacit understanding that the PC(USA) thinks their whole careers are ‘wrong.’ After all, Jesus didn’t do that. He just healed the centurion’s servant, no questions asked.

2)    There is something politically meaningful in a church opposing a war that it has carefully considered. There is very little meaning in opposing every war, without consideration. If the PC(USA) makes an official declaration opposing a given war, as the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta did recently, it may serve as somewhat of a deterrent to policymakers. But if we oppose the idea of war itself, we are essentially abdicating our ability to have that kind of impact.

Violence is a deplorable part of our world. But I don’t think it is the place of the church to say it is an unforgivable, irredeemable part. We should be working to offer more creative solutions to conflict than military intervention. Opposition to all military intervention, though, is not creative enough. It’s not a plausible solution, and it’s not helpful to military families, policymakers, or those affected by conflict.

Merrit Martin
Waiting For Morning

Sermon: Eyes Wide Open

Luke 24:13-35

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?"

When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.

Have you ever had an experience where you were doing something run-of-the-mill – something ordinary - only to find it suddenly infused with the grace of God? Have you ever had an experience like that? Have you ever had a moment of awakening, right in the middle of something very routine? Have you ever had your eyes opened, in an experience where everything seems to open up, right when you weren’t expecting it?

These disciples, on a simple road to Emmaus, in a simple meal, experienced something just like that, something life-altering. They were transformed right in the middle of something very ordinary. They would never be the same.

And as they started along that road, they were probably thinking something just like that: They would never be the same. . . The times weren’t ordinary or simple at all, and they had just been through utter hell. These two disciples were grieving and in pain. They were confused.  Surely they knew that they might be in danger. Jesus, the one they had followed, was unmercifully killed just days ago, murdered by the few who held the most power. And these disciple were sure to feel powerless because they couldn’t know if they or their fellow-disciples would be next. These times were not ordinary or simple at all. But what could they do? Perhaps they needed to do familiar things – things that were ordinary and simple – just to keep going. What else can you do in utter hell but just keep going, putting one foot in front of the other? Simple things: Walk down a road. Stay the night.  Eat a meal.

And an unrecognized stranger walks right into it – right into their conversation, right into their pain and their confusion. Is he the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the utter hell of this week? They were honest with him. They told him what was causing them the most heartbreak. Their hopes were truly crushed. They told this unrecognized stranger how they felt: “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” They had placed their trust, their dreams, and their lives to this Jesus of Nazareth. And what now? Had it been for nothing – nothing but heartbreak? Had it led only to fear – had it led only to danger for themselves and the people they loved? What now?

And the disciples also told this stranger what was causing them the most confusion. They said, “Some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Of course this was confusing, and what were they supposed to think about what just happened hours ago? Do they dare hope again? Can they risk it? Can they risk believing – trusting again – that Jesus is somehow alive?

It’s interesting how transformation can begin even in the midst of pain, confusion, and doubt.  Right in the truth of their emotions, Jesus makes himself very present. “Haven’t you understood what the prophets have declared?” He turns powerfully to the scriptures. Beginning with Moses, he moves through the prophets, interprets the scriptures, and gives hope to these disciples. Their hope, trust, and service were not in vain. Jesus had redeemed them and would continue to redeem. He had suffered, but he would enter into new life and live for them. He would be alive always – alive in them and alive beyond them – alive beyond anything they could wrap their minds around. And here he was alive standing right in front of them, right in the middle of a scriptural conversation. They didn’t grasp the fullness of that truth, but they were affected. As they would say later, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us? A simple, ordinary road. A transformative experience.

Who was this unrecognized stranger? Who was this one who could dramatically open their ears and their minds with the ancient words of scripture? Who was this one who could suddenly open their hopeless hearts? In an ordinary moment, what had just happened?

They didn’t know who he was, but they were eager to learn more about this stranger and to learn more from this stranger. The day was ending and it was almost evening. “Stay with us.” And he went in to dwell with them.

Hospitality. That’s an ordinary custom - a kind one, but an ordinary invitation. They were somehow able to sense that this stranger was sharing hope that was far from ordinary, and they needed him to dwell with them in their pain and confusion.

And again, in an ordinary place of lodging, everything changed. They would never be the same. They sat down for an ordinary meal, and it became a holy moment. It was suddenly infused with the grace of God. When this stranger took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, their eyes were opened and then, they recognized him.

They recognized him. They recognized him for who he was. This was Jesus made alive, right in the breaking of bread. They recognized him in and through the relationship they had experienced with him. He had poured out love toward them in this way many times before. When Jesus broke and gave this bread, he pledged to give himself. In receiving this bread, they received his love, his identity, his call, and the revelation that they could put their hope and trust in him.

They were instantly transformed. Even though they had journeyed from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they immediately got up and returned to Jerusalem that same hour. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran! They couldn’t keep this revelation to themselves. They couldn’t keep this transformation to themselves. After an encounter with the risen Christ, they were sent forth to share it with others. The sharing of a meal.  The breaking of bread.  An ordinary moment was transformative beyond imagination.

So what about you? Have you ever had an experience where you were doing something run-of-the-mill – something ordinary - only to find it suddenly infused with the grace of God? Have you ever had an experience like that? Have you ever had a moment of awakening, right in the middle of something very routine? Have you ever had your eyes opened in an experience where everything seems to open up, right when you weren’t expecting it?

The truth is, we all experience run-of-the mill events. We live in the ordinary. And we’re sometimes unable to see the grace of God right in front of us.  Our minds often vacillate between the past and the future, and we neglect the present moment right in front of us. We don’t pay attention to it, and we often remain in a state of constant partial attention. I wonder what we miss along the way.

And so what do we hope to see when we come to worship? Are we fully present here when God is so graciously present with us? Will our eyes be opened to see Jesus Christ with us, among us, in us, beyond us?  This sanctuary is not a respite from the world beyond these walls.  This sanctuary is like a womb - it's a place where we are created, formed, and fashioned together - it's a place where we are reborn - so that we are sent beyond these walls with hope and vision, so that we are sent beyond these walls to love and serve the people of this neighborhood.  I wonder, have you had a moment in your life during worship - maybe elsewhere, or maybe right here in this sanctuary - where your eyes were opened, and suddenly, something ordinary was infused with the grace of God?

In the Spring of 2007, I was at Mo Ranch, a Presbyterian camp and conference center in Hunt, Texas.  It's a beautiful place.  A friend of mine once described Mo Ranch as a "thin place," that is, a place that seems much closer to the Holy.  I would agree.

I had spent about four days with college students and fellow campus ministers at a conference called College Connection.  Relationships and bonds had been strengthened through a week of learning, rest, and play.  And on this last night of the conference, we were all gathered in a building for worship.  The setting was beautiful.  In the days before, we had gathered in this space for plenary talks, and on those days, it didn't look like a sanctuary. But on this night, a team of people had taken care to put candles all over the place.  The setting was transformed, and in this beautiful space, we began a service of Taize worship.  

Many of you are familiar with Taize worship.  We sang beautiful, restful choruses over and over as we sat in a dark room with all the light coming only from the countless candles.  It felt very intimate and holy.

I've been a part of Taize worship many times.  In fact, I used to plan a Taize service every month.  This was an intimate and holy moment, but it also would have been easy to simply go through the motions. We had experienced a jam-packed week, and I was truly exhausted.  But on this night, it wasn't possible to go through the motions, because something absolutely transformative happened during that worship service.

We were singing a song called Prayers of the People.1  It's not actually a Taize chorus, but it's a very powerful song, one I hope to do with you here sometime.  It starts out with words that can feel very shocking while you're singing them.  

We are hungry. . . Whoa. . . We are hungry. . .

We are hungry. . . Whoa. . . We are hungry. . .

We are man, woman, we are children,

Whoa, we are hungry.

We sang this, knowing that most of us had no idea what dire hunger feels like.  And yet, part of what this song is about is that we're connected to others.  We're human together.  Humanity is hungry.  Right now.  Humanity is hungry. We are hungry.

We sang other words too.  We are fighting. . . We have Aids.  Whoa. . . We have Aids. . .

And all of these words were moving and evocative, but transformation became alive in the chorus.  The words are inspired from the book of Amos.  

So let the rains go,

Let the healing river flow,

Let justice roll like waters.

Let the days begin when new life enters in,

And let your Kingdom come.

I'll tell you why transformation became alive in that service: At that very moment, during the chorus, it began pouring rain.  Pouring!  Drenching! A Downpour!  The roof had a metallic sound to it, and it was so, so loud!  And if that sensory experience of sound weren't enough, as we sang about rains, healing rivers, and justice rolling like waters, the building literally began flooding with all the rain from outside.  An ordinary moment had been suddenly infused with the grace of God.  And we didn't have to say anything.  It's like we all looked one another in the eye as if we had this holy secret: "Yes, we can change the world.  We're gonna change the world!!! God is changing the world, and we're miraculously a part of it!"

Christ was revealed.  And our identities were revealed, all in one synergistic moment of holy words and holy rains.

So about you?  What about us?  How will we be transformed in this very moment, and the moments ahead?  Keep your eyes wide open.  You never know who you'll meet on the road.  You never know how you'll be met in worship - in the opening of scripture and in the breaking of bread.  Ready to find out? Let's walk down that road together.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

1 The Rev. Ben Johnston-Krase, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Racine, WI,  composed the text and music for Prayers of the People.  You can see the music here at the bottom of this page: http://sayinggraces.com/pages/my-music

Sudan: Blue Nile Attacks

Esperanza: Visions of Hope at PPC!

On Sunday, April 15, Pasadena Presbyterian Church began a very exciting, nine-week Adult Education Class. It's called "What Do You See? Visions of Hope at PPC."

On Sunday, our topic was "Visiones de una Nueva Esperanza," and PPC's English and Spanish speaking members explored the new Mission Plan together for Spanish Language Ministry. It is very exciting! The new Mission Plan has been drafted and presented to San Gabriel Presbytery with the help of Andrew Warner, Rubi Benitez, Andy Gutierrez, Fried Wilson, Paul Kang, and the Rev. Dr. Mark Smutny. San Gabriel Presbytery and Presbyterian Women have each pledged $50,000 over the next five years (a total of $100,000) to assist in funding a full-time pastoral position for Spanish Language Ministry. We are making a request that the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii pledge $50,000 toward this great effort as well. We give thanks to San Gabriel Presbytery, Presbyterian Women, and the leadership of Pasadena Presbyterian Church for making this possible.

With great excitement and hope, we list some of the objectives from the Mission Plan below:

1) Lead a dynamic, joyful Sunday morning worship service that proclaims the wonderful Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invites people into a grace-filled, loving relationship with Jesus through Pasadena Presbyterian Church and sends them out renewed, healed, and filled with hope.

2) Nurture a new partnership between the women of PPC's Spanish-Language Ministry and Presbyterian Women of PPC.

3) Develop a person-to-person evangelism program whereby church members personally invite family and friends to attend church.

4) Train and equip new church leaders with skills in Presbyterian governance, organizing and leading meetings, and gaining confidence in speaking and writing.

5) Engage the congregation in ministries of social witness, advocacy, and education, especially on issues of immigration and the undocumented, giving a human face to real people who are affected by these issues.

6) Feed the hungry through the God Loves You Food Ministry and provide additional physical, spiritual, and emotional support, as well as to the families that PPC assists.

7) Mentor children and youth academically and spiritually through a "Covenant Partners" program, where adults are paired with young people tutoring them in math, English, and other subjects, and provide them with spiritual guidance.

8) Train youth and adults in financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills to enable them to discover their God-given gifts; and to help them succeed in a competitive global economy.

9) Extend PPC's long and rich tradition of music to a new generation of Latino children and youth, in the hopes that many of them will discover their God-given talents in music.

Joy in the Congo: Music! (60 Minutes)

Young Adults in the News!

As a young adult community, we want to stay aware of the particular gifts that young adults bring to our world as well as the particular challenges that young adults face. We are also curious to learn about culture and trends among young adults.

Here are some recent news stories and blog posts that concern young adults:

Why Young Adults Forget the Church to Follow Jesus

Decline in Young Adult Voters Not Democracy's Death Knell

Paid-for Gap Years On Offer to Young Adults in New Scheme

Pasadena City College Board Supports Korematsu Day

Thank You, Women's Chorale!

Pasadena Presbyterian Church would like to express a big thank you to the Women's Chorale from California State University at Northridge for their wonderful gift of music. The Chorale sang in English-Language Worship yesterday morning, and the music was beautiful and spirited!

We want to support college students at PPC, and we are especially grateful when we are able to share in the gifts that students bring.

Thank you to our own Director of Music, Dr. Timothy Howard, who is also serving as the Interim Director for the Women's Chorale.

Thank you so much!

Prayers of the People. . .

Loving God,

We come to you in joy. We come to you in concern. We come to you, voicing many prayers and remembering the struggles of those who surround us - people in our church, people in our neighborhood, people who seem a world away. We ask that your blessing would touch the lives of all people, and we pray that we can be a part of that very blessing.

We pray for those who feel forgotten – for people who live on the street, for children living in abusive homes, men and women in hospitals and nursing homes, and military personnel who imagine that no one could possibly understand their pain.

We pray for those who are grappling with uncertainty – for individuals and families who are experiencing death and grief, for those who have lost their jobs this week or perhaps years ago, for those who have no idea of how or where to get their next meal, for those who are afraid of when the next anxiety attack will come, for those walking through recovery one day at a time.

We pray for those who feel as though they’re walking on unstable ground – for people who cannot seem to come up for air in this economy, for people living in the midst of natural disasters, for people who have seemed to lose their faith, struggling with doubts that overtake their minds and hearts.

Remind them, and remind us, O God, that no question – no seeming loss of faith – can separate us from you, for you hold us fast in your faith. You are the stable ground for which we long. In confidence of your love – even in the midst of doubts or unbelief – we pray people who are struggling in particular ways.

. . . For the members of this fellowship who are in need of your special care.

. . . For the city of Pasadena and for the neighborhood you have given us in the Playhouse District.

. . . For people and nations in the Middle East and North Africa who are struggling for justice, safety, and stability.

. . . For the people of North Korea and for the children who have grown up in Concentration Camps their entire lives, who have never known the outside.

Be with us Lord as we step out in faith. Be with us as we journey into the struggles of others. May we bring your love there. May we bring your blessing right there.

And now, as your beloved children, we are blessed again to pray the words that Jesus taught us, saying. . .

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom Come,

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever.

Amen.

-A Prayer of Pasadena Presbyterian Church

The Power of Music: Helping Older Adults Connect to Their Lives

Young Adults in the News!

As a young adult community, we want to stay aware of the particular gifts that young adults bring to our world as well as the particular challenges that young adults face. We are also curious to learn about culture and trends among young adults.

Here are some recent news stories and blog posts that concern young adults:

Christian Century: No Need For Church - Ministry With Young Adults in Flux

Young Adults Switch Media 27 Times an Hour

March Young Adult Employment Summary

All Church Multicultural Retreat: This Saturday!

We invite all members and friends of Pasadena Presbyterian Church to join us this Saturday for an All Church Multicultural Retreat. The retreat will take place in Fellowship Hall from 9am-2:15pm. Lunch will be provided. Expect delicious Korean food!

We will. . .

. . . meet together.

. . . have a Bible Study.

. . . play and laugh a lot!

. . . share a meal.

. . . have meaningful conversation.

. . . share communion.

Please join us for a fun and transformative day!

Easter Reflection: Run!

Luke 24:1-12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

As I think about what had happened before our story begins, the truth is, I can hardly fathom the deep devastation that the disciples were feeling. I can hardly imagine their sense of loss. All of them - the eleven who had been twelve before Judas’ betrayal and recent suicide, droves of other disciples, the women who traveled with him - all of them had followed him for three years of their lives. They left their work, their homes, some of them left their families, and it looked as though it had all been for nothing.

I can hardly imagine how their hopes must have seemed truly dashed. They had lived in awe, knowing that life was changing as they followed this Jesus. He was ushering in the Kingdom ofGod right before their eyes. He was loving boundlessly and healing those who were suffering. They knew they were witnessing something - Someone - beyond anything they could have imagined, but now, their Savior, their loving One, their healing One, was lying dead in a tomb. After he was interrogated, tortured, and disfigured beyond their recognition, Jesus was crucified. He died with criminals, humiliated, and his death was painful and long. Their hopes must have felt truly dashed.

And I can hardly imagine the fear they must have had. The last 48 hours were terrifying as they watched Jesus’ arrest and death, and surely they knew that they could be next. The gospels give us a picture of the disciples together after Jesus' death, waiting and watching. The Gospel of John tells us that they hid behind locked doors. Of course, it made sense to do such a thing: They didn't know what would be next for them. They must have been living in complete terror. I can hardly wrap my mind around that kind of fear.

And so you can imagine how brave and dedicated those women were when they ventured out to Jesus’ tomb very early on Sunday morning. . . They addressed their loss, faced their crushed hopes, and boldly conquered their personal fears as they brought spices to anoint and care for Jesus’ broken and disfigured body.

But as they arrived, they had a new challenge before them.They had to face a new reality that was beyond their imagination. When they arrived at the tomb, the stone was rolled away. They didn’t expect this. Who could be inside? Is everything okay? I wonder if they immediately felt panic within themselves.Perhaps their fearful imaginations anticipated the scene before reality confirmed it. Perhaps they immediately panicked and pictured that tomb empty without Jesus’ body.They had woken early to anoint Jesus’ body, but had somebody already been there? Could the authorities have stolen him away from them? They went inside the tomb, and the picture certainly would have confirmed their suspicions if they were thinking them. Jesus wasn’t inside the tomb. The tomb was empty. Abandoned.

But then, a new, stunning revelation. As the women are standing there perplexed, they realize that two men are standing there in front of them. And they have a pointed question for the women. And though it was a pointed question, I imagine that it was spoken with gentleness. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the two men asked this simple and yet pointed question: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Why do you look for the living among the dead? Why are you looking for Jesus in a tomb of all places?Your sense of loss is great, it may feel as though your hopes are crushed, and you may be living in fear, but this One you seek isn’t among the dead at all! He’s among the living!

The men remind the women about Jesus’ words to them, and in excitement, they rush back to tell the other disciples. Can you imagine their joy? Can you imagine the hope that came flooding back into them? And yet the disciples are still living in their loss, dashed hopes, and fear. They can’t imagine it either, and can we really blame them? The scripture tells us that they believed these words to be an idle tale. Perhaps it was too difficult to even try to hope. Maybe it didn’t feel worth it, if they might be disappointed again.

But Peter won’t sit idly by. He won’t simply brush the story away like an idle tale.He needs to allow himself to hope. He needs to see for himself. He leaves those fearful disciples and travels to the tomb. And hedoesn’t walk hesitantly. Hedoesn’t keep looking over his shoulder, fearing the authorities. That wasn’t Peter’s means of traveling to the tomb. Peter ran! Peter ran with passion! He got to the tomb, stooped in, and saw what his eyes could hardly take in. Jesus was not in that tomb – only the linen cloths were there. The scripture says that Peter went home amazed at what had happened.

He went home amazed at what had happened.

And so here we are. We are here on Easter Sunday. And here we are hearing the story again. Where are we? Where are we? – not just, where is our location? But where are we in our hearts and minds? It’s true that it may be hard to imagine what the disciples were feeling, but maybe we know loss, disappointed hopes, and fear. We haven’t experienced what these disciples experienced directly more than 2000 years ago, but here we are on Easter Sunday - some of us earlier this morning were all in a room, all gathered together, and we’re disciples too. We’re hearing the story of resurrection. We’re hearing that question: Why do look for the living among the dead? We’re hearing the testimony of those women. Where are we?

David Johnson, one of my professors from Austin Seminary, had an interestingFacebook status a few years ago: He said this, “There are only two Easter sermons: 1. This is extraordinary and hard to believe, but it changes everything. 2. This is a crock, and we have to figure out some symbolic way of making it believable. I'm going with #1.” I have a feeling that most of us would prefer to go that way too.

The Resurrection does change everything. I know that it has changed Pasadena Presbyterian Church. The resurrection may seem like a 'thing,' in the ways that we have questions – perhaps excited questions, and perhaps critical questions, and those are all good and worthy of being asked – but ultimately the resurrectionisn’t a thing. It isn’t a thing that we can plop down on a stainless steel counter for analysis or a thing we can put under a microscope. We can’t do DNA tests or an autopsy. The resurrection isn’t a thing.The resurrection is a Person. You worship and serve – we worship and serve – Jesus Christ, the Resurrected One.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Jesus is the Resurrected One, the Alive One, the Living-With-And-For-Us-One.Resurrection is a Person.And ours is a Resurrected Faith. On Easter Sunday – and for that matter, every Sunday because our faith is a resurrected faith – we remember that the Resurrection is an event that changes everything. And yet the Resurrection is infinitely more than some event that mysteriously and miraculously happened more than 2000 years ago. The Resurrection tells us something true about Who God always is toward us. Jesus is our Resurrection.In his resurrected life, he shows us who God is toward us, toward this creation.

Like Peter we can run to the all tombs of this world and discover who Christ is.Because as Christ goes to the cross, loving even to the end, even to death on a cross, he reveals Who God Is toward us. God says, “When you suffer, I suffer. I will always suffer with and alongside you.” And as Christ is miraculously raised from death itself, it reveals Who God IS toward us, “I will rise with and for you. As I rise, you will rise.I am resurrection for you and for all creation.”

So on this Easter Sunday, let’s commit ourselves as a community and as a family of faith to run to that tomb.Run to it! Run to that tomb 2000 years ago! Run to the tombs of this world: War-torn nations, poverty, children abandoned and neglected, illness, pain, homelessness and so many more tombs. Discover Jesus as the Resurrected One – the One who lives for those in the tombs, raising them to new life - he himself, the Resurrection for you and for this world.See him alive there. And you – servants of the Resurrected One – be his life there. Take this life changing message always and proclaim it. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Thanks be to God.

-Renee Roederer, Associate Pastor, Pasadena Presbyterian Church