From the Rector......

ALLELUIA

The first church I served as rector is a small town parish about 75 miles north of New York City.  The building seats about 80 people in reasonable comfort.  There is a very abbreviated space between the front pew and the altar rail for the worship leaders to sit, and a small sanctuary space surrounding the altar.  In my time, the parish was a mixture of IBM-employed families who were relatively new to the community and long-time, established families which connected to the rural history of the community. 

I can recall one Easter Sunday when we had a trumpeter joining with the organ on the opening hymn, Jesus Christ is Risen Today.  The festive (and loud) effect in that small space, combined with the beauty of the flowers decorating the church and the shafts of sunlight streaming in the windows created an "Easter moment" which a greeting card might suggest. 

In the moments after the last reverberations of the organ and trumpet were over, and it was time to begin the words of the liturgy, the voice of a little child called out "Hurray!" Everyone gave way to laughter.  It was just the right word at just the right moment from an "unscheduled" source.  It was not just the "Hurray" of a little child; it was giving voice to the "Alleluia" of God.  It was Easter.  It is Easter, and "Alleluia" arises again in word and in spirit.

-- Stephen