The trouble is that they did not live happily ever after - many of the disciples met cruel fates, the news was more often rejected than accepted, and those who did believe often came to such harsh disagreement that they had to split up.

This will be true of many of you who gather on Easter Day. Those sitting around you, and maybe you yourself, will find it hard to believe the Easter news of triumph. Sadness, fearfulness, anxiety, bitterness, despair will make the garden, the cross, and the tomb much more real.

I believe this is why the risen Jesus still had the wounds in his hands and side. It is a reminder that these broken hands are still connected to our broken world - pulling us, guiding us, embracing us into resurrection life.

Wendell Berry says we must "practice resurrection", or in the language of the twelve step community, "fake it till we make it". What does this look like for Easter people? For you?

I know a woman who spends eight hours a day with 2nd grade children in a deeply broken city. Most of her students have a better chance at prison than college; she knows the light she shines in their lives is likely to be swallowed by dark poverty and violence of home. Two or three times a month she reaches the end of her rope and threatens to quit. But the next day she goes back to her class room.

I know a man who takes a plastic bag on his daily walk and picks up trash along his route. Five large garbage bags wouldn't hold all the litter he sees. But he carries and fill his little grocery sack every day. 

 
I know an elderly woman who sends every one of her young relatives a birthday card and an encouraging note every year. A few of them remember to thank her; once in while she will get a card in return. That's ok. Still she writes her notes.

What these all have in common is that they are practicing Resurrection. 

You know people like this; you have been people like this. In the last several weeks your prayers and notes and thoughts toward me and my family have been signs of resurrection. In a situation that is a long, long way from happily ever after you have been the hands of Jesus reaching into part of God's broken world. You are part of that light that will not be overcome by darkness, and I thank God for you every day. To God be the Glory!
 

by The Rev. Lauren A. Villemuer-Drenth, Dcn.

On April 13, children from the west side of the diocese gathered with the Deacon of Christian Formation for the Diocese of Lexington to learn about Holy Week. Three parishes were represented: Resuurection (Jessamine County), Holy Trinity (Danville), and Ascension (Frankfort), with nineteen children from ages three to twelve. Starting with Palm Sunday and a parade, the children started their own Holy Week Banner to take home. They each made a glitter covered leaf to place on their banner. Next they hear the story of the money changers being chased out of the temple. Then they learned of the Last Supper followed by bread and grapes tasting. After learning about Jesus washing his disciples' feet, each child got their feet washed to the words, "Go out and love your neighbor as God loves you." Then each child made a chalice with a wafer to go on their Holy Week banner. The story of Good Friday was next. Deacon Lauren showed stations of the cross made for children and talked about what happened and answered the "why" questions. They each made a cross for their banner. Then they made tombs to symbolize the waiting on Holy Saturday. The best part came next. The children talked about love wining and how much God loves us. They celebrated Easter. Each child made a "He is Risen" announcement covered in butterflies and flowers. At the bottom of the banner, each child added a symbol of Easter for them. After taking a picture with the Bishop, we had worship. The people at Danville's Holy Trinity had planned a wonderful meal which ended our time together.

The next diocesan event for children and families is "Water Days" and will take place in Northern Kentucky on June 8 at 3:30 pm. Children will hear the stories in the Bible centered on water. Stories will be told with puppets and other ways. Games involving water and more water will be played. Crafts will be done too.