<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b>Easter Reflection #2:</b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal">I’ve never heard anything like
it.<span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal">The ordinary mode of beginning the
Sunday worship service at Montview Presbyterian Church is the sound of chimes after
which the congregation is invited to quietly make the transition from getting there
to being there. This Sunday, being Easter, the sanctuary was overflowing with
people enthusiastically greeting each other with churchy cordiality and requests
from the front to move closer together in the pews to accommodate more people.
I was sitting quietly waiting for the chimes, hoping to be able to hear them
over the din, and looking forward to a few moments of silence to absorb the
beauty of the surroundings.<span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal">Suddenly from the choir loft came
a deafening crash of cymbals followed by a brass and organ fanfare that filled
the gothic architecture with ear-splitting wonder that lasted a full 5 minutes.
After the final grand chord, the congregation was speechless. The impact was
powerful and profound, setting the tone for something grand about to happen. For
me, if nothing else occurred during the service, the Easter wonder had
happened. <span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal">The piece was Grand Choeur
Dialogue by Eugene Gigout; you can find it at: <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rufxt80iVA0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rufxt80iVA0</a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,102,33);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> <span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">But that was
only the first musical treat. The brass and organ and choir continued their gift
of awe-producing sounds during the hymns, anthem, and offertory anthem. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZtIRp3Vglw"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZtIRp3Vglw</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,102,33);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">was the anthem.<span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">By the time we
left, I was done in, having experienced something of a resurrection.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,102,33);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> <span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Since then,</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">I’ve been wrestling with the thought that such grandeur was
not at all like the lifestyle portrayed in the New Testament. Though it clearly
portrays the significance of the Easter event for Christians, the music and
setting seemed more appropriate to royalty than to us. Recent Public TV shows
featuring Henry VIII picture a setting in which this type of music would have
been right at home. Maybe the point is that awe happens in the midst of the
ordinary as surprises sometime break through that are not of our doing. If, as
I have contended elsewhere, surprises are where we are confronted by Mystery,
that certainly happened at the Denver Montview Presbyterian Church (a former
Galaxy church once co-pastored by Ken Barley) on Easter Sunday, 2017.<span></span></span></p></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Apr 17, 2017 at 1:26 PM, Thomas Morrison via OE <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>Hi everyone,</div><div><br></div><div>Adding to the discussion . . .</div><div><br></div><div>We in the USA generally define reality as having four dimensions: length, width, height and time.<br>It is a choice we have made, and is nicely measureable with our existing instruments and chosen senses.</div><div><br></div><div>Mathematically we could have five, six, whatever number of dimensions we would want to explore.</div><div>As far as our senses go, there are others beyond the usual USA list.</div><div>I bump into this as a psychiatric therapist from time to time.</div><div>Again, I choose to pay attention to the experiences or not, depending on how important it is to the client (or me--grin).</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Morrison</div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="">On Sun, Apr 16, 2017 at 10:52 AM, Jack Gilles via OE <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>></span> wrote:<br></span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><span class="">Susan,<div><br></div><div>Happy Easter to you as well! I was wondering how you would describe the dimension you speak of? I happen to agree with you, but I use the term Void, which is the eternal, existing along side the time/space experience. The Other World in the midst of this world.</div><div><br></div><div>Grace & Peace,</div><div><br></div><div>Jack</div></span><div><br><div><blockquote type="cite"><span class=""><div>On Apr 16, 2017, at 12:14, Susan Fertig via OE <<a href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-interchange-newline"></span><div><div class="h5"><div><div class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060WordSection1" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Isn’t your hip out of socket yet, James? All that wrestling with the Archangel…<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Surrender and rejoice, friend. The Resurrection is real, not a metaphor.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Neither is it a 3-tiered universe; just another dimension altogether.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><i><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Papyrus;color:rgb(8,8,8)">Susan<u></u><u></u></span></i></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(8,8,8)"> </span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Papyrus;color:rgb(8,8,8)">Susan Fertig-Dykes<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:Papyrus;color:rgb(8,8,8)">(personal email account)<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:Papyrus;color:rgb(8,8,8)"> </span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><i><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Papyrus">And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought . Isaiah 58:11</span></i><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Papyrus"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:rgb(8,8,8)"> </span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:rgb(8,8,8)"> </span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Protect against email address harvesting:<br>Use "BCC" when sending to multiple addresses;<span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span><u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">delete senders’ E-Mail addresses when forwarding.</span><span style="font-size:9pt"><br><br><u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:9pt">NOTE: I won’t be offended if you ask me to remove you from my emails.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:rgb(8,8,8)"> </span></div></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></div><div><div style="border-style:solid none none;border-top-color:rgb(225,225,225);border-top-width:1pt;padding:3pt 0in 0in"><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span>OE [<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedge<wbr>blade.net</a>]<span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>James Wiegel via OE<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sunday, April 16, 2017 12:24 PM<br><b>To:</b><span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mary Kurian DSouza <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:marykdsouza@gmail.com" target="_blank">marykdsouza@gmail.com</a>>; Order Ecumenical Community <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [Oe List ...] Easter Reflections<u></u><u></u></span></div></div></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Thank you for the reflections and the reminiscences. I must admit I am wrestling some this week and still at Easter morn. We get netflix dvds sent to us and last night, as we paused from getting ready for the potluck we are hosting, we watched the dvd we got in the mail. Martin Scorceses SILENCE, about Jesuit priests on mission in Japan in the 1600's. Lots of persecutions, apostasy as well.<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">All this for the metaphor of death and rebirth? Hmmmm. I read over the christ lecture transcribed in Bending History as well as the bits of the gospels. Deepened the wrestling. All complicated by a 10 year old grandson who has decided to be baptized today. Have to stop here and go hide easter eggs . . .<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Jim Wiegel<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline"><span style="font-size:13pt">401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353</span></a><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span>Tel.</span><span style="font-size:13pt"> </span><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="tel:011-623-936-8671" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt">011-623-936-8671</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt"> or </span><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="tel:011-623-363-3277" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt">011-6<wbr>23-363-3277</span></a><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:marilyn.oyler@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span>jfwiegel@yahoo.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.partnersinparticipation.com/" target="_blank"><span>www.partnersinparticipation.co<wbr>m</span></a><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><br><br><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">"<span style="font-size:13pt">We are no longer living in an era of change. We are living in a change of era." Francis</span><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Upcoming public course opportunities click here<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="http://partnersinparticipation.com/?page_id=10" target="_blank">http://partnersinparticipation<wbr>.com/?page_id=10</a><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:13pt">For online registration go to </span><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="http://www.top-training.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt">http://www.top-training.net</span></a><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><br><br><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">The AZ ToP® Community of Practice meets the 1st <a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline">Friday, 1-4 pm</a>, starting again <a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline">on Sept 5th</a> at ACYR, <a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/648+N+5th+Ave/@33.456329,-112.080545,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x872b123a5312512d:0x93c9f71171108956?hl=" target="_blank">648 N. 5th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003</a><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">AICP Planners: 14.5 CM for all ToP® courses<u></u><u></u></div></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><br>On Apr 15, 2017, at 19:52, Mary Kurian DSouza via OE <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Nancy<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">What a lovely window of remembrance to look through<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Thank you for sharing. <u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Mary<br><br>Sent from my iPhone<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><br>On 16-Apr-2017, at 6:36 AM, Nancy Trask via OE <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">I vividly remember Easter mornings in the OKC RH with Bill & Marianna Bailey. First of all, Bill Bailey's resonating wake-up accompanied by the gong. Barb Garrison & I played the Hallelujah Chorus on the baby grand. Breakfast included a huge slab of salmon. Oh my goodness -- If life had caused you to need some patching up, the best prescription would be 4 years in the OKC RH with Bill & Marianna. Thank you for those experiences, Marianna!<br>All the best,<br>Nancy Trask<br> <br>----- Original Message -----<br>From: Marianna Bailey via OE <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>><br>To: Frank Knutson <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:f.knutson@earthlink.net" target="_blank">f.knutson@earthlink.net</a>>, Order Ecumenical Community <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>><br>Sent: Sat, 15 Apr 2017 19:37:37 -0400 (EDT)<br>Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Easter Reflections<u></u><u></u></p><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">I have been reminiscing...<u></u><u></u></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Does anyone remember Easter Sunday in the Religious House? A very special day for the "wake up" ritual.<u></u><u></u></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Marianna<u></u><u></u></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><br>Sent from my iPhone<u></u><u></u></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><br>On Apr 15, 2017, at 4:00 PM, Frank Knutson via OE <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">Thank’s John, for the reminder.<u></u><u></u></div><div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-color:white"><br>“And once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about”</span></b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-color:white">~Haruki Murakami</span></b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif"><br><VIKING copy.jpeg></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;color:rgb(255,38,0)">❤</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif;color:rgb(255,38,0)"> </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif;color:rgb(4,51,255)">Frank</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif;color:rgb(4,51,255)"> </span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">On Apr 15, 2017, at 10:19 AM, John Epps via OE <<a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></span></div><div><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">Coming to terms with the meaning<br>of the Easter story for us is difficult since times and world-views have<br>changed. We find it difficult even to grasp what it meant for those who first<br>told it, much less for us. Yet we are compelled to try by Paul’s admonition,<br>“If Christ is not raised, then our faith is in vain.” (I Cor. 15:14)<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">One factor in the story must be<br>recognized: this is a tale of a bodily resurrection, not a “spiritual” one. The<br>risen one takes pains to force people to touch his wounds and so dispel the<br>notion of an ectoplasmic appearance. Whatever the implications, they are<br>physical, this worldly. The second factor is that stories of dying and rising<br>gods (or superheroes) were widespread throughout the Ancient Near East and<br>ancient Greece.<span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span><u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">So what unique implications can<br>we draw from the story that are important today? Another way to ask it is<br>“Where today do we experience death and resurrection?”<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">Both occur at the individual, natural,<br>and corporate levels. A word about each: Lately I have “died” when the classes<br>I have taught for 15 years were cancelled; I was “raised” when the University<br>called on me for 3 new classes. The slow and painful death of a dear aunt was<br>followed by a celebration honoring her life that brought back the wonder of her<br>artistry and love. These may seem trivial examples but dramatize the dynamics<br>in the story: Death/Resurrection happens to us all.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">In nature, “Resurrection” has<br>long been a metaphor for the return of plant life in the Spring, at least in<br>the Northern hemisphere. And certainly, the emergence of leaves on barren<br>trees, of green in brown fields, and flowers from “dead” plants seem quite<br>miraculous.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">At the corporate level, the death<br>and dying dynamic seems much more obvious that does resurrection. Many of our<br>hopes and dreams died with the November election. The horrors and complexity of<br>the Middle East conflicts and the appearance of global warming both represent a<br>death to life as we have known it. What resurrection will look like remains to<br>be seen.<span class="m_-1371382113531302430m_3969685334754093060Apple-converted-space"> </span><u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">Numerous efforts taken for<br>environmental protection certainly mark an awakening to the need for change,<br>but are faint heralds of a resurrected life. Numerous conferences aimed at<br>achieving some sort of resolution of Middle East conflicts so far remain<br>fruitless. As the story goes, it’s God who does the raising, not us. And when<br>it occurs, it’s far beyond our expectations. As I have said elsewhere, “Humankind has unimaginable<br>capacities to screw things up; yet Mystery generates unaccountable wonders out<br>of our messes.” (</span><em><b><u><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">Theology of Surprise</span></u></b></em><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">,<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">p. 39</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">) Our current situation brings to<br>mind a sermon that we heard in the Philippines during the last days of Marcos.<br>It was entitled “It feels like Friday, but Sunday is A-Coming!”<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif">Whether we’re enmeshed in the<br>death or the resurrection part of the dynamic, both are operative. That’s what<br>Easter celebrates.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif"><br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>OE mailing list<br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/li<wbr>stinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a><u></u><u></u></span></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:'Hobo Std',sans-serif"> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>OE mailing list<br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/li<wbr>stinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a><u></u><u></u></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>OE mailing list<br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/li<wbr>stinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a><u></u><u></u></div></div></blockquote></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif">______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>OE mailing list<br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/li<wbr>stinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a><u></u><u></u></div></div></blockquote></div><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;float:none;display:inline!important">______________________________<wbr>_________________</span><br style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;float:none;display:inline!important">OE mailing list</span><br style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px" href="mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><a style="color:purple;text-decoration:underline;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px" href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/li<wbr>stinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</a></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br></div></div><div><div class="h5"><br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
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