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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2012-04-12, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012. PAGE 11. By Pastor Brent Kipfer Brussels Mennonite Fellowship A Sunday school teacher was telling the Easter story to her Grade 3 students. Wanting to spark their imaginations, she asked, “What do you think were Jesus’ first words when he came bursting out of the tomb alive?” A hand shot into the air. “I know, I know!” a young girl exclaimed. With a nod from the teacher, the girl jumped to her feet and with arms wide open, sang out: “Ta-da!” There is no record of Jesus ever shouting, “Ta-da!” – but how could you better express the mixture of astonishing power and great joy in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? There are two sets of witnesses at the tomb. One group is literally working the graveyard shift: guards who are posted to ensure that the body of Jesus stays in its grave, tomb-watchers whose job is to preserve the status quo. A second group comes to the tomb for a very different reason: not to guard it but to grieve and to honour Jesus, whose friendship has changed them. The world has no shortage of tombs – not only in cemeteries – but also in hearts, in lives, in relationships. Some are stuck in tombs of pride or bitterness or anger. There are forces of death which squelch life long before we take our last breath: wounding words, buried dreams, attitudes that keep us from being fully alive. Is there a tomb you are watching? Where do you see barrenness, hopelessness...death? The guards and the women have front row seats in the great drama of Easter morning. Together, they experience a violent earthquake, a brilliant angel, and the massive burial stone rolled away. How do they respond? Matthew says that the guards are terrified and become “like dead men” (probably fainting!). Later, they return to the city and report to the authorities. Religious leaders bribe the guards to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” The leaders have a vested interest in squelching resurrection talk – but the guards were there, up close to the miracle. How can they turn their backs on it? There is a glitch in the story they are to tell. Roman soldiers were not known for sleeping on the job. Normally it led to execution, so they usually took good care to avoid it. There is another, more compelling, reason why their story does not hold water. After Easter, the disciples act like people who really believe that Jesus is alive. They are imprisoned, stoned and killed because of their bold public proclamation of the resurrection. Who would be willing to die for something they know is a hoax? If the disciples took the body, how could you possibly account for their confidence in the face of death? Could an ordinary grave robber have taken the body? The most valuable items in the tomb were the grave clothes. The Gospel of John tells us that the linen wrappings were left lying in the tomb – the only thing that would tempt a thief. Others have suggested that the authorities stole the body. If that were the case, they could have put an end to the whole embarrassment by producing the corpse. They wanted to keep Jesus in the grave – but it was impossible. When confronted with the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead, they refuse to believe. Mary Magdalene and another disciple named Mary are at the tomb with the guards, but their experience is very different. An angel tells them: “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 I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7) The crucial difference is that they are looking for Jesus. As they run to tell the other disciples, they are stopped in their tracks. A voice calls out a greeting. It is Jesus! They are the first to see him face to face, risen from the dead. In response to the miracle of Easter, there are two basic responses: turning away from Jesus like the guards or moving toward him like the women. Which way do you choose? By Madelaine Higgins This week at St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School students and staff enjoyed four days of school followed by a four-day weekend due to the Easter weekend. Tuesday was co-op integration day where all co- operative education students return to school for the day to prepare for the career fair coming up near the end of second semester. Also on Tuesday, the Envirothon had a meet at the Wawanosh Nature Centre. On Wednesday, Mr. Voros’ Grade 9 French class attended a cooking seminar at the Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron (REACH) in Clinton and there was a Van Egmond House spring cleanup and tour. On Thursday at St. Anne’s, students and staff held and attended a prayer service for Holy Thursday and the cooking seminar at the REACH continued. Also on Thursday, the junior and senior badminton teams departed for the Stratford Badminton Club. The school held its annual road hockey tournament on Wednesday as well. Several teams competed for the tournament’s top prize. Hope everyone had a great Easter. Students attend cooking class THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, April 15 Brussels Public School at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, April 15 Ethel United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, APRIL 15 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9017 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 APRIL 15 ~ Jesus, I Thought You Were Dead!? APRIL 22 ~ Do You Love Me? ~ Welcome to new members You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH From the Minister’s StudyEaster miracle brings two responses 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor 9:25 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m Morning Worship Service Got Married... Call for pricing & details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Share your news by placing your announcement in The Citizen getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship April 15: Jn. 17:1-8, 13-19 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Forgotten God Small Group at Kerrs’ 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women At The Well Thursdays 7:00 pm - Truth Project Small Group at Dows’ Evangelical Missionary Church Truth Project #4: Theology - “Who is God?”