Easter people, raise your voices, sounds of heaven in earth should ring.

Christ has brought us heaven’s choices, heavenly music, let it ring.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

Fear of death can no more stop us from our pressing here below.

For our Lord empowered us to triumph over every foe.

Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.

Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song.

When in trouble move the faster to our God who rights the wrong.

Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs.

Do you recognize the hymn listed above?  You are probably more familiar with the tune that it is sung to.  Take the tune to “Angel from the Realms of Glory” and sing these words and you’ll find that they fit perfectly.  I find it refreshing sometimes to switch things up a little bit and this hymn is one of those occasions.  Do you think of yourself as an Easter person?  What exactly is an Easter person?  If we read further into this song we get some clues as to just what it means to live your life as an Easter person.  The song tells us that it is heaven’s or God’s choice that we can be Easter people.  It tells us to persevere by pressing here below because the Lord has empowered us to triumph over our foes.  Win or lose in the battle, we who believe cannot be put down and will be victorious.  Finally, it give us the model to live by when it suggests that we move faster toward God when we are in trouble.  We are too often tempted to try to get ourselves out of trouble than to give it to God in prayer.  It is God and God alone who in the end will right all of the wrongs in the world.  We ARE Easter people because God’s glory and power were proven in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Let us claim that title in a new and fresh way this Lenten season and on Easter Sunday but more so in the year to follow.  To me Easter IS every day because Jesus shows me something new and wonderful about myself and those around on an ongoing basis. Happy Easter to you all!!

Grace and Peace!

Pastor Chris