Last week The Times noted that there was a second Easter Sunrise Service here and then there were some churches either not invited or chose not to attend the party.

I guess it’s like joining the exclusive country club to be a part of these activities. A few years ago, on Easter Sunday, our former local church was filled to capacity. The people were dressed in their Sunday best, beautiful Easter lilies adorned the sanctuary and a large, flower-covered cross was conspicuously located at the front of the church. A festive atmosphere.

The pastor was teaching the children and trying to direct their attention, by glancing at the large flower-covered cross, he asked the children what they noticed different about the church this Sunday?

A little girl raised her hand and said, “Well, there are a lot of new people in the church.” Isn’t it ironic that the two days of the year churches have peak attendance are Christmas, celebrating the birthday (not really) of Jesus, and Easter Sunday (an adopted pagan holiday) celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The mission statement of our new church here is “To reach, touch and teach by living and sharing the stories of Jesus.” Jesus is an amazing guy; during a brief lifetime of about 30 years and about three years of actual teaching, he changed the world by teaching love and compassion, especially for the social outcasts. He made a hero of the much-despised Samaritan; Jesus also made a special effort to visit, encourage and help the prostitute at the well.

He was an inclusive type of person. As the wise old prophet Micah said in Micah 6:8, “And what does the Lord expect of you, do kindness, love justice and walk humbly with your God.” Very inclusive, exactly the type of guidance our world needs today.