Joy

I've been thinking about joy this week.  One of the hallmarks of Easter is supposed to be joy.  Joy that Christ has risen, joy that we no longer need to fear death, joy in the renewal of life, joy.

It seems to me that it is hard for us to hold on to joy.  We so rarely seem to find it.

I was thinking about the little kids running around at the Easter Egg hunt on Holy Saturday

There is little to match the pure joy of small children running around in the sun.  I wish I could capture a little of that kind of joy more often. 

So, maybe for the Great 50 days of Easter we could seek a little more joy in our daily lives.

Happy Easter

Welcome to the great 50 days - the days that begin with Easter and end with Pentecost when we celebrate with joy the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his victory over death.

It is a time for joy, and family and to remember those we love and those who love us and to look for joy and love in all parts of our lives.

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:  Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.