Easter

Easter 2020

‘PUT AWAY YOUR FEARS FOR THE DAWN GROWS NEAR

AND THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO TURN.” Canticle of Turning.

Oh sweet call of the Spring time. White cotton tails. still young, come to the door to remind us of the turning of the days. The sun behind it passes through it’s ears, here I am.

This is the first Easter in 42 years I haven’t been preparing to celebrate Easter in my own church. I’m retired now. That is as it should be. But I do miss the preparations and the prayers that go into putting together an Easter service. How to make it even more poignant and exciting to those gathered for worship? How to line up the music, the moments, the scripture the action, the communion, the decorating in the church to bring forward the joyousness of the occasion?

This year I am celebrating with my Mother In law, Gladys McGarey. It is her 100th Easter. She’s still 99 till November but here it is. She was born in India to medical missionary parents. Easter was a grand day there.

Our plan at present is to get up before dawn and go on her roof top patio and watch the sunrise from there. We will then have an hour before worship starts at my daughter’s church in Allentown PA where we will join them online live in worship. All of us are staying home this year because of the virus. But in that ‘away/togetherness’ we will be together. There is something powerful about us being able to join them in ‘real time’ as the worship progresses. This church, FPC Allentown has been doing everything right with the production of the services. We worshipped on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Now Easter.

I have so many memories of Easter. Of little things going right, of little glitches in the planning, that turned out worshipful anyway, of being a child waking to find what the Easter Bunny left for me, of times with cousins Martha and Janice and our parents together, of Easter dresses and Easter shoes, of Jelly Beans.

One of my favorite memories with Janice and Martha was when we were in college and our families got together. Our dad’s had gone out on an errand the day before and it seemed a little suspicious. We didn’t really consider what they might be doing but they had some plan you could tell. We came down for breakfast and were seated at the table when my Daddy said, “I don’t know for sure Frank, but I thought I saw something the the back yard this morning,”. “Me too,” said Frank, “could it have been the Easter bunny? Do you think it might have been?” Martha and Janice and I were giggling by this time. “You better go look girls.” We laughed and went out into the yard searching for who knows what. They had gotten each of us a stuffed bunny and hidden it in the yard. Which ever one we found was ours. As we got them we looked at each other and I remember crying a little and being so touched that they had done this for us. What sweet sweet men.

Many other Easter’s too are in my memory. One year I’d hidden eggs for the kids around the house in Utah. They were looking inside and Betsy found one in the piano, behind the music stand. She and I looked at it as it was one that didn’t match the others with the wrappers. We both started to laugh realizing that this chocolate egg must have been from Last Easter.

Two years ago on Easter I was pastor at New Life Presbyterian in Albuquerque, NM. Our daughter Betsy was due to have her second child at the end of the week. It was an exciting time. I was getting ready to go and be with them on Tuesday, a week before her due date. I had decided to drive over to church early and walk the labyrinth as it was a beautiful April morning. So I got up early and was just driving in the parking lot, 2 hours early, and Betsy called me. I said How sweet it was for her to call and wish me a Happy Easter, “Yes,” she said, “I’m in labor”. “What? Wow are you doing ok?” “Oh, yes, i am already at the hospital.” The real serious laboring hadn’t started as yet. “Do you want me to come today? I can check on the flight possibilities into Bethlehem?” “Well, you could, “.she said, “That would be good.” ‘It will have to be after church,”. I’ll check to see if the fare is possible” . I parked at the church, the sun wasn’t totally up over the mountains even though it was really light outside. I ate my breakfast sandwich and looked up flights on my phone. There was one that left at `1:19 pm from ABQ to ABE. It wasn’t more than I expected. I booked the flight and called her back and said, I’m coming. I’ll be in at 11:45pm.

Now Betsy’s labor with Maggie Mae had been long and so we both thought there was a chance I could be there when the baby came. I told her not to wait, at this she laughed. They ordered an Uber to pick me up at the airport and get me to the hospital in case Sean shouldn’t leave when I got there. But, there was still church.

I went home right then, the Easter Breakfast wasn’t for an hour and 40 minutes so I could pack. Though I hadn’t actually put clothes in a suitcase I had mentally gone through what I wanted to take. I packed, got everything I needed, and was back at church in 20 minutes. I had plenty of time before the breakfast. I didn’t make an announcement but when folk asked me how she was I’d say that she was in labor and explain I was leaving right after church for the airport. I found someone to take me to the airport.

We had a wonderful gathering of people at the breakfast and in church. I wore my white robe under my dark robe taking the dark one off after “ He has risen, Indeed” had been declared and we were singing the first hymn. A few folk noticed. The worship went well. I was able to focus and the Good News was spoken, sung, prayed, communioned, and celebrated. Right after church I left for the airport.

I relaxed. I would be there, when I got there. Excited to be sure but confident and praying for her to have a good delivery. When I walked in her hospital room they were putting the baby on her tummy and she said, “Mom, come meet your grandson.” What joy. I washed my hands, picked up my phone for photos and walked over to their side. Sean was on one side and I was on the other and little wee one, Ian, was there looking around. He was so beautiful. Her labor had progressed well and for that I was grateful and I considered that I was there when he was born. Deep sigh. What a great moment. We called Gramps and told him the news. They named him Ian Maurice. He has brought such good light into the world.

Easter, He is risen. Easter, He is not here, for he has risen. Easter, New life, new joy, new challenges, same promises from God. i will be with you always, Come, follow me.

This Easter we are sheltering in place trying to protect ourselves and others from the Virus that is killing people around the globe. We stay in, some people longing for interaction in big groups. We will be one and two and four and more scattered here and there across the country, now celebrating. It is only part of the message that has been spread since dawn came on the other side of the world. It is a good time.

Mother Earth seems to be showing us what pollution we are truly responsible for producing. With fewer people out and therefore fewer cars polluting far distances are easily seen. What then can we learn during his Lenten pause that can carry us to a more just, generous,and grateful people.

God abides, and I thank God with every breath. Love, Bobbie Giltz McGarey