The Light in the Window
Pastor Jessie’s weekly thoughts on the life of faith
April 24, 2025
Daffodil Hill, Photo by Rev. Shelley Nelson-Bridger
Dear Covenant Friends,
I hope you’ve had a chance to get some fresh air this week since it seems spring has finally (and blessedly) arrived. I hear Daffodil Hill at Lakeview Cemetery is lovely right now, but honestly every tree bud and flower bloom makes me smile.
Easter Sunday at Covenant was glorious, with the soaring music, beautiful flowers and children hunting for Easter eggs after service. Thank you to everyone who prepared breakfast, ushered, greeted, cleaned, recorded, sang, played, directed and prayed. These days it takes a village to put on a Sunday worship service and I appreciate all the effort that went in to proclaiming the resurrection in multi-sensory ways.
Next Sunday, April 27, we will not be able to livestream or record the worship service due to a reduction in staff and volunteer capacity. I think it’s the first Sunday since March 2020 that I haven’t preached to a camera as well as a congregation. I remember the discomfort of those early days of preaching during Covid, the weirdness of looking out into an empty sanctuary while making eye contact with the camera. Exactly the opposite of the personal and pastoral model of ministry most pastors prefer.
Recorded and livestream worship services have become standard here at Covenant and in many other places. This has been a blessing for homebound members and people traveling as well as visitors who might want to check out a service before coming in person. Thankfully, we’ll be back online soon, but if you are able to come to worship IN PERSON at Covenant this Sunday, we would love to see you!
An Easter poem by Edwina Gately:
Breaking through the powers of darkness
bursting from the stifling tomb
he slipped into the graveyard garden
to smell the blossomed air.
Tell them, Mary, Jesus said,
that I have journeyed far
into the darkest deeps I've been
in nights without a star.
Tell them, Mary, Jesus said,
that fear will flee my light
that though the ground will tremble
and despair will stalk the earth
I hold them firmly by the hand
through terror to new birth.
Tell them, Mary, Jesus said,
the globe and all that's made
is clasped to God's great bosom
they must not be afraid
for though they fall and die, he said,
and the black earth wrap them tight
they will know the warmth
of God's healing hands
in the early morning light.
Tell them, Mary, Jesus said,
smelling the blossomed air,
tell my people to rise with me
to heal the Earth's despair.
