Drinking Peppermint herbal tea at the Human Bean coffee shop on a beautiful day the fourth week of Lent, I have a sense of joyful anticipation. I feel a wonderful feeling of expectation. Maybe it is spring. I don't know, maybe it is because we are approaching Holy Week and Easter. For a pastor, and for those of you preparing worship services and celebrations, Holy Week can be a lot of work. But the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection means new life, now, and in the life to come. Anything can happen. Expect good things.

Jesus' birth was something new, the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, the Son of God, born into this world, into Time, into History, into humanity, into our messy and mysterious lives. At his baptism, Jesus cast his lot with humanity and received divine affirmation. On the cross, Jesus entered fully into our human experience of loneliness, suffering, and death, the fulfillment of the incarnation. In death, Jesus let go of this life, and in his rising from the dead, Jesus became the first of a new creation. In baptism, Paul tells us, we die with Christ and rise to new life. Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be born again. When Jesus rose from the dead, he made all things new. In Baptism we become part of that new creation. Each moment is new. Expect good things.

Here are some good things. On Easter Vigil, Calvary Lutheran Church will welcome new members: Terri Buxton, Sandra Hoyt-Schmid, Jim Woodle and Maggie Woodle. Jim and Maggie will be quite familiar to you because they've been here for over a year. While Terri and Sandra have not been here long, they seem to have immediately become part of this congregation. We welcome them and celebrate the new gifts and insights they bring to Christ's community in this place.

Our Confirmation students are getting ready for their Affirmation of Baptism that we will celebrate on Pentecost, May 23, this year. They are writing their faith statements and will be welcomed by the Church Council in April. They have been a wonderful class and my prayer is that they will stay together, and enjoy youth group events and education in the coming years. Calvary still needs new coordinators for Family Bridge. I have asked some people. I will ask some more. I trust that God will bring us the leaders we need to continue this good work of helping families find a place to live and a better situation for their lives.

In each moment we are called to die to sin, selfishness, fear, evil, and to rise with Christ into love, compassion, peace and joy. We let go of the old-self, and embrace the new self that God would have us be in Christ. This Holy Week and Easter season, I invite you to be open to what God is doing in your life and in the life of the church. Anything can happen. Expect good things.

Soon, I'll be drinking coffee again at the Human Bean. That's a good thing, too!

Pastor Matthew