Monday, February 26, 2018

Easter Message from Pastor Cindy


Easter Message from
Pastor Cindy

On April Fool’s Day we will shout all together: “He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!” Some people think that only a fool would believe in the resurrection. I believe Christ is Risen because I also believe God created the Universe and all of creation with all its complexity, diversity, rhythm and equilibrium. If our mysterious and powerful God can create the singularity that caused the Big Bang that created the Universe, then God can resurrect Jesus Christ. The Universe within our own individual immune systems is so miraculously intricate, it inspires belief in an awesome Creator and Sustainer. 

The near death experiences that consistently show an ineffable power of love present at the time of death inspires me to believe that the simple message that God is love is true. Despite the random chaos in the world that hits all of us in some way during our lives, God is consistently good and loves us deeper and wider than we can hope for or imagine.

God has created us to help one another when we are hit by chaos, whether it is to support people recovering from fires, provide care when people are ill or dying, or generously give food to the hungry and shelter to the homeless. WE are God’s agents of love to a world in need. God wants us to work towards building the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. But it isn’t complete yet.

We must keep on building and devote energy and resources to God’s purpose for our lives through our church and out into the community. I am so grateful to be your pastor and to be starting my 5th year here at the PCOR. Your adaptability, caring hearts, inclusivity, willingness to explore new ways of showing hospitality, and your enthusiasm for supporting our Church of the Roses is inspiring to my personal faith! I LOVE being here and feel blessed to have this opportunity to authentically lead, preach, provide pastoral care, and teach the message that God has called me to share here in Santa Rosa.

Easter is the biggest celebration day in the whole church year! We need YOU to participate and attend all the services and activities you can to help us celebrate this Holy Season in a big way. Don’t miss the fabulous choir Cantata on Easter morning, after joining us for the Lenten Wed. night soup and studies, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. Nothing and no one gives us a more solid foundation for having hope in our lives than Jesus Christ. 

As the hymn goes: “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” Join us as we celebrate our Solid Rock by making this Lenten season and Easter Sunday the best one ever (second to the first one, of course)!

With Gratitude for God’s Love,  
Pastor Cindy