| Easter is ... a time of promise, a people of hope  BY EDWIN ANKENY Easter people, raise your voices, sounds of heaven in earth should ring. Christ has brought us heavens choices; heavenly music, let it ring. Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people let us sing. (William M. James, The United Methodist Hymnal, #304) Indeed, we are Easter people, celebrating the great gift of Gods redeeming love. Zimbabwe, December 1996 the occasion was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Annual Conference. In the midst of the celebration, a large choir raised the magnificent Hallelujah Chorus from Handels Messiah. A cappella! It was a moment never to be forgotten. And while it was in praise of the birth of Christ, all that I could think of was the reality of being an Easter people. Thanks be to God! For Easter is a people of the early morning. Darkness abounds, but the light of the risen Christ illuminates. Easter is a people of hope. Hope when there seems to be no reason for it. Easter is time for the world to begin again, a new day with fresh new creation. Easter is a time for peace, even in the midst of struggles and war and terrorism. For the assurance of the garden where all was still and quiet, a tomb ready for death, is suddenly and creatively broken forth into new life and Jesus giving the final word: Alive! Easter is a time for new clothing. New clothing for the one called Jesus, no grave wrappings, but new fresh swaddling cloths of resurrection glory. Our new clothes as Easter people becomes that for the inner person: breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit, shield of faith. Easter is music: Lord, I Lift Your Name on High, Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain of Triumphant Gladness!, Christ the Lord is Risen Today. The Easter people emerge from the long solemn days of Lent, erupting and blooming into a wonderful joy of praise. For Easter is a God so full of surprises that we cannot begin to image or believe. God has surprised us from day one: In the beginning, God, and then sent prophets and judges to show us the way. Surprised us with a baby in a manger, a king riding on a donkey, a sacrificial lamb crucified and a risen savior. Everyday to us is Easter, with its resurrection song. When in trouble move the faster to our God who rights the wrong. Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs. Easter people bound in the mystery of God. And all we can do is praise God and say, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, indeed. The Rev. Ed Ankeny is superintendent of the Baltimore North District and Dean of the Cabinet. | 
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