Tuesday Tidings March 31, 2026

Dearest Members of Bethlehem,

On this day we commemorate a poet by the name of John Donne.  Donne entered the Church Triumphant in 1631, but his poetry remains an inspiring testament to his profound faith.

In one of his poems entitled Resurrection Donne writes,

“May then sin’s sleep, and death’s soon from me pass,

That waked from both, I again risen may

Salute the last, and everlasting day.”

This is just glorious.  God bless him, John Donne understood that we are living an “incarnational” faith.  Our belief is to be embodied; felt and experienced through the intellect and through the senses.

Donne also knew that Holy Week can have an affect on you.  As we make our way through the days ahead, “sin’s sleep” is shaken off.  As the time in worship accumulates, we absolutely feel ourselves awakening to a richer understanding of Christ’s work on our behalf.

By the time we tumble from bed and ready ourselves for worship on Easter morning we have the feeling that we really are, “again risen.”  Not  simply from our comfy beds, but risen from our old ways into a whole new life.  This is the power of Holy Week and Easter.

By the time the light fills the sanctuary, the scene of Lillies fills our nostrils, and the thundering organ fills our ears; we will have been blessed with the courage and confidence to joyfully “Salute the last, and everlasting day.”

Our distinctive “Salute” will be characterized by heartfelt praise and thanksgiving.  Our shouts of acclamation will rattle the rafters, and rightfully so, because death has been defeated; it no longer has dominion over us.

In fact, sin, death, and the devil have all been trounced, and in the end the good, the true, and the beautiful triumph… that’s a victory worth celebrating.

I can hardly wait to be “waked” on another glorious Easter morning and lend my newly invigorated voice to the raucous chorus of allelu… ah, not quite yet, not quite yet!             

Question for reflection: What portion of the week ahead are you particularly looking forward to?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dan

Gracious Lord, so much of what we believe about you, we come to believe as we recall your love for us enacted in the death and resurrection of your Son.  Open our hearts and minds in the days ahead that we might embrace a deeper appreciation for your grace as well as a deeper awareness of your divine love.  In Christ’s name we pray, amen.