Today we want to offer you some Easter blessings and thanks. If you follow the Roman calendar, then you are now in Eastertide. It’s Easter Monday and that means it is time for laughing, jokes, putting your feet up for a minute, or taking a nap. (And to our Orthodox friends and neighbors: peace and blessing as you enter into Holy Week.)
You are working so hard, dear minister, and now is a good time to give thanks for your labors and take a pause. Let me add some blessings and appreciation to your day. And your first week of Eastertide.
O God, we offer up thanks for the good news of love and grace that winds through the Easter story. And we offer our thanks for all the good news tellers who proclaimed the story again this year. Thank you for words and rituals and care and courage and creativity that brought the story of Jesus to life once again this season. And now give us joy and rest and a sense of peace as we continue to practice resurrection in the season ahead.ย
1. Thank You for Picturing Pastoral Imagination with us
I am grateful for the ministers, pastors, chaplains and friends who posted pictures from their everyday work of ministry. We are glad to see the many ways ministry is your spiritual practice. Thanks to everyone who participated in picturing #pastoralimagination during Lent. Here are a few highlights.
2. Thank You for taking part in Holy Week Labyrinth Meditations
Thanks to everyone who downloaded the Holy Week Labyrinth Meditations. And listened or watched with us on Facebook or over at the 3MMM Instagram. The PDF of the meditations will continue to be available if you want to use it next year.
3. Thank you for telling us about what is bringing you joy
We asked around. And what we learned is that many of you have many moments that bring you joy in your ministry. So as we embrace joy this week, we want to share some inspiration with you.
Videos are coming to highlight your joy. Watch for these on Instagram and follow us there. Tell us: Whatโs bringing you joy in your ministry in this season?
4. Thank you for giving yourself permission…
If you are among the ministers who are helping congregations re-enter worship in person, and navigating big changes,ย discerning how to be the church in a rearranged world, and you just came through holy week?! Then by all means we hope and pray you can take a moment to give yourself a break. Moments in the church calendar, like Easter Monday, are the very time when you might need to remember… You can give yourself permission. You don’t need us to give it. But we are here to remind you! You don’t need anyone to give you permission. Yet we are here to stand with you. You already have God’s permission. God even made it a command: rest.
So please remember to give yourself permission to take the break this week. Laugh, listen to your favorite podcast put your feet up, read a book, laugh, cry, or just do a lot of nothing. Your soul needs it. Weโre here to be in solidarity with you as you rest.
Learn more about Pandemic Permission Slips!
And If you received a ConseCrate Box for Easter, then look for your special discount code. It’s on the Pandemic Permission Postcard we shared this month. You can use the code in the 3MMM shop.
This week we hope you will… Lean into joy. Practice resurrection. Take a big exhale.
