Judith Russenberger

Easter Day

9th April 2023

Reflection

It is not easy to understand what happened on that first Easter morning, to comprehend what happened when Jesus rose from the dead. Mary when she first discovers that the tomb stone has been moved, assumes that the body has been stolen – maybe by someone/ some group who wants to despoil his body. Many people considered Jesus to be a criminal, an opponent of the true Hebrew faith. Simon Peter and the other disciple want to check for themselves – are there clues that Mary has overlooked?

The discarded grave clothes and the folded head cloth don’t suggest grave robbers or people seeking revenge. But nor do they suggest a resurrection such as they had witnesses when Jesus had called Lazarus out from his tomb. Then it had been necessary for others to unbind Lazarus.

The writer says that the disciples believed but did not as yet understand. I wonder what at that moment they believed? Mary for her part still feels that someone has taken Jesus’s body away. She returns to the tomb, and despite the angels’s presence still fears someone has removed the body. It is only when Christ calls to her that she recognises what has happened.

Sometimes when we are in a dark place, when we are troubled or under stress, we find it hard to see God’s presence, to find anything to be happy about. We, like Mary, need to called, need to be told that we are loved. The joy of Easter doesn’t always come at the Easter vigil or at the Dawn service. Sometimes it doesn’t always come to us on Easter Day, but Christ is always there, loving us and caring for us and waiting for that moment when we are able to hear his voice.

The words from Jeremiah remind us that God’s love is endless, always seeking us out, always wanting to rebuild our lives so that we can be full of joy and contentment.

The essence of resurrection is new life, life that is renewed and restored, life that continues for ever in the everlasting flow of love and renewal that is the nature of God.

An alternative translating of Jeremiah from The Message

“And when that happens”—God’s Decree—
“it will be plain as the sun at high noon:
I’ll be the God of every man, woman, and child in Israel
and they shall be my very own people.”

* * *

This is the way God put it:

“They found grace out in the desert,
    these people who survived the killing.
Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
    met God out looking for them!”
God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will.
    Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I’ll start over with you and build you up again,
    dear virgin Israel.
You’ll resume your singing,
    grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.
You’ll go back to your old work of planting vineyards
    on the Samaritan hillsides,
And sit back and enjoy the fruit—
    oh, how you’ll enjoy those harvests!
The time’s coming when watchmen will call out
    from the hilltops of Ephraim:
‘On your feet! Let’s go to Zion,
    go to meet our God!’”

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”

14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.

15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:

16 “The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”

17 I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the Lord.

18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.

20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter.”

21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord’s doing, *
and it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Acts 10:34-43

Peter began to speak to Cornelius and the other Gentiles: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ–he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

John 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Counting on … day 1.095

8th April 2023

Calling out injustice and being a prophetic voice has long been the vocation of the church. Now the Church is beginning to exercise this role in areas of the climate crisis. Christian Climate Action reports – “Former Archbishop of York and current Chair of Christian Aid, John Sentamu said: “Climate change is the greatest insidious and brutal indiscriminate force of our time. The people suffering the most have done the least to cause it. That is why continuing to search for new sources of fossil fuels, despite explicit warnings against this from the International Energy Agency, is such an offence against humanity. If we want to limit climate suffering we have to leave fossil fuels in the ground. The Church has a proud history of standing up against injustice and once again we need to see Christians calling on the Government to take decisive actions””

https://christianclimateaction.org/2023/04/05/john-sentamu-and-church-leaders-call-on-uk-christians-to-demand-an-end-to-all-new-fossil-fuel-licences/

Counting on .. day 1.094

7th April 2023

Talking about the climate crisis, what worries us and what the solutions might be is important – whether it’s talking with friends and family, with church and social groups, with businesses and providers, with MPs and local councillors.

From the A22 Network a reports from Germany’s Letzte Generation (LG): “Elsewhere, LG told mayors that their cities would be disrupted if they didn’t support our demands, creating a national discussion about whether this is justifiable. Our mayor said he didn’t want to be blackmailed, and instead wondered why we couldn’t just ask for his cooperation. So we did, without attacking him in any way, and he agreed.

“This is something we are hearing more and more. It feels like there are many more open doors than expected. We’re not there yet and there’s a lot more work to do, but I want to share with you the feeling that change is indeed possible since there are likely more allies than you think.””

Counting on …day 1.093

6th April 2023

Calls for churches and other institutions, to divest from fossil fuel are inspired not just by the dangers of the climate crisis, but also by adverse affects on vulnerable people arising from inequalities and a lack of justice and local accountability.

“Rt Revd Ernesto Manuel, Anglican Bishop of Nampula in Northern Mozambique, said: ‘Fossil fuel investments increase climate change and impacts on those most vulnerable, and also destabilise communities. We have seen how over 700,000 people in Northern Mozambique have been displaced – many fleeing for their lives in terror from insurgents. Dozens have been beheaded, even children as young as 12. This violence only occurs in the areas where gas prospecting is taking place. Locals are not consulted and nor do they benefit, only suffering the impacts of rising prices, pollution and loss of land. We plead with the international community – take your money out of fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy which is decentralised, benefits local people and does not contribute to climate change.’” https://brightnow.org.uk/news/global-faith-institutions-divest-g7-cop26/

Counting on …. Day 1.092

5th April 2023

Ethical Consumer is investigating the labour rights of those employed in supermarket supply chains.

“Eight out of nine basic workers’ rights are being routinely violated in UK supermarket supply chains in Spain, our new report reveals. All major UK supermarkets are likely to source large amounts of fruit and vegetables from the Spanish regions of Huelva and Almeria, where workers’ rights abuses are widespread. Workers have been refused legal wages, sexually assaulted and harassed, fired for trying to join unions, made to work in unsafe conditions, had passports confiscated so they can’t leave, and been penalised for taking toilet breaks. Most workers are migrants.

UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier de Schutter, describes working conditions in the region as “horrific” and “inhumane”. He says, “I urge supermarkets to end their complicity in this abuse and address the issue head-on, using this report as their guide.””

If you would like to follow their campaign with a bi-monthly email, here is a sign up link

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/agricultural-workers-rights-almeria?utm_source=ECRA+Monthly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=1afc7ec7e4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_03_31_s&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-5ea446b6bc-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Counting on … day 1.091

4th April 2023

On Sunday I joined with CCA and York’s local XR group in an action outside the Minster. With banners – “Love and Grief Earth Vigil” and “Creation Cries Out” – and leaflets and placards calling upon the Diocese of York to divest its fossil fuel shares, we gathered outside as the Liturgy of Palms took place (with two donkeys). Then we waited at west end, speaking with passers-by as other services carried on in the Minster, the Catholic Oratory and St Micheal’s in the Belfry. As the main congregation exited the Minster 9 people (and a dog) lay down on the ground, covered with sheets and each given a label stating the cause of death – highlighting the many ways in which the climate crisis is already impacting on people around the world and will continue to do so at an increasing rate. The atmosphere became somber and reflective and people asked questions and took leaflets as they made sense of the catastrophe we face.

If people have the facts, if people are told the truth, then they can act appropriately.

Counting on … day 1.089

2nd April 2023

Counting on turning off?
The last two days I have spent a day in a university conference room and a night in a youth hostel. In both the heat was on and the spaces hot, and the lights on even in day time – apparently all pre-programmed and unalterable by users.

Green Tau: The Big One

1st April 2023

The Big One is this years demonstration of people power in support of the well being of our environment. Over the course of the weekend 21st – 24th April, Extinction Rebellion along with many other organisations – such as Christian Aid, Greenpeace , Ecotricty, Ecosia, the Quakers, the RSPB – will be gathering to allow people to share their passion for the wellbeing of the environment and justice, and to call upon the Government to take action to genuinely address the climate crisis.

There will be processions, talks, workshops, music and worship. The Saturday will have particularly festive feel with people in costumes celebrating Earth Day, and on the Sunday space will be made for the passage of the London Marathon. There will be welfare and first aid points and the whole weekend will be coordinated with the police ensuring its legality as a legitimate protest.

What is The Big One asking?

A citizen-led democracy to end the fossil fuel era.
A fair society that includes reparation.
Existing Demands – XR’s three core demands remain the same: Tell the Truth, Act Now, and Decide Together.
And a demand for an immediate end to all new fossil fuel licences – added in 2022 to recognise the need for definable action – also remains. https://extinctionrebellion.uk/the-big-one/

Faith groups will have a particular presence – look out for flags and banners pinpointing who’s where. From the Christian organisations there will be a big ‘No faith in fossil fuels’ service outside St John’s Waterloo at noon on the Friday with an onward procession to Parliament Square. Midday worship led by different groups will take place on the other days in the Faith Zone, plus a Catholic Mass or Eucharist at 3pm and a daily prayer walk at 5pm starting from the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

Do come along and add your presence to this demonstration of people power. A better world is possible.

‘We’re not going to disrupt the public, but together from 21st – 24th April, we will show the Government exactly what people power looks like’ – Extinction Rebellion.

Do make use of this prayer booklet in the run up to The Big One – https://christianclimateaction.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/the-big-one-prayer-booklet.pdf

Or join in in spirit for the daily prayer walk if you can’t be there in person – https://greentau.org/2023/04/01/franciscan-prayer-walk/

And follow this link to the order of service for “No faith in fossil fuels’ worship – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-XTRVTjaIcuyECKLAVZb7Ahpxn4OpA_mibcD6bO4cuE/edit?usp=sharing

Franciscan Prayer Walk

Franciscan Prayer Walk for The Big One 21st – 24th April 2023, 5pm daily

These prayers mark our concern for God’s creation in light of the climate crisis and climate justice crisis. In 2019 Parliament declared an environment and climate emergency, but words are not enough. Four years on radical action is needed by those in power, for, in the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,“Humanity is on thin ice – and that ice is melting fast. Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once.”

We will stop to pray as we circumnavigate Parliament Square, calling on those with power for action. Each prayer will end with the phrase

Help us to respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

To which please respond: Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 1 The Mahatma Gandhi statue

Holy God,

we are not just individuals but the peoples of the world.

As Mahatma Gandhi stood up for the rights of the poor in his age, may we stand up for the rights of the poor in our age.

May we be united in tackling the climate crisis which unfairly affects those least responsible.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor: