Conference Minister's Corner 4.15.26

NH Article – April 15^th, 2026

Do you feel different yet? By the time you read this Easter will be about 10 days behind us. We are in the season of Easter Tide for 40 more days. Christ is still risen. Christ is still risen indeed. So…do you feel different? Do you feel awash with new life, resurrection, the hope and peace that Easter is supposed to bring? Yes? Maybe? Or is it more like: “What are you talking about Linda? Nothing has changed from what I can see.”

The days after Easter are, for most people, just another day filled with responsibilities, work, caring for loved ones, worrying about gas prices, the war in Iran and Ukraine, birth right citizenship…you name it. As much as we love Easter it’s tricky carrying all those “Alleluias” into the following week and beyond. How do we go about living as if nothing is the same and yet for many of us, it is?

If there’s any consolation during this time, it’s knowing this is probably how the disciples felt. I imagine their conversation going something like this: “Christ is risen! We saw him! Now what? We still need to find food, work, not to mention the Romans are still out there! How has life changed for us? How has life changed, indeed. Wouldn’t it be great if I (or your pastor…or you) had the answer? The best I can do is offer these words from a great camp song: “Rise and Shine and give God your Glory, Glory.” (You can sing it now if you know it). Because Jesus rose from the dead we can too – literally and figuratively. New life is ours in heaven and on earth. We get to “rise and shine” in ways that each of us can: sharing the good news of Christ love and hope and peace, forgiveness and of course, new life.

And here’s the thing: because we’re human, like the disciples, we may not feel like rising and shining every day. Some days there is fear and doubt and it’s hard to have hope and that’s ok. Because there’s always tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. Easter is not just one day as we know… it’s a way of life. So do you feel different now? I think I do. Happy Easter, everyone! Each and every day.

-Rev. Linda Hirst