People often think Christmas is the most important Christian festival. It's actually Easter.
Because of Easter, the other incredible things the Bible tells of are believable. That includes the amazing fact of God becoming a human being in Jesus.
Everything stands or fall on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Therefore 
 - it's my prayer for you all that you will know the power of his resurrection this Easter.
 - it's my challenge for you that you will seriously consider anew the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
 - it's my invitation to you to give time and space this weekend to walk the journey and experience this part of the passion and power of the living God who saves.
Tonight Libby and I started the Easter journey. We attended the beautiful service of Tenebrae, the service of shadows. In it we followed the events of the night Jesus was betrayed, with candles being extinguished after each reading.
Tomorrow morning (Good Friday) up to 1000 people will gather at 1030 in Blenheim's ASB Theatre for a combined churches event themed "It should have been me".
From midday to 3pm, the time Matthew's gospel tells us Jesus hung on the cross till he died, people will gather in Nativity Church. "Three Hours at the Cross" is 6 half hour contemplative services that form one 3 hour service. In it we follow again, the events of that day, from  his trial to his death and burial; and we consider the implications for us.
Then follows what is known as "The Great Silence". Unfortunately it's often more "A Great Clamouring" of commercial busyness, encouraged by hungry commercial interests and weak government.
Sunday is Resurrection Day. The 3rd Day since Jesus was murdered. The day we celebrate with gladness the results of what God in Jesus has done for us. At Nativity we do that in traditional form at 8am, in all age worship at 10am, and in the contemplative Taize style at 7pm.
Regardless whether this is all new to you, or you have been following this for years, check it out at Nativity, or a church or churches near where ever you are. Come. Walk the walk.

Today was one of those days when I remember the words of my Vicar, when I was a newly ordained priest in Hawera, 33 years ago. Doug Pullar said: "Some of Jesus greatest miracles were done as interruptions on the way to something else."

I had plans for today but our Parish nurse came into my office to say the people who were going to do a rest home communion were unwell. What was to happen? Cancel it - or what about me going? Long story short, I went.

Though it's over a week to Easter Day, (and we have Palm Sunday as well as Good Friday first) I decided to do the  Easter theme with them and read of the resurrection from the opening verses of Matthew 28.

The congregation was 8 senior ladies and Jocelyn, one of our worship leaders. I read how the 1st witnesses to Jesus resurrection were women. These older women who gathered with me to share a cup of wine and some bread, were also being strong witnesses of Jesus resurrection.

The angel said "don't be afraid" (angels often say that - probably with good reason!) and then the risen Jesus said the same thing. They both in turn said to tell the men, so those witnesses then became evangelists - telling the good news.

We were all quite stoked about how we can all be used powerfully by Jesus, even in the most unlikely places; even in our most unlikely state. We only need to be available. He is more interested in our avail-ability than our ability; our ability to avail our selves to him and his purposes.

Good lesson. And in the end, most of todays plans actually happened.

Thank you Lord. Another miracle!