April 2026 Message From Pastor Mike “Always Easter”

You may remember in the land of Narnia
before Aslan returns it was “always winter but
never Christmas.” What a dreadful curse coined
by C.S. Lewis to capture the cold darkness of life
without eternal hope. Turning that phrase on its
head, let me suggest that through faith in our Risen
Lord, we live in a land that is “sometimes
spring and always Easter.”
It’s great to welcome the warmth and
green of spring after a cold northern Illinois winter.
Birds sing and rabbits run as leaves and flowers
bud forth with new life.

With spring comes
Easter, our grand celebration of Jesus bursting
forth from the grave with new life and the promise
of eternity for all who believe.

Spring, of course, won’t last. Summer
heat will soon melt spring away until next year.

But Easter? The glorious truth and abiding hope
of Jesus’ resurrection remains alive in our hearts
day after day, down through the years, across
generations and into eternity.

We’ll celebrate Easter on April 5, but
don’t let it end there. Keep the wonder of the
empty tomb and the joy of life-after-death burning
in your soul. It’s the impossible, wonderful
story that makes us people of faith and shapes us
into people of purpose. It’s the good news that
God loves all people everywhere and has the
power to change even the hardest heart. It’s the
assurance that the darkness and sorrow of this
life can’t define us and won’t defeat us. It’s the
joyful promise that death is not the end and that
through our Risen Savior we too will rise.
How can you keep it always Easter in
your heart? Let me offer three ways.

First, invite the Holy Spirit to work in and
through you each day. The Spirit of Jesus lives in
you, always present and always powerful. Hold
fast to this promise: “And if the Spirit of him
who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you,
he who raised Christ from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit
who lives in you” (Romans 8:11). Listen to the
Spirit’s voice as you read God’s word. Let the
Spirit comfort you in times of need. Allow the
Spirit to work through you by the gifts He has
given you for building up the church and spreading
the good news of Jesus.
Second, overcome sorrow and fear by
trusting in the promise of new life through our
Risen Lord. You don’t know what challenges
await you in the coming days, but you can know
for sure that Jesus will walk with you, giving you
strength to endure and hope to overcome. This
hope is for today, for tomorrow and even for
eternity. You live under the promise of resurrection.
Remember these hopeful words: “Weeping
may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the
morning” (Psalm 30:5). Just as Jesus rose early
that Sunday morning, so He will take away your
weeping and give you joy instead.

Third, live with the joy of resurrection
always in your heart, remembering how Jesus
rose and trusting that you will live forever with
Him. Therefore, you can “Rejoice in the Lord
always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians
4:4). Every day the sun rises, every time we
gather as a church family, you have reason to rejoice.
God loves you. He blesses and protects
you. He speaks to you through His word. He surrounds
you with people of faith and fellowship.

You are held in the mighty hands of Him who
raised Jesus from the dead, and for you and all
people of faith, it’s always Easter.