Easter is going to be a little late this year. Easter is the Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox. The latest it can occur is April 25, so this year’s April 21 is pretty late. The good news is this: Easter will come!

This has been a weird winter. The cold weather and snow came late, but when they arrived, they never wanted to leave. Several Sundays were impacted by slippery roads, and several school days were canceled. The polar vortex gripped us for a week and brought thirty-year low temperatures. Even the groundhog did not do us any favors. Although he did not see his shadow, the corner spring is just around seems further away this year. When the thermometer reached the 60’s, it was quickly followed by snow covered mornings. Will spring ever come? The good news is this: Easter will come!

For some of us, we are in a long difficult winter season. We wonder if it will ever end. The sources of our own winters differ and include, school demands and drama, chronic illnesses, family issues, work problems, or the loss of a loved one. Will the load ever lighten? Will this season ever end? The good news is this: Easter will come!

We throw up our prayers. Some are answered with a quick “Yes!” We like that, and spring comes a little early. Other prayers are lifted and are answered “No”. . .or “Not yet”. . .or “Not that, something better”. We don’t like that, and sometimes it takes a while to work through that, but spring eventually comes. Rather than physical healing, at times the answer is the ultimate healing of eternal life. The grief process takes time, but eventually spring comes. The good news is this: Easter will come!

We are Easter people! We believe that God can turn defeat into victory, doubt into faith, death into life! In the midst of difficult circumstances, Easter may be a little late this year, but be assured the good news is this: Easter will come!

Each Sunday, we join together to celebrate this truth. April 21, we will gather for the big day! “Christ is risen!” “The Lord is risen indeed!”

Easter is going to be a little late this year, but the good news is this: Easter will come!