Easter Gratitude

It's a while ago that I preached on the Beatitude: Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. (Perhaps I should look back and see how helpful it might have been/be?) But the greatest comfort in mourning is the resurrection story and its grounding truth for all living and dying. I admit the lively Easter Sunday morning service in my church with its all-in children's presence (!) was a contrast with the inner feelings I have, but the Easter truth rang out loudly with its transforming power. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!  

Though my family could not be with me, two friends in my church family shared their lunch with me. Their home has become familiar through their kindness during past months of Carol's illness, and this time with them made Easter all the better. To be with Easter people who share faith is the greatest blessing.  Yes, it truly helps those who mourn. 

One of the less bearable tasks has been planning the services for the crematorium and the church afterwards. However, Carol loved the classic Easter hymns (as well as contemporary ones too). In our Cambridge ministry I used to often choose them for communion services to emphasize the presence of Jesus at the table. I remember her delight with the hymn :Low in the grave he lay. It was the chorus she would sing out: 

Up from the grave he arose,

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

he arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives for ever with his saints to reign:

He arose! He arose!

Alleluia!  Christ arose!

So, we shell end her service with these words.  Plenty of exclamation marks but it's worth exclaining!