Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
If ever there was a need for a lively hope, it is now. We, as Christians and as God’s chosen ones, find ourselves in a series of challenges and distractions which tend to dampen our hope and fill us with doubt.

But if we can manage to take Peter’s words to heart, we can rise above the challenges of a financial downturn and the distractions of a world at war in many places and a host of political concerns.

Throughout Lent, we journey in our hearts through the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. On Easter morning we sing our lively assurance that He is Risen, Alleluia! And now is the time for us to ignite the flames of hope, a more lively and optimistic hope in the power of the resurrected Jesus to enter into our world once again to dispel all doubt and fear.

Because He lives again, we can hope for an end to all tensions and wars.
Because He lives again, we can hope for a peace to spread throughout the world.
Because He lives again, we can hope for a deeper love and concern for and within our brothers and sisters in the world.
Because He lives again, we can hope for a more responsible effort on the part of our leaders to reign in our financial extravagances.

With a lively hope we can make significant changes in our world and in our faith community here at Calvary in 2010.

May the power of our resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ, transform our lives and our world, each and every day of the coming year, that stretches before us.