But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

What an exciting time as we anticipate the miracle of spring.  Coming at the end of dreary winter—GLORY!—the suddenness of new life and beauty everywhere in God’s creation.  And these majestic occurrences are symbolic of what is the most significant time in our lives as Christians—Easter.  We need to slow down and be THANKFUL to The Good Lord for the ultimate sacrifice—the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of His son Jesus Christ and because HE lives, so shall we!

How appropriate also to be thankful to those ordinary, hardworking persons whose responses to God’s call have impacted our own life journeys.  One such group of “ordinary saints” were those eight persons who gathered in a private home just down the street on April 30th, 1843, two weeks after Easter, no doubt hopeful and prayerful, to officially organize First Presbyterian as the daughter church of Nazareth—a beautiful response to the resurrected Jesus’ charge in the Great Commission: …Go Ye therefore, and make disciples … Matthew 28:18-20 and Ye shall be my witnesses… Acts 1:8.    

Quite a “vision” for those “ordinary saints” as we look back over these remarkable 174 years and our five “daughter” churches, also the result of the vision and outreach of other “ordinary saints.” Surely, it is inspiring  to realize the thousands  of lives touched, souls saved, and  the word of the Gospel spread, truly, “…to the ends of the earth.”  

Let us be energized this Easter to become the “ordinary saints” for those in need of God’s love. INDEED—“Christ the Lord is Risen!“

ALLELUIA!  ALLELUIA!   ALLELUIA! 

David Berry

About the Contributor

David P. Berry—humble servant of the Good Lord—is an Elder at First Presbyterian, thankful  husband of Louisa, and father of David who with his lovely wife Brooksie and our beautiful granddaughter Juliet are also FPC members.