Easter 2008

On a rainy Seattle Easter, memories of church:
The Methodist church temporarily located in a post-war tract house in Dayton, Ohio ... a Methodist church with a green-walled basement in Sweetser, Indiana ... the gray stone Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Ann Arbor, Michigan ... the towering sanctuary of St. Mark's Cathedral, an Anglican church in Seattle ... then a long period when my place of worship was Temple Beth Am in Seattle, with its Torah scrolls in their golden Ark ... and now, my thoughts more often return to the Christian churches of my childhood.

This, from the Methodists, has always been my favorite Easter hymn:

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

For those who celebrate, I wish a Joyous Easter.