From the Pastor's Desk
Reverend David Kaul
“Early on the first day of the week while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw the stone had been removed from the tomb!”
- John 20:1
“Amazing Grace”
Dear friends in Christ,
In June of 1990 the Boston Globe carried a story Jesus might have told about an unusual wedding banquet.
Accompanied by her fiancé, a woman went to the Hyatt Hotel in Boston and ordered a meal. They were arranging their wedding reception. China, silver, flower arrangements, they had expensive taste. The bill came to $13,000 dollars. They left a check for half as down payment and went home to choose a wedding announcement.
On the day to mail the invitations, the groom got cold feet. "I'm just not sure about all this. It is a big commitment. Let me think about this a bit longer."
When his angry fiancé returned to the Hyatt to cancel the banquet, the Events Manager was quite understanding. "The same thing happened to me, Honey!" she said and shared the story of her own broken engagement. "But about that refund. I have bad news. The contract is binding. I can return $1,300 dollars. You have two options. Forfeit the rest of the down payment or go ahead with the banquet. I'm really sorry!"
This may sound crazy but the more the jilted bride thought about it. The more she liked the idea of going ahead with the party. Not a wedding banquet but a big blow out. Ten years before she had been homeless and lived in a shelter. Now she was back on her feet, had a great job and had set aside a sizable nest egg. She would use her savings to treat the down and out of Boston to a night on the town.
The Hyatt Hotel in Boston hosted a party as had never been seen before. The hostess changed the menu to "boneless chicken" in honor of the groom. She sent invitations to rescue missions and homeless shelters. That night tuxedoed waiters served meals to senior citizens with walkers, bag ladies and addicts from the other side of life. They ate chocolate wedding cake and danced to big band music.
Grace costs the giver everything and the receiver nothing. Jesus said our future includes a great banquet where the poor and the lame, the outcast and the broken are included on the guest list. They will dine with God and delight in a grand feast and celebration. How good to know that you're included too!
The most wonderful faith days in the church year lie straight ahead. Holy week and Easter summon us to spend time at worship with Jesus and one another. Would you invite your neighbors to join with us in a grand celebration. God has raised his Son from the dead. Now that is something worth getting excited about after this cold and long winter !
In Christ's love,
P. Dave