The Easter season is 7 weeks long!  For the disciples, there was a lot of waiting, with gradual revelation.  A little like the Israelites, moving from the Land of Oppression to the Land of Promise.  We, too, have to live with uncertainty.  We may well ask, "Is the Lord among us, or not?"  Another question is, "What kind of witnesses are we?"  I'm going to connect these with the New Wine Values.

"Is the Lord among us, or not?"  If He is NOT, then we could just complain, like the Israelites; but we would be (as St Paul said) a people most to be pitied.  The Israelites had lost the security of Egypt, and they had become refugees!  We may feel lost today.

We're trying new things: Messy Church on Sunday afternoon in School, and also Tea & Toast (but none of the invited families came).  "Is the Lord among us, or not?"

The risen Jesus stood amongst the disciples, and explained from Scripture the meaning of Easter.

Recently, I witnessed an accident: I was not a good witness!  But I was only one of many witnesses.  So too, with Christ: we are a family, "we need to do it together."

In Acts, Luke quotes the testimony of those who saw the risen Jesus.  A man is healed, and Peter explains the good news of the risen Christ: "and we are witnesses."

Ministry in the Power of the Spirit; and Kingdom - being the light of the world.

After Pentecost, we plan to run an Alpha Course again.  Amy Pagden: "It was the highlight of my week!  The meals were always good, and the videos were interesting, and we always had good chats afterwards!"  So, invite your friends and neighbours and family to come!

The Lord IS among us.  We ARE witnesses!  Christ is risen; He is risen indeed!