Easter, then, is not just one day, and it’s not all about eggs and rabbits and other signs of growth and fertility, borrowed from a more ancient series of observances that developed in Northern Europe.  For those of us who are Christians, the events commemorated by these springtime observances serve as parables written in nature itself that illustrate a spiritual truth at the heart of our faith:  that God’s greatest miracle is the bringing forth of life out of death.  Christ arose! says the hymn, and at least in the northern hemisphere, we find all nature joining in the chorus with an Amen that resounds with flowers and fruit, birds and bees, lengthening days and sunshine warming hearts and homes.

So we celebrate the Resurrection, not just one day a year, but throughout the season that leads to the celebration of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit: itself an unfolding of that great Christmas truth, that the one called Emmanuel, which means God with us, is really with us, and the prophecy of Christ to the Apostles, that this Spirit of Truth “shall be in you” is fulfilled.  We say, Christ is alive! and in faith we take that to mean that there is hope for our own life, our own renewal, not just seasonally either, but transformationally.  The One rejected by the political and religious leaders of the world, by the best religious system the world had yet produced, that of the Jews, and by the best legal system the world had yet seen, that of the Romans, is declared to be alive, offering a Way of living that surpasses those systems as the broad light of midday surpasses the light of a candle.  We celebrate his unstoppable life, and declare that his Way is better than the best, providing through repentance and forgiveness an avenue of change that gets to the heart of all the problems that exist in the world:  human nature.

Yes, Christ came, died, and rose again for no less of a reason than to change human nature.  Ah, but someone says, human nature is too corrupt, there is no hope of changing it; yet the gospel says, that it is this, and only this, that is the hope of the world.  It is the love of God that raised Jesus from the dead; and not just God’s love for his Son, but God’s love for all that has been made; for you, for me, for all that is yet to be redeemed, and the word has gone out into the world:  God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.  We beg you on behalf of Christ:  Be reconciled to God! (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).  God, through His Son, bet His own life that human beings, such as you and I are, can change, in response to the love that raises the dead. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love…. anyone that does not love is still dead (I John 3:14).

Our church celebrates Communion and Footwashing to commemorate the Lord’s Supper and the Mandate (hence “Maundy”) that He gave on that night when He washed the disciples’ feet:  “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”  “If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another’s feet.”  While we uphold a tradition that honors this command with a literal foot-washing ceremony (because on that same occasion he said, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them,”) we also understand that foot-washing is symbolic of the life of service to others that is the calling of every Christian.  And truly, this is the path to happiness.

Friday, April 2 — Good Friday

While we have no special services planned in Marbury this year for Good Friday, we are pleased to join in with a sister congregation.  Pastor Bob will be present with others at the Temple Hills Church of God, 4814 St. Barnabas Rd., Temple Hills, MD 20748 to participate in a service commemorating the “Seven Last Words of Christ.”  The seven last words, or sayings, spoken by Christ from the Cross will be remembered with brief comments by a series of preachers beginning at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Sunday, April 4 — Easter

7 a.m. Community Sunrise service at  the Marbury Church of God.  It is a joy for us each year to join with our neighbors in celebration as the Marbury Baptist Church and the Marbury Church of God come together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. A time of fellowship with continental breakfast will follow this early service.

10:00 a.m.  Easter Celebration.  Come prepared to sing songs of praise and joy, and hear again the marvelous, life-changing story of victory over sin and death.  Though this story has been told countless times, it never gets old.  That is because someone’s life is changed forever whenever they hear it, truly hear it, for themselves. Will it be you?

Remember our Verse of the Month from last month: “Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” White snow covering everything, blanketing the world, touching every aspect of life. Such is the power of God to touch even the worst of our attitudes and actions, and transform them into something of beauty.

Although, this might entail some disruption to our ordinary routine!

Many thanks to George Abell, Bill DeVane and George Bowman who made sure the parking lot was clear by Sunday noon. The wedding that had been scheduled for Saturday did take place, but not until Sunday. It will be one to be remembered for a long long time.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I was able to attend the homegoing celebration for Sister Beverly Ware, at Cornerstone Church of God in Columbia, Maryland, who passed away unexpectedly last week. Her husband, Pastor Max Ware is one of the six members of the S.H.A.P.E. “cluster” that has met one Friday each month for the past year, and will for the next two years. I’d ask you to keep the Ware family and Cornerstone Church in your prayers.

Now on Wednesday, with another blizzard officially on top of us, I have to reluctantly announce that our Wednesday evening study group will be canceled.

For this next Sunday, a Valentine’s Breakfast had been planned for 9:00 a.m., followed by morning worship at 10:00. We now hasten to add: weather permitting!  Update:  The decision has been made that the Breakfast will be rescheduled for a later date. Watch for an announcement.

The blizzard of 2010 has gone from snowfall to digging out stage, but the digging out may not be far enough along by Sunday morning (February 7) to justify bringing everyone out on the roads.  This sets a record, at least for the time I have been in Maryland:  two Sundays in a row where we are closed for snow, and that makes the third time this season.  Keep safe and snug in your home, and please pray for those who have no safe place of their own, as well as those who are working hard to clear the roads for us.

Pastor Bob

Birthday greetings go to Brandon, Feb. 2; Bonnie and Kevin, Feb. 3; and Hayley, Feb. 4!

We’ll plan to have our prayer meeting at its usual time on Wednesday at 6:30, and the Board of Trustees on Thursday at 5:30.

Remember: the church exists wherever the people of God are, and we are called on to do all that we do, whether word or deed, in such a way as to honor our God. May the peace of God be in every home, on every highway, and ease the work of shoveling every driveway!

Pastor Bob

UPDATE, Jan. 31: I spoke this morning with Pastor Victor Coleman of Temple Hills Church of God, and the Joint Celebration Service planned for this evening is also canceled.

Juan Santos & Audrey Boatwright to speak

Pastor Bob says:  “This Monday, we have a unique opportunity to learn how we can minister in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  Audrey Boatwright is deeply involved in ministry to Haiti.  Pastor Juan Santos is one of the pastors I met when I took a trip with other CDP ministers to the Dominican Republic back in 1998.  He is one of the national leaders of the Church of God in that country.”

Directions to Cornerstone Church in Columbia are on the poster; click to enlarge.

Heaven just got a little bit richer. I received word today that my uncle and namesake, Dr. Robert H. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Clark, died late this morning in Lake Wales, Florida. He was 92.

A man of faith, good cheer, vigor and wit, he kept up an active schedule well past his nine-decade mark. He was a missionary, a pastor, a teacher, a scholar, a peacemaker and activist, Among those who have helped to guide me in my own path, he is right up at the top. He was one of the two ministers who officiated at our wedding.

I’ll have much more to say about him a little later. In your prayers, please remember all of his family, especially my aunt Fran, his tireless partner over sixty-five years.

- Pastor Bob Buehler

Edit:  Memorial service is to be Monday morning, January 11 in Lake Wales.  Full obituary follows.

Dr. Robert Henry Clark, 92, of Lake Wales, Florida died Thursday January 7, 2010, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, of complications due to a broken hip.  He was born June 17, 1917 in Schodach Center, New York and moved to Lake Wales thirty-five years ago from Rochester, New Hampshire.

Dr. Clark was a missionary, minister, and college professor.  In 1947 he went on a mission to British India, now Bangladesh, for fifteen years and made many trips back there throughout his life.  He received his Ph.D. from Hartford seminary.  Upon coming to Lake Wales he was a professor at Warner Southern College, now Warner University, and was co-founder of the HEART Program.  He was a member of the South Lake Wales Church of God.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years Frances E. Clark, children Pamela, Kimberly, Douglas, and Mark, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and his brother Charles.  His children Eric, Robert, and Loren, and sisters Ruby, Thelma, and Evelyn preceded him in death.

Memorials of rememberance may be made to the Robert and Frances Clark Peace Foundation at Warner University 13895 Highway 27, Lake Wales, FL 33859.

Memorial Services will be held Monday, January 11, 2010, at 11:00 A.M. at the South Lake Wales Church of God 210 Presidents Drive, Lake Wales, FL 33859.  Interment will be made in Savoy, Massachusetts.

We’ll sing some carols, light some candles, tell the Christmas story and share the Lord’s Table together in this meaningful, annual celebration reminding us that as great as is the miracle of the Son of God being born in the world, the miracle of His birth in our hearts is the greatest gift of all.  Why not make some time, bring your family and share with others of God’s people a wonderful few moments of remembrance and expectation?