Spring and Easter are
reminders that something new is happening. Spring revitalizes our northern surroundings
with sprouts of green and the season’s
first daffodils and hyacinths, as Easter
for many is a holiday that brings personal
revitalization.
A few years ago, I
stumbled upon Lauderdale by the Sea, a
beach town sandwiched between Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale. It is a
place that welcomes you and invites you to relax. I joined about 500
others at the town’s annual sunrise service on the beach for a few moments
of peaceful refection and personal renewal.
Refection
LBTS has that small
town feel that invites you to a place like Cheers where ”everybody knows your
name and they're always glad you came”. Smiling
faces populated the town square used for the service. Local volunteers and local EMS started at 4 am
setting up the chairs for this non- denominational 6:30 am sunrise service officiated by the
joyful pastor from the Community Church. Even the Mayor
attended welcoming all with quotes from Martin Luther and Robert Flatt- “This is a day of
celebration…the Lord’s resurrection also gives our life meaning and direction
and the opportunity to start over”.
The sun slowly rose
over the pavilion gradually birthing yellow beams on the patrons and the sun’s
orange glow outlined the clouds. The rhythmic crashing of waves filled the
silent spaces of the spoken message of
God’s love and the challenge for all
to pass it on in the world. LBTS
welcomed locals and travelers to their sunrise service -a marriage between natural
beauty and encouraging words producing a peaceful platform
for reflection and the hope for personal renewal.
Happy Easter- Happy
Spring- Happy new beginnings!
Spiritual Reflection
The steadfast the love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:2-3)
Mayor Chris Vincent, LBTS |
Spiritual Reflection
The steadfast the love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:2-3)