May 3, 2026
The Fifth Sunday of Easter – Mark S. Winward
Really: Jesus as “The Way, the Truth, and the Life”?
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also.” For many people in the 21st century, putting your faith in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense. Not only do most people misunderstand what faith is all about, but it often seems like a waste of time. But people are broad-minded nowadays. They often say, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere,” or “You have your truth and I have my truth.” Of course, everyone is entitled to their own belief. But in the end, we live in a real world, and our personal perception of reality will always be proven either true or untrue. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.” In other words, what we are doing here every Sunday is either a colossal waste of time or the most important thing we will ever do in our lives. The question in the Church is increasingly becoming: “Which faith?”
How We Approach Scripture and Tradition
It seems to me it boils down to how we approach Scripture and the traditions that have shaped our understanding of our faith.
April 19, 2026
The Third Sunday of Easter – Mark S. Winward
When [Jesus] was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road…”
– Luke 23:30-32
The Road to Emmaus
Have you ever been so caught up with your own problems that you missed what was happening right in front of you? I certainly have. It happens to all of us: we become so hyper-focused on a particular problem or task that we become oblivious to the world around us. Much of this stems from the fact that we simply don’t expect the unexpected. We look for what we assume will be there, and when something – or someone – extraordinary appears, our preoccupied minds fail to register it.
Jesus met his followers on the road to Emmaus in a completely unexpected way. For these travelers, the news of the empty tomb simply wasn’t enough. To them, the idea of a dead person coming back to life was as ridiculous as it is to us – perhaps even more so. In the ancient world, death was far more visible and visceral. There were no sanitized hospitals where people passed away quietly behind curtains; people saw life end in the streets and in the home.
April 12, 2026
2nd Sunday of Easter – Byron Tindall
The reading for today from John’s Gospel takes place on the evening of that first Easter. John doesn’t say who all was there, just that Thomas wasn’t with them. The term “disciples” includes followers other than just the 11 or 10 without Thomas.
Regardless of the number of disciples present, I would love to have been the proverbial fly on the wall in order to eavesdrop on the conversation. I can just hear it now.
“What happened?” What’s going on?” “I heard some of the women said they’ve seen Him.” “I’m scared!” “It can’t be true that He isn’t dead, can it?” “I’m confused.” “Peter and the one Jesus loved saw the empty tomb.” I just wish John had recorded at least a little bit of the discussion.
At any rate, John wrote that Jesus suddenly, without fanfare, appeared in the midst of them. After giving His peace to them, Jesus gave them their marching orders and then he showed them his hands and his feet. He then bestows the Holy Spirit on them.
At this point, we need to ask the question, “Is this John’s version of the Christian Pentecost?” It is vastly different from Luke’s account as recorded in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The Day of Pentecost was the Greek term for the Jewish Feast of Weeks, so named because it fell on the 50th day following the ceremony of the barley sheaf during the Passover celebration.
April 5, 2026
Easter Day – Mark S Winward
The Easter Acclamation and Welcome
We Episcopalians are known for our worship being conducted “properly and in good order.” Today is a bit different; today we celebrate the risen Christ! It’s OK this morning to join in the Easter response with spirit and gusto as if your hometown team won the championships!
“Alleluia! Christ is risen!”
[The congregation responds: “The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!”]
Well, that is quite good for this early on a Sunday morning! Now, I realize that there are many people who do not make it to church every Sunday—perhaps only twice a year. I once heard those who fall into that category referred to as CEOs. I don’t mean Chief Executive Officers, though I suspect we have a few of those here as well. In this context, it stands for “Christmas and Easter Onlys.” Whether you are a CEO, an infrequent attendee, or a regular, please know that we are absolutely delighted to have you here this beautiful Easter morning.
The Human Need for Victory
Throughout the country today, churches and chapels are packed. Have you ever wondered why people flock to church, at least on these major holidays? In his book The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey suggests that at a fundamental level, we as humans want—no, we need—this story to be true.