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A Day of New Beginnings

 


This is a day of new beginnings, / Time to remember and move on, / Time to believe what love is bringing, / Laying to rest the pain that’s gone. (United Methodist Hymnal #283)


Despite temperatures of 30-something and only the flowers on the altar speaking Spring, not much was unexpected for Easter worship 2022 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Minneapolis.

 

Keyboardist Seth Engleby gracing us with his always awesome prelude, Pastor Elizabeth Macaulay showing the radical hospitality that comes as natural to her as breathing, the choir gracefully dancing and singing and signing us into worship, Nan Rice’s children’s lesson on the miracle of the caterpillar’s transformation -- enclosing itself in a chrysalis before becoming a butterfly, liturgist Jon Fors reminding us of Christ’s command: “Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both” (1 John 4:21, The Message). All of this so full of wonder and grace but still not unexpected at this Methodist church on an Easter morning.

 

Then Sonny Selikoff played his cello as a special offering. That would have been grace enough. But Sonny stopped in the middle and asked if he could start again because he’d started in the wrong place. The congregation applauded, giving their assent. One person spoke out, “This is a day of new beginnings.” And Sonny began again to make the cello weep with joy.

 

Sonny was the amazing grace I saw that Easter morning.

 

For many reasons, Sonny had not played for us for years. He had gone away first to college and then to begin his life anew. He had started life in the wrong place and yearned to transform into his more authentic self. We saw a new Sonny yet still a person who felt accepted enough to ask to start anew with us. And our response seemed about more than giving approval for Sonny’s musical offering. Sonny and the congregation was welcoming the new creation that is Sonny and our bond with him.


This brought home the Easter song that began the service:


Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, good riddance!

Hello God, hello sun!

I am one of the Easter People!

My new life has begun!

 

This must be amazing grace.

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