Ark Valley News - Hope and hilarity

Hope and hilarity
By Chuck Terrill
Last Updated: April 02, 2015

The best Easter sermon

The little country church was packed! It didn't happen often, but Easter Sunday morning could usually guarantee a crowd. The sanctuary had been decorated with beautiful Easter lillies, and their sweet fragrance filled the room. It was obvious that a good deal of work had taken place in anticipation of Easter Sunday's service. Volunteers had shined every item of brass, and the oak pews had been polished and buffed to a nice sheen.

It was time for the service to begin, but the aging pastor had not arrived. In the days before cellphones, they waited as long as they could wait. Finally, a lay leader stepped forward and after profuse apologies about his personal inadequacies, began the service with prayer. Soon the congregation was singing the great old resurrection hymns of their faith. Unfortunately, their pastor had still not arrived when the music portion of the service was finished.

The awkward lay leader presented himself again and made a few announcements. He called the ushers forward to receive the weekly tithes and offerings. The pastor had still not arrived when the collection was completed. The congregation was asked to open their Bibles to Luke's Gospel, and the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was read.

The lay leader didn't know what else to do. He asked the congregation to bow their heads in silent prayer. He informed the church that after a few minutes of silent prayer, they would be dismissed and he would do his best to find out what had happened to their pastor.

The quiet of that country sanctuary was broken by the sound of squealing tires veering in off the county road outside the church. A car could be heard sliding to a stop, as the front of the church was sprayed with flying gravel. The front door banged open, and the sound of running steps could be heard in the hallway. The sanctuary doors were suddenly thrown open as a disheveled man burst in and came running down the center aisle. His hair was mussed. His tie was askew. His suit coat was hanging off one shoulder. His eyes were wild. It was the missing pastor!

He ran to the front of the church and whirled around to face his startled congregation.

"Jesus is alive!" He shouted. Maniacal, like a wild man, he shouted all the louder, "Jesus is alive! Quick! Go tell somebody that Jesus is alive! He is alive, I tell you!"

The pastor then left the church just like he came in. Running footsteps. Doors banging. Gravel spraying. Tires squealing.

The congregation just sat there. Spellbound. Later, they would admit, it was the best Easter Sunday sermon that their little church had ever heard.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen!" (Luke 24:4-5)

Chuck Terrill is pastor of Valley Center Christian Church. He can be reached at chuck@valleycenterchristianchurch.org or 755-1233.