Easter at the Budapest Ministry Center included a wonderful collection of songs about the resurrection and the living Christ, a look at the Biblical Stations of the Cross, and a sermon by Larry about how Easter is the most important holiday, for it changes everything. All of our other holidays commemorate a person, place, or event locked in time somewhere in the past, but Easter is about more than that. Because of Easter we can all be changed. Easter teaches us how to understand the past, how to live in the present, and what our hope is in the future. Easter gives us hope and a future! He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!
The service concluded with an Easter blessing penned by our friend Dan Sheffield and translated into Hungarian. Here is the original text:
Easter Sending Blessing (Dan Sheffield)
O Lord Jesus Christ, who upon this day did conquer death and rise from the dead, and who are alive for ever more, help us never to forget your Risen Presence forever with us.
Help us to remember,
That you are with us in every time of perplexity to guide and to direct;
That you are with us in every time of sorrow to comfort and console;
That you are with us in every time of temptation to strengthen and to inspire;
That you are with us in every time of loneliness to cheer and befriend;
That you are with us even in death to bring us to the glory of your side.
We are certain that there is nothing in time or in eternity which can separate us from you;
In your presence we may meet life with courage and death without fear.
You turn our darkness into light.
We are certain that you are present with us as we leave this place and return to our homes, our families and our labours;
May we live this new life with our spouses, our children, our neighbours and our co-workers.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Christ the Lord is risen today!
Following the service everyone enjoyed an Easter lunch together. We had two surprise visitors -- Olga and Sanyi had recently returned from working in England and rejoined the fellowship! It was so good to see them. In addition, Gabi was visiting from England. Everyone was delighted to be able to reconnect with these dear friends.