Wednesday, May 7, 2025
MUSINGS May 7, 2025
Andrew Hight | Family Ministry Coordinator
Three weeks into the season of Eastertide, and the world is finally beginning to reflect the spring season. I asked the kids on Sunday morning, “Is Easter over now?” Some hands went up saying yes, others leaned toward no. One voice piped up and said, “Easter is seven weeks long.”
The excitement of Easter Sunday—the women discovering the empty tomb and the angels declaring, “He is not here; he has risen!”—has, yes, passed. But as I explained to the kids, Jesus was “booked and busy” after the resurrection—he had things to do and people to see!
Post-resurrection, we get the story of the men on the road to Emmaus, Thomas doubting unless he sees physical proof, and the restoration of Peter on the beach. This season is known in the church year as Eastertide. And yes, it lasts for seven weeks, all the way until Pentecost Sunday.
Throughout May, the kids will be exploring the theme of Initiative, which we are defining as seeing what needs to be done and doing it. We’ll be pulling in all sorts of Bible stories to explore this theme: the initiative of Miriam, Moses’ older sister; the parable of the talents; and, of course, the ultimate initiative—God so loving the world that he gave his one and only Son. God took the initiative in this case because God cared for our needs.
As soon as May wraps up, we head into the Ascension of Jesus, then Pentecost, then “Going Through the Gates,” and then… it’s summer break!
As I approach the end of my fourth year as Family Ministry Coordinator, I’m struck once again by how fast the year flies. One moment you're planning for Kick-Off Sunday in September, and the next, you realize you have only six Sundays left.
After four years, this job is still such a blessing. Working with these amazing kids and watching their faith grow is truly special. The fact that we’ve grown the kids' program into one of the largest and most active Sunday schools in the region—at least among Presbyterian churches—is something we should never take for granted. Especially considering that post-COVID, we had maybe two or three active children.
As we continue journeying through Eastertide, with the weather warming and gardens bursting into colour, let’s embrace this new season of life and resurrection. It’s a joyful time—just like this famous Easter hymn reminds us:
This joyful Eastertide, away with sin and sorrow.
My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow.
Had Christ, that once was slain, ne’er burst his three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain: but now hath Christ arisen.
Warm regards,
Andrew Hight | Family Ministry Coordinator