A joke that's been floating ariund for a few years has to do with the Lutheran method of evangelism. Wanting to be biblically based in all matters, it seems that many of us use the final verse of the gospel of Mark as our guide to telling others about the good news of Jesus Christ Risen:

"So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." (Mark 16:8)

This Easter season the word that God has triumphed over the forces that threaten to defeat us is as amazing and terror-inducing for us as it was for the first disciples at the empty tomb. Amazing, because God continues to bring life where we can only see death. Amazing, because God is the One who enlivebs and strengthens, when we can only worry. Amazing, because is the force and source for renewal and creative power, when we can only crave the sameness of the familiar.

There's some good news there, and there's a good bit of terror in it, too, because in raising Jesus Christ from the dead, Gos has given us that new life, too. The terror comes in realizing not that we are powerless, being acted on by the forces of the economy or our family or our health, but that we are powerful beyond measure. We have been empowered to act, not only be acted upon. God has given us that power for acting in our baptism, which is into a life like Jesus as well as a death like his. That God would entrust this life-giving power to us is terrifying - almost enough to freeze us into place. But instead, we are to go and use and give away this life that God gives us, by welcoming and sharing, serving and laughing, depending on God to refresh us with more.

This good news is not going to be the lead story on FOX or NBC or anyplace else. It's not going to be on the radio or on the opening page of the web. As people of the Resurrection we get to have it as our lead story. This is the story we tell - of hope, grace, forgiveness and life. And we trust God to move us past our fears, so that others will know the story, too.

You will want to make every effort to be in church during these Sundays of Easter season. We have stories to tell.