Last week, I got to be a part of something incredible here at Easter. This year, we had to cancel our service of First Communion as our church buildings were closed. For months, we wondered: how could we safely provide communion to these young people who have prepared and prayed to receive the Christ’s presence in bread and wine? Thanks to the creativity and resilience of Easter’s Children’s Ministry and worship leaders, these young people could finally gather outside at the Lake to take communion for the very first time.

Today is day 87 of my ministry with you at Easter Lutheran Church. I realize it’s not a typical hallmark or mile post along the way, like 90 days or six months or a year. Don’t worry, friends – we’ll get there. But today is as good a day as any to reflect on God’s work among us here at Easter.

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Brandon covered a lot of ground. In the story of Joseph and his dysfunctional family from Genesis 37:3-8, 17b-22, 26-34 and 50:15-21, we got a huge Biblical history review. We had to move from last week’s story about Abraham all the way to Joseph, Abraham’s great-grandson. In all the sordid details of that extended family and their crises, we hear that God’s chosen people make some terrible choices.