April has arrived and with it budding trees and plants and a promise of a renewed earth signaling the start of a new season of spring. This is the time for renewal of ourselves also since Pascha, the most meaningful Holy Day on the Christian calendar, will be on April 16. This is the time for repentance and a return to our beloved Lord and Savior and the happiness that Pascha brings to all those who rejoice in His Resurrection. Pascha touches the very heart and center of the Christian Gospel Message, eternal life and death.

Jesus is our strength, our hope and our joy but that comes to us through His dreadful agony in the garden when He prayed; His sorrow by being betrayed by one of His own; His suffering when he was torturously beaten; His painful crowning with thorns; His heavy burden after all this by carrying His Cross and culminating with his agonizing pain of crucifixion. He goes through all this willingly. “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father." (John 10:17-18) He painfully dies for us so we can have strength in our battle with sin, He willingly dies for us so we can have hope for forgiveness and reconciliation with Him, and He bravely dies for us to give us joy in His promise of love and care for us.

Today we live in a strange world of moral decay. But the world has always had problems, and evil was always present somewhere; however the Bible, and Jesus and His message overcame the evil machinations of those people who were misled. Behind the scenes were those who kept the faith, attended church services and prayed fervently for guidance. Today the pressure is very strong to be with the crowd who forcefully and vocally express their beliefs even if they are contrary for most of us. God is love and He is forgiving to all those who call on His name and repent.

Now is the time to bring your children to church and together we must pray for the world, pray for the nation, pray for our community, pray for our church, pray for our family and friends and, yes, pray for ourselves.

Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating their birthday in April. David Baron, April 5; Milena Mejia, April 13; Valentina Szestawicka on April 16; Michael Chaykivsky on April 22, and Helen Margitich on April 23. May God grant them all Many Years!

Helen Baron sends thanks to all who continue to support our Food Pantry. The need for many of our neighbors exist throughout the year and your help is greatly appreciated.