What was meant by "real" for this member, and longtime friend, was a service where a congregation gathered live for worship instead of online. Last Sunday was the second Easter where Creator worship was online due, obviously, to pandemic concerns.
Our Easter Gospel was the account of Mary mistaking Jesus for the gardener in John until she heard her name.
Some have not been hearing their names during Creator's online services - for a variety of reasons - for over a year. For them, our "zoom or Facebook worship experience" lacks something essential. Others have heard their names and are called to worship. There are definitely others who are concerned that those around them are not hearing the God's call online. Still others may not be sure whether they are hearing their names online or, perhaps, not as they did in the past.
There are many post-Resurrection stories where the "real" presence of Jesus is not immediately recognized. There is Emmaus, the fishing and breakfast on the Tiberias Sea's beach, Jesus' appearance with Thomas. and at Paul's conversion on the road. They all start with just an appearance first which led to a deeper understanding of his presence, many happened after a person's name was heard.
When I read the Easter Facebook message that started this post, I see many of us are currently on our own road to Emmaus. This is a road between the now and the not-yet. We don't know what worship will look like in our imminent future.
That being said, I state here that the Emmaus question, "Did not our hearts burn within us?" came to life during various moments of Creator's Easter service. There was the virtual background that included congregation's Easter banner behind Pastor Janell as she preached that tied us to Creator's Easter tradition. There was also the Affirmation of Faith where our confirmands circled our beautiful baptismal font, connected by red streamers to each as they professed their faith.
That statement is true for me personally. My longtime friend had, what I imagine would be, a similar experience being physically present for an Easter service. God comes to us in many ways. Pandemic worship has caused us to question and learn what is at the heart of our worship. Certainly we no longer take for granted what we once did. There are new, unimagined connections that we can now make to draw us closer to God.
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
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