Easter Message from Archbishop John

To the People of our Diocese of New Westminster,

Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

This is such a beautiful time of year as our churches ring out with Alleluias and bells and celebrations of Easter. In a whole variety of ways across our beautiful diocese we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and what it means for our lives and how we live in this world. We join with the women at the empty tomb and give thanks to God for the power of love over hate, light over darkness, peace over violence, life over death. And we recognize that in prayer, music, art, spoken word, and sacrament we continue to encounter the risen Christ in our midst.

We also recognize that this good news we encounter is not meant to be stored away in some form of vault but is to change how we encounter our neighbour and the priorities of this life. Our world needs this message of Easter, perhaps now more than ever. For there are many places of concern at the moment. To go with that, there is a level of anxiety and disillusionment that needs to know the gospel of love and new birth. We need our vision of the earth to be touched by the Easter gospel for we are not the same when we too encounter the empty tomb of that first resurrection morning.

In the Middle East, the land of the Holy One, April 13 was another heartbreaking and gut-wrenching day. The bombing of the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital shocked the world in a place where a level of shock has been off the charts. The Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, wrote recently, “The Diocese of Jerusalem is appalled at the bombing of the hospital now for the fifth time since the beginning of the war in 2023—and this time in the morning of Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. We call upon all governments and people of goodwill to intervene to stop all kinds of attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions. We pray and call for the end of this horrific war and the suffering of so many.”

In this time of Easter may we live into the hope of the risen Christ and be peacemakers. May we, as people of the resurrection, live and exude the love of God in our actions. May we strive for justice and concern for the dignity of every human being. May we be part of revealing the risen Christ’s hands and feet in the world and love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

The Easter gospel, the good news of the resurrection, calls us into being people who bring hope in this world and the next. May it be so in all that we do.

Alleluia Christ is Risen!

Blessings and Peace,

+John Stephens
Archbishop of the Diocese of New Westminster