He is Risen - Christ is Risen Indeed!

1971 was a pivotal year in defining my life.

I had been attending St. John's (York Mills) Anglican Church as a young person for a couple of years. The youth group had really come together under the direction of The Reverend Ken Maxted. Friday nights were either sports or entertainment of some sort - but they were fun get-togethers for a fairly large group of young people, providing a sense of community and belonging to those most vulnerable of creatures - teenagers!

Following Maxted's tenure at St. John's came a couple of curates in succession leading to the wonderous creation of a weekend Easter youth Festival called "Resurrection '71".

In the post Woodstock era and the pre-computer age this was a fascinating expression of Easter, juxtaposing folk music, poetry and art with what was then cutting edge communications technology. It was, in fact, a youth festival that examined, defined and celebrated the Easter experience building from the celebrations and commemoration of Holy Week, the pain and ultimate despair of Good Friday culminating in an all night prayer vigil and triumphal sunrise ceremony trumpeting Christ's resurrection and victory over death - over sin - and the salvation of all people.

My life changed forever at that time. I met and befriended the Reverend Tim Foley who would become a good friend and teacher. He would, some years later, kindly agree to deliver the sacrament of marriage to my wife and me.

My life was indellibly changed by my time at St. John's. It provided me with a secure and safe haven, outside of my home, where I could be accepted and loved by a group of my peers - something which all teenagers crave.

My closest friends were similarly impacted by their time at St. John's. Kevin went on to become an Anglican parish priest and eventually a university professor and dean. Brian and Mike answered the call to priesthood. George eventually ended up as a Bishop.

And Easter? My memories of this wonderous time of year are stirred each time it passes by. This morning will be the 36th Easter since that marvelous morning in the Church Yard at St. John's when we gathered as friends, as brothers and sisters, as children of God and welcomed a new day - a new life, as it were - a newly risen and living lord who's ultimate sacrifice was now written on our hearts. Written in such a way, that regardless of the time that would pass - of the history that would be made, of the changes and aging and love felt and tears shed - that a lifetime later, would be remembered as a defining moment in the lives of those who were there.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him. Alleluia!