Easter is just around the corner. Sometimes it is tempting to make a quick move to Easter, as if Lent and Good Friday did not exist. The lords of the commercial world would like us to make that move, to fix our attention on bonnets, bunnies and eggs, cards to send, and other commodities which keep us from focusing on the meaning of Good Friday and Easter and the opportunity for reflection in the season of Lent.

Easter is the expression of new life - life which overcame the forces of death in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The pain and suffering of Good Friday gave way to Easter morning. Christians are called to live as Easter people, bringing life to supplant the forces of pain, suffering and death. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches affirms this, as we gather our churches for the 24th general council and turn attention to Jesus' words, "I came so that all may have life in fullness".

The good news is that Good Friday and Easter Sunday mark the entry point into a new life of meaningful relationship with God, that Jesus Christ rose from the dead to overcome sin and its effects in our lives. This good news should be heard by all. It invites all to partake of life in its fullness.

As Easter people, we need to be concerned about the many people who live in the pain and suffering of the Friday before. The effects of sin - conflict and greed, injustice and oppression, poverty, hunger, and disease - continue to plague a large cross-section of humanity. Yes, we cannot quickly pass over these realities of pain. We Easter people know, however, what God has done in Christ to overcome the forces of death. As Easter people who by grace have been reconciled to God, we are called to proclaim and live out the good news. Our effectiveness in responding to this call will enable many people who are living through the suffering of Good Friday to experience new life.

In the churches of the World Alliance, we see Eastertide as a time for revival - a time to renew our commitment to living out the good news, strengthening our fellowship within the Reformed family, engaging in the process of covenanting together for justice in the economy and the earth, being the prophetic voices God has called us to be, mediating the fullness of life for all. All these are aspects of our gathering process for the 24th general council. New life will be experienced by many more if Easter people commit themselves to being partners with God in the transformation of our lives and communities.

One sign of new life is how we share news within the family. Update has been an instrument through which many in the WARC family have been informed about what the organization you belong to has been doing. Starting with this Eastertide issue, we have begun a process of new life for Update for which we need your help. Update is your news organ. Please send us news from your context which can be shared with others in the Reformed family. Tell us what you feel about the emerging new Update. Your feedback will help us shape it further. We need your feedback in order to make Update what you would like it to be. Please click here to reach us.

Setri Nyomi