East Ohio Conference

East Ohio Conference

≡
  • About Us
    • Welcome/Vision
    • Bishop's Office
    • Conference Staff
    • Districts/Churches
    • Annual Conference
    • Jurisdictional Conference
    • General Conference
    • General Agencies of The UMC
    • Christian Family Credit Union
    • Methodist Foundation of Ohio
  • Ministries
    • Connectional Ministries
    • Strategic Ministries
    • Missions & Community Engagement
    • Multicultural Ministries
    • Young People's Ministries
    • Higher Education
    • Camps & Retreat Ministries
    • Spiritual Formation
  • Disaster Response
    • Responding to Disasters
    • EOC Disaster Response Plan
    • Disaster Response Coordinators
    • Early Response Teams
  • Clergy
    • Pathways to Ministry
    • Board of Ministry
    • Order of Elders
    • Order of Deacons
    • Fellowship of Local Pastors
    • Retired Pastors
    • Clergy Directory
    • Clergy Well-Being
    • Changing Pastors?
    • Continuing Education
    • Sexual Ethics Policy
  • Laity
    • Pathways to Ministry
    • Board of Laity
    • Lay Leaders
    • Lay Servants
    • United Women in Faith
    • General Agencies of The UMC
  • Finance/Benefits
    • Financial & Administrative Services
    • Online Forms
    • Online Payments
    • Shared Ministry/Stewardship
    • Health Benefits
    • HealthFlex Wellness
    • Clergy Pensions
    • Death & Disability Benefits
  • Communications
    • About the Office
    • #BeUMC Campaign
    • Storyboard Podcast
    • Church Websites 411
    • Social Media 411
    • CCLI & CVLI Licensing
    • E-News
  • News
    • East Ohio News
    • E-News
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
  • Resources
    • Conference Journal
    • #BeUMC Campaign
    • Teach • Reach • Bless
    • Stand Against Racism
    • EOC Disaffiliation Pathway
    • Stand with Ukraine
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Online Worship Services
    • The Rule of Christ
    • Safe Sanctuaries
    • Message in Movies
    • CCLI & CVLI Licensing
    • Archives and History
    • General Agencies of The UMC
    • UMC Find-A-Church
  • Calendar
    • View Calendar
    • Suggest Calendar Event
  • Events Registration

Home | About Us | Bishop's Office | Guiding Words | 2019 Easter Message

BISHOP'S OFFICE

He Lives


He is Not Here; For He is Risen

by Bishop Tracy S. Malone

I am reminded of a story that tells of a little girl who was so excited about Easter. Her mother wanted to be sure that her daughter had some sense of what Easter meant and so she asked, “do you know what Easter means?” And the daughter said, “Yes!” Her mother said, “well, tell me, what does Easter mean?” A huge smile spread across her daughter’s face. She slowly raised her arms in the air and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Surprise!”

Each Gospel writer tells the resurrection story differently. The one thing they all have in common is that the experience of the Risen Christ came as a surprise. Jesus predicted his death and it happened just as he said it would but most of the people around Jesus at that time, including the disciples, had very little, if any, expectation that resurrection would actually happen. They were caught by surprise.

The truth is that we, too often, don’t expect resurrection either. How often are we surprised when we see Jesus in places, in people and in circumstances where we did not expect him to show up. The world around us, our culture, and situations in life have conditioned us not to expect shattered hopes to be restored, broken relationships to be repaired, the marginalized to be liberated, justice to prevail, and the peace of Christ to rule and reign in our hearts and in the world. When the glory of God intersects with our human experience and conditions we are often taken by surprise. When God uses us as an instrument of God’s grace and healing, most often, we are taken by surprise.

The Angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, he has risen, just as he said. So, the women hurried away from the tomb afraid but filled with great joy.”  (Matthew 28:5-6)

Isn’t it strange that the cross which was an emblem of death, suffering and shame is a symbol of God’s radical and redemptive love? The cross is the gift of salvation … our hope and our victory. The empty cross is a reminder that even when love gets nailed to the cross by hate and when life gets buried in the dark tomb of death, God is always surprising us bringing light into darkness and turning tragedy into triumph.

The promise of Easter, the Easter story, is that the tomb is empty, and God has already done an amazing thing – once and for all. The Resurrection of Christ is a continuing event for today, tomorrow, and forever. It is victory over death. It is the promise of new life. And it is our commitment to embody and proclaim the love and grace of Jesus Christ and to be creators and doers of God’s justice.

 

≡
  • Bishop's Office
  • Meet Bishop Tracy S. Malone
  • Guiding Words from Bishop Malone
  • Video Moments with Bishop Malone
  • Holy Land 2023
  • #BeUMC
  • Teach • Reach • Bless
  • Assistant to the Bishop
  • The Cabinet
  • Clergy Appointments
  • Council of Bishops

 

Bishop Tracy S. Malone

Bishop Tracy S. Malone
Resident Bishop to the
East Ohio Conference
E-mail

Melissa McGee
Executive Secretary to the Bishop
Ext. 112
E-mail

Rev. Ed Peterson
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Ext. 111
E-mail

The East Ohio Conference Office:
located in North Canton, OH,
near Akron-Canton Airport.

Address:
8800 Cleveland Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720

Phones:
Local: (330) 499-3972
Toll Free: (800) 831-3972

Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Facebook Instagram Twitter Vimeo Flickr

  • Bishop's Office
  • Districts and Churches
  • Conference Staff
  • POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
  • Safe Sanctuaries
  • Sexual Ethics
  • CCLI & CVLI Licensing
  • Terms of Use Policies
  • RESOURCES:
  • Conference Journal
  • E-News
  • News Archives
  • Archives and History
  • EAST OHIO CONFERENCE
  • 8800 Cleveland Ave. NW
  • North Canton, OH 44720 Map
  • (800) 831-3972
  • www.eocumc.com

East Ohio Conference Logo© EAST OHIO CONFERENCE. All Rights Reserved.