Bishop Hutterer: Living the Resurrection
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!”
Photo by Bob Brewer on Unsplash
Dear friends in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in the name of the risen Jesus.
We come to Easter this year in a world that feels, in many ways, unsettled—marked by uncertainty, division, and deep longing. And yet, this is not new territory for God’s people. Jesus lived, spoke, and moved among communities facing turmoil, oppression, and fear. Into that very reality, he proclaimed good news. Into that very reality, he brought healing, hope, and ultimately resurrection.
This year, as a synod, we have been reflecting on what it means to be Rooted in God’s Story. At Easter, we are reminded that this story is not abstract or distant—it is alive, unfolding, and grounded in the promise that death does not have the final word. We are, as the Church has long proclaimed, resurrection people. Our identity is rooted not in fear or scarcity, but in the living Christ who continues to make all things new.
Over the past weeks, I have been deeply heartened by our Spring Gatherings across the synod. In each place, we have centered ourselves in the Lord’s Prayer, reflecting on its meaning through Luther’s Small Catechism—words that have shaped generations of faithful disciples. Together, we have prayed, listened, and remembered who we are.
And at the close of each gathering, we have invited one another to share good news.
Again and again, congregation after congregation, person after person, stories have poured forth—of ministry, of connection, of resilience, of generosity, of quiet faithfulness and bold new steps. Not once have we found ourselves without good news to share. This, too, is a sign of resurrection life among us.
So this Easter, we celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ—crucified and risen—and we recommit ourselves to telling that story. We share it in our worship, in our service, in our communities, and in our daily lives. We share it because the world needs it. We share it because it is already alive among us.
Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia.
With you in Christ,
The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer
Bishop
Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA
