Easter Letter 2025

Diocese of the Northeast

Anglican Church in America

The Right Reverend Dr. Alexander H. Webb

Bishop Ordinary

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

May you have a very blessed Feast of the Resurrection!

As we come to the most important feast of the Christian year, it is our joyous duty to remember all of those events that surrounded this glorious day.  As St. Peter so eloquently preached to the people of Jerusalem, “Hear these words:  Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know – this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, [was] crucified and killed by lawless men.  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”  (Acts 2:22-24)

Our world today questions the very existence of God.  And even if God does exist, it is believed, He must not be active in the lives of us humans.  Peter’s statement reminds us that this is not true!  He offers proof to the people of Jerusalem and around the world that Jesus is the Risen Messiah, proof that comes from their own experiences and lives.  “God,” he says, “showed you miracles during Jeus’ life.”  The people saw the power of God working through Jesus as he healed the sick, cast out demons, and even raised people from the dead.  Have you ever seen a miracle?  Has something strange happened that you could not explain?  God is still working His miracles in our lives today!

Peter states that Jesus died.  The Jews had seen the crucifixion.  It had been demanded by the priests.  He had been executed by the Romans.  He was dead.  This was not a mirage.  This was fact.  They had seen it.  And it remains a fact today!

And then Jesus was raised from the dead.  As the Messiah, death could not hold him.  This, the most amazing feat of all, actually did occur.  As St. Paul was able to say to the Church in Corinth, “He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive,” (I Corinthians 15:5-6)  Jesus Lives!  Jesus’ death and resurrection occurred for a purpose:  that all who would believe in him might have forgiveness of sins and that death would not be able to hold us either!

Brothers and Sisters, let us rejoice together this Easter that God loves us so much that He would give His Son to save us from our sins and bring us to everlasting life!  May you rejoice in Him and bless His holy Name!

Your Bishop,

+Hendy