From Our Pastors                                                                                   The Quiet Power of Resurrection 

April is one of our favorite months of the year here in the North Country.

After a long winter, something begins to shift. The days stretch a little longer. The snow slowly retreats from the fields and woods. Out on Lake Champlain the ice finally begins to loosen its grip, and you can feel the whole region starting to wake up again.  

It feels like the earth itself is taking a deep breath. And right in the middle of this season of renewal, we celebrate Easter.

The Easter story reminds us of something we often forget: God is always bringing life out of places that look worn down, broken, or hopeless. The cross looked like the end of the story. Fear and grief had settled over the disciples. But then something unexpected happened—life showed up again.

That’s the quiet power of resurrection.

Resurrection isn’t only about something that happened long ago. It’s something that keeps happening whenever love rises where fear once lived, whenever compassion breaks through indifference, and whenever people choose connection over division.

And let’s be honest—our world could use a little more resurrection right now.

We live in a time when anger and fear often seem louder than kindness. It can feel like people are constantly being pushed into camps and told to see each other as enemies. But the way of Jesus points us in a different direction. Again and again, Jesus moves toward people others overlook, includes those who have been pushed aside, and reminds us that every person carries sacred worth.

Easter reminds us that love and justice are stronger than the forces that try to shut them down.

And the good news is that resurrection doesn’t only happen in big dramatic moments. It shows up in small, everyday ways: a neighbor checking in on someone who’s struggling, a community choosing welcome instead of suspicion, a church opening its doors and its hearts a little wider.

If you’ve ever watched the sunrise over Lake Champlain on a cool spring morning, you know how quietly but powerfully a new day arrives. Little by little the light spreads across the water until suddenly the whole horizon is glowing.

Resurrection is a little like that. It begins quietly, often in places we might miss—but before long it starts to change everything. 

So as the earth wakes up around us this April, may we notice the signs of new life—not only inthe warming air and flowing streams, but in our community and in one another.

Because Easter isn’t just something we celebrate for one Sunday. It’s something we live.

Grace and peace,

Pastors Phil and Leigh

Holy Week Worship

Holy Week invites us into the heart of the Christian story—a journey that moves from celebration to table, from sorrow to hope, and ultimately to new life. We invite you to walk this sacred path with us as we gather for worship, reflection, and community.

💻 Join Pastor Phil on Facebook, Monday, March 30th - Holy Saturday, April 4th at 4 p.m. for a special series.  

"Each day, we’ll explore Holy Week through a progressive, liberation-centered lens—honest, relevant, and grounded in the real struggles and hopes of our world today."

🍞 Holy Thursday – April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Plattsburgh United Methodist Church

In an intimate and meaningful service, we remember the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples. Through scripture, reflection, and table, we enter a story of love, service, and the call to community.

✝️ Good Friday – April 3 at 12:00 Noon at Peru Community Church

A quiet and contemplative service as we pause at the cross. Together, we hold space for grief, injustice, and the suffering of the world—trusting that even here, God is present.

🌅 Easter Sunrise Service – April 5 at 6:15 a.m.

Gather with us at the Peru Dock on Route 9 as the sun rises over Lake Champlain. In the stillness of early morning, we proclaim the good news: resurrection has come, and new life is possible.

🌸 Easter Sunday Worship – Regular Worship Time

We continue the celebration of Easter with a joyful service of music, community, and hope as we proclaim that love is stronger than death. 

Wherever you find yourself on the journey—full of faith, full of questions, or somewhere in between—you are welcome here. Come and experience the movement from darkness to light,from death to life, and from despair to hope. All are welcome. 

New Study - The First Century Church - April 8, 15 and 22 at 1:00 pm at Plattsburgh UMC

What did people say about Jesus after the Resurrection? This study will introduce you to some of the writers of the First Century and the questions that were important to them. 

We’ll read the Gospel of Thomas and other writings of the period that didn’t make it into the Bible, and compare them with familiar New Testament passages. 

You don’t have to  have any background in Bible or history; just curiosity about what the early church wrote and talked about.

Email Pastor Leigh (after Easter!) at fivechurchesumc@gmail.com to get the one-page reading for each session. 

April Ruining Lunch – Thursday, April 9^th at 11:45 a.m. at Plattsburgh UMC Chapel

“Reimagining Jesus: Compassion, Courage, and the Way of Love.”

In a time when Jesus is often associated with politics, power, and division, this conversation invites us to return to the Jesus we encounter in the Gospels—one who welcomes outsiders,challenges injustice, and calls us into a life shaped by compassion and love.Together we’ll explore how reimagining Jesus can deepen our faith and shape how we live in today’s world.

Bring a sandwich. Soup, beverages, and dessert will be provided. Most importantly, bring your questions—and an open heart.

Rev. Phil Richards 

Register with Diane P. – luv2garden5@gmail.com

🍞 Help Us Build the Table – Volunteers Needed for Open Table! 🌱

Open Table is growing, and we’d love your help in making this intergenerational gathering a welcoming, meaningful experience for everyone.  The gathering is the 2nd Sunday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

We’re looking for folks willing to help with:

🎨 Craft Preparation – simple, creative activities for all ages
🍲 Meal Preparation – cooking, baking, or helping serve
🪑 Set-Up & Hospitality – creating a warm, inviting space
🙏 Prayer & Welcome – helping guide the flow of the gathering

You don’t need special skills—just a willingness to be part of something rooted in community, creativity, and connection.

Open Table is about making space where everyone belongs. And it takes all of us to build that kind of table.

If you’re interested in helping, reach out or sign up—we’d love to have you be part of it.

There’s a place for you here, too.

Contact Pastor Phil, Pastor Leigh or Jon Ruff if you are interested in helping out!

Plattsburgh United Methodist Church will host a special Environmental Stewardship gathering and potluck meal following worship on Sunday, April 19th. (around 11:30 am)

Representatives from several local organizations will share practical ways you can care for and protect our environment. Presentations will include:

• The Master Gardeners, who will demonstrate helpful composting techniques.
• The Plattsburgh City Climate Task Group, providing updates on the city’s home composting program.
• Casella Waste Systems, discussing trash reduction and recycling practices.
• Kristin Collins from the Point au Roche Nature Center will work with children to make ‘seed bombs’.
• Jackie Vogl and her husband, who will introduce and discuss Electric Vehicles (EVs).

This event offers something for all ages, with opportunities to learn practical steps we can take to be better stewards of God’s creation. 🌍