A guest newsletter post by Susan Kiser about the diversity of people and places across the world.

Bishop Carter shares an Easter message with the Western North Carolina Conference.

Easter is a time of rejoicing. We can celebrate that the powers who feared Jesus did not win in the end. They sought to destroy in order to feel safe. God sought to resurrect in order to change the world in the process. A new pathway is available, a new resource of Spirit resides with us. We are an Easter people!

Are you strong enough to let your children share your sorrow, your hurt, your fear, your joy? Would you be glad if your children cry about the same things you do? With the people you do? In the way you do?

Whatever your spirit needs, know that God’s Spirit is here to carry you through.

The choice today and every day for you, for me, and for Mars Hill Church is whether we will be ruled by fear or faith. If we choose to live by our fear, it will tie a very strong and small knot which will suffocate our lives, our hope, our joy.

We can only watch the brutality of the attacks and the bravery of Ukrainians from comfort and safety. How can we respond when there is nothing we can do?

Thoughts on Ukraine by Wiley Cooper, Pastor Emeritus at Mars Hill United Methodist Church.

A Call to Prayer and Peacemaking from Bishop Ken Carter, Resident Bishop, Western North Carolina and Florida Conferences