Breathing in the New Life
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:28-29
You are almost there.
As this newsletter reaches you, we are standing together in the final, sacred hours of Holy Week. Good Friday is upon us; Holy Saturday waits just ahead, and Easter Sunday is within sight. Across the Christian Church in Georgia, so many of you have been running hard for weeks. Our clergy and chaplains have walked alongside congregations and individuals through scripture and silence, through somber Maundy Thursday tables and the long vigil of waiting. Faithful laypeople have served, organized, decorated, and shown up in countless quiet ways. Retired ministers have carried the weight of this season in prayer, in memory, and often in continued service. All of you have poured something out.
Sunday is coming. And it will be glorious.
But I want to speak to the moment just after the alleluias settle. Jesus did not say, come to me and I will give you more to do. He said, come to me, and I will give you rest. That invitation is not reserved for any one role or title. It is extended to all who are weary, and this season has a way of making us all weary in the most sacred of ways.
Once Easter Sunday has passed, I want to offer you that invitation. Take a breath. Step outside. Sit with someone you love. Sleep in on a Monday. Let the silence after Easter be a gift rather than a void. New life, by its very nature, requires space to grow, and that is as true for the people of God as it is for the ministers who serve them.
And when you have caught your breath, I hope you will bring that renewed spirit with you to our Regional Assembly, April 23-25, at Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia. The theme of new life could not be more fitting for what we are gathering to do together. As a Region, we are discerning, dreaming, and taking faithful steps forward, and I believe God is doing something new among us, just as Isaiah promised, and the empty tomb will confirm.
Our Assembly is not just another meeting on the calendar. It is a reunion of the Body of Christ in Georgia, a chance to worship together, to encourage one another, and to remember that we do not do this work alone. Whatever your role in this family of faith, there is a place for you at the table. I look forward to seeing you there.
First, though, finish well. Serve with everything you have. Celebrate the resurrection with your whole heart. And then, when the lilies have been put away, and the sanctuary grows quiet again, be gentle with yourself. The stone is about to be rolled away. There is light ahead. There is time. There is new life for the people you serve, and for you.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Dr. Adam Harmon
Regional Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia
This message appeared in the April 3, 2026 Regional Newsletter. If you missed it, read more in the Regional Newsletter Archives here. Or sign up to receive the monthly newsletter here.
