 Hello, I'm Mike McKee, the Bishop of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. As you and I drive through streets and the cities or the towns where we live or through the countryside, we begin to see the emergence of new life. Trees are budding and flowers are blooming. And annually we are reminded that spring is here and what begins again is the rhythm of the seasons. But this is also the time of year when we begin to focus on something that's even more important than the rhythm of the season. And that is what God has done eternally through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. This Sunday is Easter Day. It is the day in which we will celebrate that victory over death. And I hope as you worship with a congregation in the North Texas Conference that no matter what it is that draws you there, whether it is the glorious music, the word you want to hear preached that day or even the recital of an ancient creed, that what you're reminded of most deeply is this essential and eternal truth, that the Christ is risen and God has declared victory over death. And that victory over death is your gift and my gift to receive from this God who dearly loves us. The Lord is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. May you have a blessed Easter Day.