The series Scriptures for the Church Seasons invites you to explore God s hope and presence presented in the scripture readings for Lent and Easter. The study is based upon the Revised Common Lectionary scriptures for the church year, a three year cycle that includes readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Gospels, and the Epistles. Celebrate the Risen Christ   by Andy Langford and Sally Langford is a seven-session study offered for Lent 2010 that will help adults understand, appreciate, and participate in meaningful and joyous celebrations of God s salvation and gift of life as they remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The study  offers the opportunity and challenge to journey toward Jerusalem and the cross by exploring the Revised Common Lectionary readings designated for this Lenten season. It is tempting to bypass the somber notes of the Lenten season and rush straight from Ash Wednesday to Easter morning. Alleluias sing easier than Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Yet the impact of an empty tomb is most fully experienced when we witness again the passion of Jesus and when we keep vigil at the cross. Andy and Sally Langford challenge us to follow Jesus and his disciples to Jerusalem and the sites of Jesus death and resurrection.  We will journey out of our ordinary lives into a wilderness spirituality and ultimately towards abundant and everlasting life. We will walk not only with Jesus and his followers, but with other faithful travelers. We will read in Scripture how Abraham, Joshua, Moses, and the prophet Isaiah claimed the promises of God for themselves and future generations. The Apostle Paul and first century Christians in many different congregations throughout the Roman Empire will also accompany us as we risk leaving safe, comfortable places to follow Jesus toward the kingdom of God. The whole of Scripture encourages us to engage in such a journey and to celebrate new life offered through the risen Christ.   A seven-session leader s guide is available for use in Sunday school classes or other small groups.   Sally and Andy Langford are both pastors in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference.  They have served as pastors for thirty years in congregations from seven members to over two thousand members.  Previously, they wrote together Worship and Evangelism .  Andy is an alumnus of Davidson College, Duke Divinity School, and Emory University ; his areas of expertise are historical theology and liturgy. He served as editor of The United Methodist Book of Worship and is co-author of Beginnings: An Introduction to Christian Faith and Beginnings: The Spiritual Life . Sally attended Converse College, Duke University Divinity School, and Vanderbilt University.  Her graduate work was in New Testament and Preaching.