“…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:5

Dear Friends:

Easter is the most significant time in the Christian calendar. Easter signifies our every truth and belief. Jesus died on the cross and was risen from the dead, that we might know the eternal, ever lasting love, grace and mercy of God given to us through Jesus Christ. With such a life changing event, why is it our world is saturated at this time of year with Easter bunnies and Easter eggs? After searching and searching, I’m unable to find anything in the Bible about Easter bunnies and Easter eggs. But, clearly, Easter bunnies and Easter eggs are a joy to behold as every time we turn around there they are at this time of the year. How, over the centuries, have we made this leap from the stone-cold tomb to furry animals hopping around and colored shells decorating pretty baskets?

The word, “Easter” stems from the word “Eostre” or “Ostara” the name for the pagan goddess for spring. Spring, we know, symbolizes new life, a new dawn. Jesus brings us new life in his resurrection. Long before Jesus’ resurrection, in ancient Mesopotamia and Syria, the hare, a long eared, larger form of our backyard bunnies, symbolized death and rebirth. Over time the image associated with bunnies. Bunnies are known to be prolific in their sexual activities. Along came the art of the Renaissance period featuring bunnies as a sign of spring and a new dawn following the dark harshness of winter.

To pull us into our Christian/Judaic roots a bit, we’re reminded that Easter finds meaning in the Passover feast as well. Jesus, upon entering Jerusalem to what will be his trial, crucifixion and resurrection, comes to celebrate the Passover feast (Luke 22). The Passover identifies God’s saving grace at the onset of the Exodus when God’s people, under persecution from Pharaoh, passed over the homes of the Israelites protecting them from disaster. The Passover is rooted in the word “Pesach” which means “to pass over” unto new life, hope, promise for a better life in God’s love. So, we celebrate with feasting and joy Jesus’ passing over death into new life for us as God’s people and we cry out, “Alleluia”.

We’ll invite the children to restore the “alleluias” on Easter Sunday, April 21, during 10:00 a.m. worship. Remember, we’ve hidden the alleluias as a sign of reverence, and penitence during these forty days of Lent, as we prepare prayerfully and inwardly for our new life in Christ. On Easter, we’ll shout out our alleluias and sing with joy. Alleluia stems from the Hebrew word Hallelujah which means, “praise ye the Lord!!” The good news of Christ risen from the dead, that we may be saved from our sin, most certainly deserves praise. Easter fills us with the joy of alleluia!

On Saturday April 20 at 10:00 a.m. the Children, Youth and Family Ministry is hosting Epiphany’s annual Easter Egg Hunt as well as Holy Week stations and table time for families to make their Resurrection Garden while they learn of Jesus’ resurrection. The time is full of anticipation, delight and celebration. Easter egg hunts are not new to almost all households. While bunnies and eggs seem matched, there might still be the quandary from the very inquisitive and knowledgeable child who knows that bunnies do not lay eggs. Why eggs? The simple enough answer is eggs are an ancient symbol of fertility when pagan rituals found their comfortable spot in Christianity. Legends progressed around the time of the reformation with stories of bunnies laying eggs and hiding them throughout neighborhood gardens.

We are a blessed people of faithfulness and tradition in the joy that comes in Easter. As these next weeks continue until Easter, which is very late this year, as Easter is a “moveable feast” falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon following on March 21, may we prepare our hearts and minds and souls for a new life in our risen Lord. Read, study and inwardly digest the daily Lent Intent Reflections posted on Epiphany’s Facebook. Attend worship weekly and engage in the Table Talk Bible Studies of the stories that lead us to the cross and the empty tomb. Wednesday night Interfaith Dinner and Dialogue tonight and next the final one next week are revelatory! Make Holy Week worship a priority and Easter will birth in us and even greater awareness of Jesus’ life in us and for us.

Sunday, we’ll gather for Family Worship as we look at the story of the woman who extravagantly anoints Jesus’ feet with her hair as she readies him for his burial! Babysitting for children age 0-3 will continue. Always, though, children are encouraged and more than welcome in worship. Following worship we’ll gather for a feast and then Table Talks. Return Sunday evening at 5:30 for Celtic Worship with candle lit sacred music, prayers, and the sharing of the Lord’s Supper following a reflection from Ruth Skjerseth.

Sometimes, we just need to stop and be quiet with God in Christ for all those whose names rest on our hearts. This Lent in particular, my daily prayer is one of great thanksgiving for the life of Epiphany and all of you who make God’s world known as Epiphany. God blesses us as the church on the corner, reaching well beyond. Thank you!

See you Sunday if not before!

Many blessings,

Hillary