Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    Richard,

    Don and I have adopted a tradition that came from my parents...

    we greet each other on Easter morning and also our children
    with "He is risen"

    Easter makes my heart sing yearly!

    Bonnie

    Bonnie,
    
    	The ancient response to the greeting, "Christ is risen, indeed!"
    
    Richard

    	Would that my family tradition were so uplifting. Easter for me is
    the present danger that my "born again" brother will once again
    resurrect the argument that Christ's death is the most important of all
    Christian concepts. He will not accept my belief that the life and
    teachings of Christ are what we must value. Christ was not the only one
    to die for other's sake, but he was the first one to espouse a doctrine
    of love such as we follow to this day. Thus the battle is renewed
    nearly every year.

    There are few phrases uttered in faith like "Christ is risen!"
    and "He has risen, indeed!" to stir my heart. At any time they
    fill me with joy. 

    A few (well 16 actually) years ago I walked through the streets
    of Jerusalem along the path that tradition says that Jesus
    walked during His final human hours. It's a stroll that meant
    a great deal to me then and still does today. Each year the
    sixth grade at my son's school (it's a Catholic school) reenacts
    the "stations of the Cross". Last year my son played the role
    of our risen Lord. The combination of that solemn reenactment
    with the reading from the Bible, my memories of the actual city
    where it happened, and my son standing in for Jesus moved my
    soul in a great way. It all became very real.

    And then the Resurrection! What an incredible thing. What an amazing
    reality! Near the old city of Jerusalem is one of two sites that
    claim to be the site where Jesus was buried. I've visited both
    but the garden tomb, as it's called, outside the city looks like
    what one pictures when one pictures Jesus' tomb. It's so exciting
    to go inside and see for ones self that it's empty. Is that the
    actual tomb? I don't know and I don't care. What I do care is that
    where ever the tomb was or is, it is empty. Christ has risen! Many
    religions can visit the tomb of their founder and know that the
    body is there (more or less). We go to see that ours is empty.

    And with this we have the promise that like Jesus we too will
    rise again. On my mother's grave stone is the inscription, "Not
    here but home." Because He is risen we know that we will join
    Him and be "home" one day.

    		Alfred

    Easter for me is Good Friday holiday and Easter Monday holiday - a four
    day weekend. Easter eggs made out of chocolate, loads of films on the
    telly, and not a religious festival in sight.

    
    He has risen, indead. For the tomb is empty.
    
    This time of the year bring me much happyness, so I lift my heart
    and hands up to the Lord in thanks.
    
    Christ, the Light, the Lifter of our hearts, the Savior, the King.
    
    Peace,
    Bill

when I hear the term "Easter" I'm reminded that I have the reality of the 
resurrected Christ in my spirit and that I celebrate His resurrection
every morning I arise from my own bed.

regards,
ace

    
    For me it will be worshipping with my beloved community at church and
    then coming home to a secularized family dinner involving two *former*
    clergy.  This year, however, we will be joined by a cousin, who began
    her pastorate in Boston in January.  (At least she and I can be
    "rejoiceful" together!)
    
    Nancy

Easter!

Two things -

  1)  The resurrection of our LORD and Savior

  2)  After Easter chocolate sales :-)

Collis

    
    Glad to see a *few* notes here today!  I was beginning to think that
    (1)the "Rapture" had happened and I'd missed it or (2) everyone ate too
    many cho'late bunnies and got sick!!
    
    We had the happy addition (for us, at least) of having my own pastor at our
    home for Easter dinner, making 8 of us altogether.  I was pleased that
    he felt comfortable calling on Sat. and asking to "invite himself to
    dinner."  (Several in our church knew that his family relationships were
    strained but none of us wanted to intrude or appear to be taking him away
    from his family.)  
    
    I had many personal reasons to rejoice, including several different
    affirmations of my role at work last week.  
    
    Our church service included a brass choir and children's choir, in
    addition to the regular choir, and a dramatic visit from "St. Paul,"
    telling of his conversion!  
    
    (And many babies!)
    
    Would that we could keep the Easter joy and the Easter faith throughout
    the year!
    
    Rejoicing,
    Nancy

			Christ lives!  Christ lives!
			  Salvation to impart!
			You ask me how I know Christ lives?
			  Christ lives within my heart.

	Easter this year was very pleasant.  I didn't pig out on candy,
though I did indulge in a few jelly beans.

	My church meets at 5:00 in the afternoon.  It was a good sized
crowd.  The choir astounded me.  There are maybe 6 to 8 people in the choir,
yet they were doing complicated harmonies and with syncopated parts.  It
was both inspired and inspirational.

	I gave my new pastor and his spouse a chocolate Easter egg, which
a local specialty shop had decorated up all fancy with a lamb on it.  (It
must've had a zillion calories in it.  Sure glad I didn't keep it for
myself. ;-})

Peace,
Richard

    Although I enjoyed the Easter service at church (Episcopal) with some
    lovely music performed by the church's young Bellringers, the Good
    Friday Solemn Liturgy touched me more deeply.  The choir was exceptional,
    but what had me in tears was Pastor Odie's dramatic sermon.  He asked
    us to do whatever we needed to visualize that we were at the foot of
    cross as we listened while he dramatized what he believed to be the
    last thoughts of Jesus.  The range of emotions and pain suffered by
    the Christ were made actual by Odie's realistic interpretation.
    
    Ro
                                                                               

The church I attend is fairly non-traditional but Easter is still
Easter.  It was such a treat for me to be able to sing at both services
this Easter Sunday!  :-)  I can't think of anything more satisfying than
singing "Halelujah!" on Easter.  I guess the old Episcopalian is still alive
in me.  :-)

Nanci

    A very appropriate time to reiterate.
    
    The Passover is a beautiful picture of Jesus' sacrificial death on the
    cross.  The lambs blood on the doorpost and lintle was a sign of
    covering for the children of Israel.  The death angel saw the blood,
    and passed over the house.  And all who were of that house were safe.
    
    The resurrection is our covering.  But it is not a covering exactly. 
    It is a complete removing of sin and it's consequeces in the eyes of a
    Holy God.
    
    Are you safe behind the blood of the lamb.  Wonderful...now complete
    the task by living an exemplary life under Christ and become his
    ambassador!
    
    Happy Easter holiday.
    
    -Jack

    Isn't Easter a pagan idol?  
    
    Some may think I'm nitpicking, but the Bible is full of verses telling
    us to flee idolatry.  I much prefer to call it "Resurrection Sunday" or
    "Feast of FirstFruits" (if it coincides).
    
    Mike

    Actually, I agree.  Resurrection Sunday is THE most appropriate name
    for it in my opinion.
    
    -Jack

    The word "Easter," as I recall, refers to "the dawn."  (If mistaken, I'm
    certain someone here will correct me.)  In that context I think "Easter"
    quite appropriate.
    
    Richard
    

    We celebrate Eostare at my home, which is a holiday dedicated to
    Astarte, one of several fertility versions of mom.  YMMV, but will you
    stop using the term estrogen, estrus, or several others that also
    derive their roots from this aspect of the goddess?
    
    meg

    ...and Ishtar, Semiramus, Isis, Venus, etc.

Just remember that in almost all languages but English and German, the name
of the Feast of the Resurrection is derived from the Greek "Pascha", as in
"Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast".

For example, P�ques in French, Pasqua in Italian, etc.

The English term "The Paschal Feast" retains the Greek root.

/john

>The English term "The Paschal Feast" retains the Greek root.

    Hmmm.. We just sang an introit with "Paschal Feast" as part
    of the lyrics.  I wondered about that.  Especially the pronounciation.

    And, John,  please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please
    don't flame me for quoting you.   I really don't mean any harm...

		:-)


    Tom

    I've usually heard it pronounced "pass-kul".
    
    Richard