Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the climax and culmination of the Gospel stories and the central claim of the Christian faith. For us it is the pivotal moment in world history and, frankly, it is impossible to overstate its importance. Easter was the moment where Christ’s victory over sin and death was achieved and declared, and therefore part of the foundation for all that we believe, and all that we are as a church today.
During ‘Holy week’ (April 13th-20th this year), Christians both re-live and re-tell the stories of that momentous week, starting on Palm Sunday with Jesus entry into Jerusalem, going through and reflecting his confrontation in the temple (Monday), his teaching on the mount of olives (Tuesday), his last supper with the disciples (Thursday), and on ‘Good’ Friday we grieve at His trial, His crucifixion, and His death. On Easter Sunday itself we celebrate together the empty tomb, from which Jesus rose from the dead, and share the joy of the disciples recognising his appearances to them over the course of that first Easter Day. We recognise that this event echoes through history in the lives of all those who are called by Christ to follow Him, be is at private devotional at home, or meeting together with other Christians.
He is risen.
He is risen indeed!
While each Christian tradition celebrates and recognises this week, marking it in different ways and in different places, we remain one in our witness to this event as definitive for what it means to follow Jesus. It is, rightly, a rollercoaster of emotions, and it is for good reason these stories are referred to as Christ’s ‘Passions’. Easter Sunday especially, for Christians, is a time of earnest celebration and joy.
On Good Friday we meet at 3pm, the traditional time of Jesus’ death, and mourn together, reflecting on the pain He experienced in crucifixion, and the profound love that led him there. It is a service of remembrance, of stillness, and of sadness, as we place ourselves at the foot of the cross.
On Easter Sunday, in deliberate contrast, we hold a full day of services.
At 7:30am we hold a not-quite-dawn service, and remember those early hours meetings in the Garden, when Jesus first revealed himself to the women, and the later breakfast on the beach. This short service is held outdoors, weather permitting, on the cross immediately outside the church, and is followed by bacon sandwiches. (45mins)
At 10:30am we host our morning celebration and worship service. (90mins).
At 3pm we have our afternoon semi-formal communion, sharing the bread and wine together. (60mins)
And at 6pm we have an ‘Emmaus Road’ service, ending our day the same way that first Easter day did, reflecting on Jesus revealing himself on the road to two weary disciples.(60mins)
There is certainly no expectation for people to come to every service, but the invitation is open to any and all, from all churches in the town and from none. We would love to have you join and celebrate with us.
Easter Blessings,
Mat and the Congregation here at Ashby Baptist Church.
