I have memories of many Easters and many Easter Services.
Quite a few of them were from the perspective of someone serving in a volunteer church position.
Some American pastors have called Easter "the Christian Superbowl", and in terms of the lead up, hype and work involved, the label certainly fits.
This is expected to be one, if not THE, highest attendance Sundays of the entire year.
Anticipation of this fact often eclipses the joy of the season.
Instead of spending the days leading up to Easter/Resurrection Day in spiritual contemplation, the work horses of every congregation are putting in dozens if not hundreds of extra hours in external preparation.
Extra music practice, easter egg stuffing, sactuary/platform deorating, service rehersing, sign ordering, cleaning, usher meetings, brochure printing- so many many things. It falls on pastors, worship leaders, children's workers, ushers, the AV crew, volunteers in every department.
The attendance may be DOUBLE the usual.
(That's a lot of extra prep for children's crafts. Just saying.)
It can really wear people out. While the result may be beautiful and meaningful to those who simply attend, behind the scenes there is a lot of stress.
Plus, there is the personal pressure almost everyone puts on themselves of Easter outfits. All the kids must have new clothes, shoes, socks, and mom is supposed to look like she didn't wear herself out aquiring said clothing and getting the kids to look like (as my grandmother would say) they stepped out of a bandbox. And there are Easter baskets to shop for and prepare.
Because, there must be pictures of all this to post on social media later.
All of these may eclipse the joy of the day. Hopefully not, but it can certainly temper it.
However this year is the most unique Easter Sunday in American history. As of yesterday, every US state is now under a major disaster declaration due to the coronavirus pandemic. The US death toll from the virus is now the highest in the world, over 20.000. Over 1.5 million people world wide are infected. The whole country is under either social distancing or shelter in place orders.
Kinda puts a damper on the egg hunts.
I know there has still been a lot of work behind the scenes by pastors and AV folks in particular, setting up vitual services, recordings, live streams, Sunday School by Zoom. I know some churches are having "drive in" services. I know some congregations in lieu of Easter baskets have put together "care baskets" and distributed them to folks who needed them.
(Kudos, by the way.)
However, all in all, much less focus and ways for people to spend weeks on external prep for Easter Sunday Services.
So I'm hoping, really hoping, that some of the folks who worked their tails off year after year serving in churches are finally getting a break, in an odd sort of way. I'm hoping they can set aside the uncertainty of our times for just a moment and have a real day at home with family.
(And if you are out working an essential job today, instead of being home with family, a big thank you to you - may His resurrection joy be yours as you go about your work. )
I'm praying on this dark day in our history, the brightness of the hope of the Resurrection comes pouring through to our hearts. That, with less focus on the Easter service and Easter outfits, we can focus more on the spiritual excitment of the fact that Jesus is Risen.
He is Risen Indeed!
It was a dark time and place in history that Jesus came out of the tomb as well. Occupation, oppresion, fear, turmoil were all there. Most of his followers were in hiding at home when He emerged from the tomb, victorious over death and the grave.
But the Light of His life was brighter than all that darkness then, and just as certainly, brighter than all of the darkness in our world today.
Hold onto that Light. Happy Resurrection Day, my friends.
Romans 8:11- But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give live to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Quite a few of them were from the perspective of someone serving in a volunteer church position.
Some American pastors have called Easter "the Christian Superbowl", and in terms of the lead up, hype and work involved, the label certainly fits.
This is expected to be one, if not THE, highest attendance Sundays of the entire year.
Anticipation of this fact often eclipses the joy of the season.
Instead of spending the days leading up to Easter/Resurrection Day in spiritual contemplation, the work horses of every congregation are putting in dozens if not hundreds of extra hours in external preparation.
Extra music practice, easter egg stuffing, sactuary/platform deorating, service rehersing, sign ordering, cleaning, usher meetings, brochure printing- so many many things. It falls on pastors, worship leaders, children's workers, ushers, the AV crew, volunteers in every department.
The attendance may be DOUBLE the usual.
(That's a lot of extra prep for children's crafts. Just saying.)
It can really wear people out. While the result may be beautiful and meaningful to those who simply attend, behind the scenes there is a lot of stress.
Plus, there is the personal pressure almost everyone puts on themselves of Easter outfits. All the kids must have new clothes, shoes, socks, and mom is supposed to look like she didn't wear herself out aquiring said clothing and getting the kids to look like (as my grandmother would say) they stepped out of a bandbox. And there are Easter baskets to shop for and prepare.
Because, there must be pictures of all this to post on social media later.
All of these may eclipse the joy of the day. Hopefully not, but it can certainly temper it.
However this year is the most unique Easter Sunday in American history. As of yesterday, every US state is now under a major disaster declaration due to the coronavirus pandemic. The US death toll from the virus is now the highest in the world, over 20.000. Over 1.5 million people world wide are infected. The whole country is under either social distancing or shelter in place orders.
Kinda puts a damper on the egg hunts.
I know there has still been a lot of work behind the scenes by pastors and AV folks in particular, setting up vitual services, recordings, live streams, Sunday School by Zoom. I know some churches are having "drive in" services. I know some congregations in lieu of Easter baskets have put together "care baskets" and distributed them to folks who needed them.
(Kudos, by the way.)
However, all in all, much less focus and ways for people to spend weeks on external prep for Easter Sunday Services.
So I'm hoping, really hoping, that some of the folks who worked their tails off year after year serving in churches are finally getting a break, in an odd sort of way. I'm hoping they can set aside the uncertainty of our times for just a moment and have a real day at home with family.
(And if you are out working an essential job today, instead of being home with family, a big thank you to you - may His resurrection joy be yours as you go about your work. )
I'm praying on this dark day in our history, the brightness of the hope of the Resurrection comes pouring through to our hearts. That, with less focus on the Easter service and Easter outfits, we can focus more on the spiritual excitment of the fact that Jesus is Risen.
He is Risen Indeed!
It was a dark time and place in history that Jesus came out of the tomb as well. Occupation, oppresion, fear, turmoil were all there. Most of his followers were in hiding at home when He emerged from the tomb, victorious over death and the grave.
But the Light of His life was brighter than all that darkness then, and just as certainly, brighter than all of the darkness in our world today.
Hold onto that Light. Happy Resurrection Day, my friends.
Romans 8:11- But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give live to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
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