Celebrating Life at Pinebrook/Easter

When I was a child Easter was Baskets of eggs and candy, sometimes a toy.
I didn't go to church and my parents didn't belong to a church.

My sister and I were taught to say our prayers at betime so I'm sure my folks believed in God, but that was the extent of my knowledge.

When I was about twelve, my grandmother began taking us to her church and it was there I learned about Christ dying on the cross for me.

So, what does Easter mean for Christians?  My cousin Carole posted the answer on her facebook as follows:
"Easter is the sacred celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead.  It's the oldest and holiest Christian festival, the climax and center of the liturgical year, and the holy day to which other holy days point. .  Even denominations that do not strictly follow the liturgical calendar commemorate Easter with tremendous joy and thanksgiving."

How then did Easter bunnies and eggs work their way into Christ's death?  There are many myths about it and I will only mention a few.
                               THE EASTER BUNNY

Vancouver's Columbian Newspaper printed an article by Karen D'Sousa stating that the true origin of the Easter bunny are lost in time.  Some of the one's still existing are:
1.  In 13th century Germany one of the dieties worshipped was Eostre, the goddess of spring and dawn.  She was seen as a young girl carrying a basket of red eggs and two baby hares.  As time passed, she got lost, but the basket and eggs remained.

Scott M. Gunter, a professor at San Jose State University says the bunny stands for fecundity and the eggs represent the cycle of life.

2.  Some say even earlier the Celtics first used the bunny in their lore.  When ever children are hunting in the grass for eggs they may be harkening back to pagan fertility rites.  The author feels that as the church spread throughout the world it picked up some of the local culture and built upon what was there.  Janet Gildings, professor of theology at Santa Clare University says, "we go to church and the celebration of Christ's resurrection is at the center of our holiday and then we go home and hunt for chocolate eggs.  There is no conflict there.  It's all about the wonder of spring, life is a gift and all of it points to God."

3.  Another theory is that in the 1700's, German immigrant's children left carrots out for the tired bunny. (cake for Santa?) This just developed over the years--0-over time, these rituals of different cultures held us together.  Stories change and evolve over time.

In a UMNS Report by Barbara Dunlap, she questions, "How do decorated eggs relate to Easter?"

1.  According to Eastern Orthodox tradition, Mary Magdalene visited the Emperor Tiberius and showed him an egg to explain the ressurection of Jesus.  One version , the egg was red as a sign of the blood of Jesus.
2.  As far as coloring and decorating eggs, no one is certain.  Some sources say early Egyptions, Greeks, Persians and Romans colored eggs for spring festivals.  In Russia and Poland people spent many hours drawing intricate designs on Easter eggs.
3.  As time went on people saw the eggs as a symbol of Christ's tomb.  The articl is long and discusses how Lilys, chickens etc. relate.  To read the article click on to "Which came first: Easter or the eggs? a UMNS report by Barbara Dunlap-Berg.

I know this is long, but I would like to say that a few years ago I took a class in Pysanka, the art of writing on eggs.  We not only learned how to do the intricate drawing, but we had a round bread (I can't remember what kind) and a huge candle that burned in it's center while we heard a short sermon by a paster.  It was very interesting.  When the Ukrains made an egg, they prayed for the person they were making it for.  I have prayed and made many eggs for people.  My eyesite is no longer good enough to do all the fine lines that must be drawn so I am glad I still have some of my eggs to display on Easter.
                                                                     
!HE IS RISEN
HE IS RISEN INDEED