Celebrating Easter

One of the ways that we celebrated Easter this past weekend was to go to an Easter Vigil at a Catholic church. Two of our friends were being confirmed in the Catholic Church and invited us to come.

The service was on Saturday night, beginning at about 8:30 or 9:00 and lasting for about 2 or 2 1/2 hours. We began outside by a fire, then walked into the dark church. Slowly, the building filled with light as people lit their candles from the Christ candle and passed this light to those behind them. The beginning of the service in the church was then done by candlelight.
One thing I really appreciated about the service was the way they located the Easter story in the rest of the Story of God and his people. They read bits of scripture that told the Story of creation, Moses, the crossing of the Red Sea, the prophets, Jesus' death and resurrection, and the anticipation of Jesus' return. I think we often approach days like Easter as if they are isolated from the rest of the Story. It was good to be reminded that we cannot compartmentalize the Christian Story.

Not wanting to miss the celebration of the resurrection on Sunday, we also participated in an Easter service on Sunday morning. Because our congregation is small, we decided to join the congregation whose building we use. It was refreshing to be in a multi-generational worship service. True, there weren't many people our age there, but probably every other age group was represented. Sometimes I miss being connected to tradition. It was good to worship with people who have been on this journey longer than I have been. There is wisdom in being connected to people who are older that we miss in a single-generation church. It was good to sing the words written by people who went before us. There is depth in the words of hymns that I often find lacking in contemporary praise songs.

I feel blessed by our weekend of experiencing worship that crossed denominational traditions, allowed us to rub shoulders with a variety of ages, and reminded us of the rich roots we have from those who have gone before us.

How good it is to be in the Easter season!