Celebrating Easter

Vince Orr 

Facebook Post 

4/4/20 

After the President’s news conference was over, one of the reporters made the observation that for the first time in our nation’s history we won’t be celebrating Easter. Well let me tell you one thing, he’s dead wrong. We might not celebrate what Easter has become in that there may be no new clothes bought for that Sunday. We might not hide and hunt eggs in mass quantities. We may not travel home to attend church with our family. We might not see some folks at our worship services that we haven’t seen since Christmas, but we’re going to Celebrate Easter. As a matter of fact, every Sunday is Easter Sunday. Every time we assemble for worship we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pilate couldn’t kill  Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. You think the Coronavirus is going to stop Easter. More people this year will hear the gospel than any other Easter before.

Easter is not just about special programs, although we will still have them at our church. It’s not about the trumpet call or the mass crowds. It’s the fact that we serve a living Savior who is still transforming lives today. Easter is not only about His resurrection, but our ability to rise with Him. Easter is about the hope of tomorrow and the gift of everlasting life. Yes indeed, we will celebrate. We’ll celebrate what God did for all of us at Calvary. How? By remembering Him. By loving Him. By worshipping Him. By praising Him. Easter for us is everyday. Let the celebration begin. Sing with me:

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today

I know that He is living, whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart

Yes, this FB friend said it so well and it so resonates with me that I just had to copy & pass along!

Happy Easter my friends!

Happy Easter

By Diane Forrest

Easter is one of those quiet holidays that kinda sneak in on you.  People normally don’t shop for Easter gifts or play Easter music for weeks on end. Not many Easter cards hit the post office, and since its not a Federal holiday, and it is always on Sunday, many people don't have the day off work either. 

Nonetheless, Easter is a very important time of remembrance and rejoicing.  While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, Easter celebrates the resurrection.

Growing up, most of my thoughts were about getting a new dress, white shoes, and spending the night wearing these hard plastic rollers in my hair, and not being able to sleep a wink!  My brother and I would get up and search the den for eggs, he always found the most, and then we would go to church in our brand new clothes.  My Easter bunny didn’t bring toys, but he always came with socks and underwear and occasionally a cross necklace or earrings.

For many people the Easter season signifies the rebirth and renewal of springtime.  Plants and trees begin to bloom, animal babies are born, and time to plant tomatoes, and pollen is everywhere.  The cold winter months are over, and spring has sprung.  Even though the ground hog predicted an early spring this year, there is still snow on the ground everywhere.

This Sunday I will get up, put on my new Easter outfit, go to church, then to my parent's home to eat the traditional ham, potato salad, deviled egg dinner, then come home to take a nice Sunday nap.  But I will spend most of the day thinking about Jesus's resurrection and the fact that he lives, and he lives in me.

What are some of your family's Easter traditions?  Write them in the comment section below, we would love to know how you celebrate the holiday, all of us at KISBYTO wish you a very Happy Easter!

Easter

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Never saw you look quite so pretty before

Never saw you dressed quite so lovely what's more

I could hardly wait to keep our date this lovely Easter morning

And my heart beat fast as I came through the door

For

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it

You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade

Rodney, Mama and Diane

I always think of Easter as being the time to get a new Easter dress and white shoes.  One year there was even a pair of white gloves, and the bouffant hair dos.  Easter was not the big gift exchange that Christmas is, but we always had a basket full of goodies, hard boiled eggs and socks and underwear.  The Easter bunny always brought socks and underwear.  Every Easter morning we would get up, hunt for eggs, my brother always found the most, and then we would go to church, come home and eat ham, potato salad and deviled eggs.  Each family has their own traditions.  Some get together with family, some celebrate with a brunch, families with many children will have their own hunts.  Some attend a sunrise service at their church, and this year our church will be hosting a large event with several (11) scenes depicting the day of the crucifixion.

Easter Egg Hunt

The mountains of chocolate bunnies, marshmallow peeps and candy eggs are delicious and wearing new clothes and spending time with family is great, but the purpose of Easter is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  Christmas and Easter are the biggest days at my church.  The pews are packed, the music is wonderful, the decorations are beautiful but it is the occasion that makes it the most special.  I always get emotional when I sing the hymns of Easter, they always bring me such hope that I was loved so much that God sent his son to die for me, so that I would have eternal life.

Jason

Easter is also the time of new life in the world.  The flowers are blooming, the grass is growing, and babies are being born.  One of my favorite flowers that bloom this time of year is the Dogwood.  Below is the legend of the Dogwood, and that makes it more special to me.

(Google Image) 

At the time of Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus nailed upon it, sensed this.

(Google Image)

In His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering Jesus said to the tree:

“Because of your regret and pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember."

This Easter, enjoy the day with your family, and give thanks to the Lord for all of his blessings.

Up from the grave he arose;

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

he arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(Google Image)

Easter Images

Old Fashion Easter

by Diane Forrest, RN

I love doing things for my family, sending surprises at holidays, and sometimes just out of the blue.  Nowadays it’s hard to do something for folks because of high costs.  Now if you just have one or two, it’s not so bad.  I have 2 parents, 1 son and his wife, 4 stepsons, their wives and 2 step grandkids.  Then there are my husband’s aunts, 4 of them, along with my aunts and uncles, 3 sets there.  A couple of cousins and their families thrown in, and don't forget about your neighbors!

This year I had a choice.  Either don't do anything for anyone, or cut costs and make something from my home and heart.  Guess which one I chose?  As I sit here writing this I feel as if I am channeling Martha Stewart.  Don’t worry....I’m not that domestic, or creative.  Other thoughts are flowing through my mind like Julie Andrews singing the song "A few of My Favorite Things" from the movie The Sound of Music.  Brown paper packages tied up with string.  Or the movie "Smoky Mountian Christmas" with Dolly Parton.  Simple things bring more pleasure.  To me, part of the gift is the time you spend on it.  My husband and I both treasured each greeting card we got, and keep them all.  My husband would spend several minutes looking at cards when he was able. 

He wanted to pick just the right one that said what he was thinking or how he was feeling.  My father built me a beautiful box from a heart shape quilt rack my husband had made.  I put all his cards that I had gotten over the years and put them in the box - that is full.  When he became bedridden he was the most depressed around holidays and occasions because he couldn’t go out and buy me a card.    I simply gave him some paper and pens, and told him to make his own card.  I love each and every one of them, and have them taped around my desk so I can read them all the time. 

So, as I thought about the gift I would send to my family, I thought about cookies.  Around Christmas, after my husband passed away, I started baking cookies to get through the day.  I made Christmas cookies, then in January I made anniversary cookies for my parents, then Shamrocks for St, Patrick's day, so now bunnies and Easter Eggs for Easter.  I know...you are thinking...what about Valentines Day.  Well...I thought I would make cupcakes....Big Mistake!  They don't mail well at all!!!

This year started small, was just gonna make some cards.  I have a print shop program that has some great Victorian pictures.  I love Victorian stuff!  So I picked out a picture, then added some ribbon, and as a fancy little touch sprayed them with a splash of glitter glue.  I thought they turned out cute...but then I thought about treats for the kids.  I found some cute bunny cutters on ebay, and I already had a 0 from my parent's anniversary cookies, so I used those to make the egg cookies.    I have a great recipe for tea cakes. so in just a hop skip and a jump I had made the cutest little cookies.  I had found cupcake boxes at Oriental Trading with spring designs, so I used those to put the cookies in.

I think its just a nice, fun, inexpensive way to let someone know you are thinking of them.  Hope you have a wonderful Easter!

Tea Cake Cookies

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

2 3/4 cup plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time.  I do this in the kitchen aid mixer and just let it keep running.  Then add vanilla.  Mix the last 3 ingredients’ together and add it slowly to sugar mixture.  When mixed, take half the mixture and put on the counter.  I lay wax paper down then sprinkle it with flour so the dough doesn't stick.  Sprinkle flour on top of the dough, and then rub some on the rolling pin.  Roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thick.  Then cut with your desired shape.  Place on baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 mins. 

Allow to cool, then decorate as desired.  If the dough gets sticky, keep sprinkling with flour.