Easter
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Easter
Background Easter is the most important of all Christian festivals. All churches throughout the world and down through the ages believe that Jesus was crucified and that after three days he rose from the dead. Easter Sunday is a celebration of his resurrection. Although this belief is fundamental to Christianity it was difficult for many in the early church to grasp and so to convince them of the importance of it the apostle Paul, one of the 1st century founders ofChristianity, wrote to the newly formed church: "If Christ hasn't come back to life, our message has no meaning and your faith also has no meaning...."
Lead up to Easter Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday. Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus' sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days prior to his ministry. Lent is often marked by fasting, both from food and festivities. Find out more about Lent.
Holy Week - is the week just before Easter. It is the last week of Lent, and includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Palm Sunday This occurred the week before his death and resurrection. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted him by waving palm branches and covering his path with palm branches.This great welcome contrasts vividly with the events later that week which which led to his being put to death on the Friday. Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with the disciples. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared it with them. The Last Supper was a Passover meal – the meal Jewish people share to celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the people from slavery in Egypt. The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read more The name Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum meaning a commandment. At the Last Supper Jesus said: you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Good Friday This is the day on which Christ was crucified. It is not a day for celebration but for quiet remembrance. The Corstorphine churches mark it with a walk through the streets carrying a cross . This is followed by a joint service.
Easter Sunday Christians believe that on Easter Sunday Christ rose from from the dead. This event is called the Resurrection. This makes Easter Sunday the focal point of the Christian calendar.
There are special celebrations at Craigsbank church - a breakfast and a family communion service.
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