Easter - Resurrection Sunday 2025 – A SEASON OF REJOICING - EASTER SUNDAY commemorates the glorious resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Easter has been described as the oldest festival of the church. It truly is the key to Christianity, since it emphasizes the redemption of humans. Note that in the early Christian Church, the word used for Easter was Pascha. This is from the Hebrew word for Passover. The closeness and similarity between the Jewish Passover and the celebration of Lent and Easter should be recalled and remembered. The Jews observed the Passing Over of the houses of the Israelites who had the blood of the lamb smeared upon the posts of their houses, by the death angel during their sojourn in Egypt. This was the final plague before Pharaoh agreed to let God’s people, the Israelites GO! For Christians, the blood that saves persons from eternal damnation is the blood of Jesus, shed upon the cross of Calvary. Easter, like the word Lent, has nothing to do with the reason for celebrating these occasions. Rather, Easter comes from the name of an Anglo-Saxon spring goddess, Eostre, whose festival was observed at the spring equinox. Easter is indeed THE DAY of all days in the church calendar. This is the day that celebrates Christ’s resurrection from the grave. Without the resurrection, there would be no Christian Church. The observance of Lent would have no  meaning if it were not for that victorious first Easter. The crucifixion without the resurrection would not be a victory and would destroy the essence of the Christian faith and God’s redemptive act. Thus, the agony and tragedy of the cross was transformed into a joyous celebration and God’s fulfillment of the covenantal promise was affirmed. ALLELUIA!!! JESUS AROSE as a “mighty triumph over His foes” and lives forever. Purple is the appropriate color for Lent symbolizing royalty and penitence. The liturgical color for Easter/Eastertide is white, symbolizing purity. Along with white, gold is often used to give emphasis to this most holy day of the church year. May our sacrifice during this season draw us closer in our walk with Christ! We Celebrated Our RISEN SAVOIR! Amen!