Easter 2016

I'm starting to come around.  I'll never be a "B", but the corners of my type-A are becoming a bit more 'rounded.'  

It used to annoy me that more planning didn't take place.  But when you start to live life here, well, then you start to see why things are the way they are.

We started planning the Easter service a month early, but it didn't seem to matter.  What we planned, and what actually transpired were quite a bit different.

I suppose the time change didn't help matters (it started more than 30 minutes late, because other than the participants, no one else was here 'on time'). 

The lead in the drama was ill and couldn't perform.

The 'potluck' consisted of 2 small plates of desserts (we 'advertised' lunch).

But in the end He came, and it all came together beautifully.  It was a happy, joyous morning together.

We brought out the Resurrection Eggs for a children's message.

How exciting to hear them call out explanations for the tokens inside each egg which told the Easter story.  They are getting it!

Then to hear the reason for our need of Easter as told by two puppet friends.  I loved the adults' smiles during these messages aimed at the children. I don't know who enjoyed those bits more!

I want to take a moment and give a special thanks to our friends at Media Shout church presentation software.  They generously gifted us with a copy of their software program that allows Nathan to seamlessly integrate graphics, videos, audio files (we occasionally play dramatized readings of Scripture in lieu of live reading), and the like  (which is especially helpful when plans get changed on the fly).

Genti shared a wonderful message about Christ's resurrection.  He shared that Christ chose to give the news of his resurrection not to the big burly Roman guards at the tomb but to two women.  Given that our church is primarily women and children, it touched me that Genti chose to point out this fact and affirm that women are special to the heart of God.

We were so touched that one of Reni's teachers (the one who always picks him up from the car each morning) took us up on our invitation to attend Easter service.

Following the service we had plates of ham and cheese sandwiches, crackers, cake and soda.  And the weather was so nice, a pick-up game of volleyball ensued!