Easter has come and gone again – done and dusted. Its period of solemnity for the dwindling number of (elderly) Christians and preceded by Lent which afficionados would say is marked by 40 days of fasting, prayer and penance. Not much appetite for these in a modern world which is more likely to be discussing their holiday plans. Christians don’t regard themselves as killjoys but do like to wait for Easter Sunday before breaking out the buns, bunnies and eggs.
It turns out that the precise timing of Easter took the scholars and clergy a few centuries to decide. They eventually fastened on somewhere between 22 March and 25 April and within 7 days after the astronomical full moon. The preceding Friday, Good Friday and following Monday, Easter Monday, have become legal holidays. The Nordic countries led the charge towards Easter secularization involving a trip to the countryside cottage with a bit of skiing thrown in. Favouring the holiday approach was closely followed by Italy, the Netherlands and Greece. New Zealand sits somewhere in this ruck. By the way, Easter in the U.S. is not a general holiday but does involve “Festive strolling processions.” And, as tradition has it, on Easter Monday the President, flourishing his Bible, or otherwise, leads an Easter Egg Roll on the White House front lawn. Could take Trump’s mind off the next thrift flip flop he’s planning to unleash.
When it comes to the peripheral things of Easter, First Church has an non-negotiable position on the quality and substance of Easter egg confectionary – those bolstered with an interior of marshmallow are in and those larger creations of chocolate, filled with air, are condemned as Charlatans.
To be fair minded though, either variant is preferable to the chooks egg stained red (representing the blood of Christ) offered by the early Christians of Mesopotamia.
Our First Church congregation continues to soldier on without a pianist. Starting (and finishing) a hymn is therefore a bold and chancy undertaking since not everybody can sing in tune. Those who recognise middle C and can hold it need to be in charge, so David gives us a lead and we each bellow out our best rendition. Passersby? Would be excused for wondering what the cacophony is all about.
You may have seen our Ads to participate in Pirinoa’s Burnside Church 150th Commemoration. This is set for 1pm Sunday 11 May at the picturesque historic church followed by goodies to munch at the Pirinoa Hall.
If interested, please email burnsidechurch@hotmail.co.nz or ring/text Tony Didsbury 0274942002.
Other dates:
- 31 May – Books and bric-a-brac sales in the Church Hall, Weld Street 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
- 29 Aug – Sartorial show of the year – the Spring Fling, where shapely ankles, verdaccio creations and sylph-like figures are on display.
