Celebrating Eastertide
Find a way to celebrate the new life we have in Christ. What is more worthy of a lengthy celebration than Christ’s resurrection?
Photo by Andre Furtado
This past Sunday, my pastor hurried to the back of the narthex to run a cotton candy machine. Kids lined up for the sugary treat. Once they were served, adults were free to indulge.
The reason?
My church is celebrating Eastertide right now.
In various Christian traditions, believers go through a 40-day period of lamenting and contemplating Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Lent), leading up to Easter. When Easter arrives, we often celebrate the resurrection for one only day, then we go on with our lives. But traditionally, Christians celebrated the resurrection for 40 days, post Easter (until the Ascension), or for 50 days (between Easter and Pentecost).
There’s a time to lament, and there’s a time to celebrate. There’s a time to give up something for Christ, and there’s a time to celebrate what he has done – conquered sin and death and offered us new life.
We live on the other side of the cross and resurrection. Romans 6:4 (ESV) says it well: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
There are so many ways a Christian can walk in the newness of life, celebrating Eastertide: You could:
Sing Forty Days of Eastertide or This Joyful Eastertide.
Keep singing Easter hymns (He Arose, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Jesus Paid it All).
Use Easteride-focused liturgy, like this from the Book of Common Prayer.
Recite the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed or any number of other creeds that your faith tradition embraces.
Immerse yourself in the four Gospel accounts of Christ’s life.
Does your church or family use advent candles? Maybe use a Paschal candle for Eastertide.
Do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do (think: cotton candy), as a way to celebrate.
