Churches remind why we celebrate Easter

Many children around Cambridge will be hunting for Easter eggs this Easter Sunday morning. Adam Saunders (pictured) was delighted to find a chocolate egg during an Easter egg hunt at Cambridge Kindergarten in 2017.

Many Cambridge residents will be enjoying some extra time off this long weekend as the much-anticipated Easter weekend arrives.

Whether you’re enjoying a final beach getaway for the summer, or simply staying at home to hunt for chocolate eggs with the kids, it’s important to remember the meaning of Easter this long weekend – new life – say members of Cambridge’s Christian community.

“Easter is largely about Hope,” said Jeff Parker, Senior Pastor at Elim Church. “Our creator doesn’t give up on us regardless of where we are at, but provides a way in Jesus for us to be restored to relationship with Him and restored to an incredible Hope for our future.

“This is the Hope we celebrate at Easter.”

Murray Smith, Senior Leader at Bridges Church, said Easter was essentially about, “The cross, an empty tomb and a living saviour who is the same today as He was when He walked the earth, putting God on display so we can really know what He is like.”

St Andrews Anglican Church vicar Rev Malcolm French. Photo – Michael Jeans.

Malcolm French, Vicar of St Andrews Church, said what happened during the first Easter was “more than just ‘a conjuring trick with bones’,” he said.

“It was nothing less than the defeat of death and of the powers of darkness. Everything changed, ‘heaven is wedded to earth and we are reconciled with God’.”

By definition, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary. Good Friday commemorates his death by crucifixion, and Easter Sunday marks his resurrection. Eggs have long been an ancient symbol of new life and rebirth, hence why Easter eggs are gifted on Sunday. Traditionally dyed chicken eggs were used, but this custom has since developed into the more preferred form of chocolate eggs.

This Sunday evening, a combined-churches Easter celebration will be held at the Cambridge Town Hall from 7pm. All members of the community are most welcome to attend.

More Recent News

News in brief

Clock fails again Cambridge’s Town Clock is back up and running after a power outage over the weekend caused the weights to run to the end of their cables, stopping the clock from working. The…

Honey bees-ness tackled

Local body moves to protect residents from showers of bee poo are being given a tick of approval by Mountain View Honey’s beekeeper Lindy Bennett. Ōtorohanga District Council has included the guidance notes for beepers…

Call to stall all waste incineration

Don’t Burn Waipā spokesman Eoin Fitzpatrick wants a moratorium on waste to energy incineration pending a national analysis. Fitzpatrick made the appeal to the independent Board of Inquiry hearing Global Contracting Solutions application to build…

Ken’s celebration

A new artwork titled Ka pua, te Koowhai, designed in partnership with cancer patients, has been blessed in the radiation therapy unit of the Lomas Building at Waikato Hospital. The interactive kōwhai tree mural offers…