h t i a F FAMILY “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen!” Luke 24:5
Celebrating the Hope of Easter Holy Week marks the most solemn and revered period on the Christian calendar. Holy Week helps to mark the Paschal Mystery, which includes the Passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Many events unfolded in a short period of time during the final days of Christ’s physical existence on earth. These events are marked during Holy Week. To understand them further, here’s a day-by-day guide. Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, a
40-day period of solemn prayer and repentance. Palm Sunday recalls Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem when he was received with lavish praise and excitement. Catholic Online, the online guide to the Catholic faith, says Jesus arrived humbly on a donkey to show he came in peace as a man of the people. As signs of respect, townspeople placed clothes, branches and palm fronds in front of Jesus. Holy Monday Matthew 21 and Mark 11 indicate that Christ returned to Jerusalem this day and
cleansed the Temple area from shameful practices. Luke 19 indicates that Pharisees warn Jesus that he should silence the crowd’s praises toward him.
Holy (Spy) Wednesday This day marks Judas’ betrayal of Jesus when he met with high priests. Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver for his information.
Holy Tuesday As described in John 12:20-36 and John 13:21-38, some people observed Christ’s predictions of his own death on this day. He was also confronted by Temple leadership for the cleansing of the Temple the day before, and they questioned his authority.
Holy Thursday On this evening Christ dined for Passover with his disciples at The Last Supper, creating a template for Holy Mass and Holy Eucharist celebrations. During the meal, Jesus predicted the events that would immediately follow, including his betrayal, the denial of Peter, and his death and resurrection.
Good Friday Pontius Pilate bowed to the pressure of the Temple leadership and the crowds, condemning Jesus to death by crucifixion. Christ was forced to parade through crowds wearing a crown of thorns to symbolize his status as King of the Jews, and carried a massive wooden cross on his back. He was nailed to the cross by the ankles and wrists and hanged for three hours. He died at 3 pm. His body was hastily removed and put in a tomb.
Holy Saturday Christ’s disciples were heartbroken at his death and observed the Jewish Sabbath in sorrow, forgetting about the promise of resurrection. Easter Sunday The public discovered that Jesus’ tomb was empty and that he fulfilled his promise to rise from the dead. This is a great feast day with worship and celebration. Easter Sunday is the foremost day of religious observance within the Christian faith.
A Supplement to
The Clermont Sun, The Ripley Bee, The News Democrat, The Peoples Defender, The Ledger Independent Faith and Family - Celebrating the Easter Season
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And I took the road less traveled It was the spring of 1995. I was a twentyfour-year-old seminary student driving up Route 68 through Paris and Maysville, Kentucky, headed for Brown County and an interview to become the Pastor of Decatur and Mount Olivet United Methodist Churches. Growing up in the shadows of Atlantic City, the Big Red Machine was all I knew about the area. When I first turned my car onto Russellville-Winchester Road, those who have become so dear to me and I, myself, had no idea that the first meeting would be so important. That night my destination was Richard “Butch” Arn’s house. Butch had agreed to be the head of the search committee for the new pastor. I was to meet with him and his family before we headed to meet the rest of the gathered faithful. Butch is one of the greatest men I have ever met. Still, I wonder if he would have even opened the door on that night if he knew that only three years later, in June of 1998, I would marry his daughter and leave with her to return to my native New Jersey. I remember the preceding three years living across from the church in Decatur as some of the best of my life. Making good friends, serving on the Township Fire Com-
pany, helping round up were very different. funding for basketball Well, reading about and volleyball courts, Paul, maybe not that enduring the unimagin- different. I have never believed able floods of early March in 1997, working working as an attorney on and learning about and as a pastor are inthe rhythms of farm life and how they compared to my growing up crabbing, clamming, and fishing the back bays and ocean around Atlantic City, New Jersey, killing coyotes, nights at the dirt track with my neighbors, and so many more memories came back and made their way into stories and sermons over the next twenty odd years. After a few years in the fulltime pulpit and three in administration at CirBy James Schroeder cleville Bible College, I found myself at a hingepoint in my life where I compatible. I see them decided to pursue a law both as wonderful opdegree in my last portunities to serve. People who find themmonths at Circleville. Over the years, many selves in very tough sitpeople have asked me uations often turn to how I can be both an at- their minister, lawyer, torney and a pastor. It and doctor. I don’t do seems the point of their well around blood and question is, “are these needles, so I will leave two careers compati- the third of these profesble?” I sometimes point sions to someone else’s out that many claim the calling. As a former Apostle Paul, author of prosecutor, I found a large portion of our many opportunities to New Testament, was an speak light, hope, and attorney - or at least a truth into people’s lives. form of prosecutor for a These times were often portion of his life. Of in one of the worst mocourse, lawyers two ments of their life. I had thousand years ago an opportunity to speak
hope to them while participating in delivering justice. But I have not given up on sharing the gospel whenever afforded the opportunity. During
law school and before my children were born, I spent summers traveling to preach at camp meetings. A bible study held in our home turned into a fourteen-year adventure serving as the founding pastor of Crossroads Community Church of Indian Mills, New Jersey. Then, I felt God call my family back to the farm in Brown County to be closer to my wife’s family. It has not been the easiest of transitions, saying goodbye to a fulfilling and often thriv-
ing law practice in New Jersey, to my own parents and family, and especially to a church family that grew up with me over those fourteen years. On returning, we found a place to hang a shingle and the opportunity to partner up with some great attorneys, Yonas and Rink, looking to move back to the Brown County area. John Yonas and his wife are Western Brown graduates. God put us together while I was moving back and he was looking to expand back into his hometown area from downtown Cincinnati. Having the ability to work with their firm and American Homeland Title helped me get on my feet during this transition. God knew what I needed and delivered on time, as he always has. It has been an adventure returning to Brown County with a wife and three children. We enjoy time on the farm and the small-town life of Sardinia. I get to walk my children a couple of blocks each day to Brown County Christian School, sometimes preaching a chapel or substitute teaching. Having old friends invite me to share about Christ at their churches and meeting new people as I travel the county
has also been a wonderful encouragement. In his poem, “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost speaks about coming to a fork in the road one morning and trying to decide which way was better. He writes, “And both that morning equally lay. In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.” During my late teens, I chose seminary over law school thinking I was shutting a door on a career in the law. God reopened it a few years later. Twentytwo years ago, I left Brown County thinking I would never return. God opened the way. Unlike with Frost’s prediction, I have been able to take both roads a few times in my life when God brought me back around. A lot has changed in the last twenty-five years since I first turned my old car onto Russellville-Winchester Road. Decatur and Mount Olivet are no longer United Methodist Churches but continue to share the gospel and serve as important parts of our community. I have travelled a lot of different roads since then, and God has now returned me to Brown County to serve and be part of a community I came to love so long ago.
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 136:1-127:26
Happy Easter!
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Mom is Our Family’s Rock By Andrew Wood My mom probably didn’t know that she was inspiring others that day when she came to church. In fact, she was embarrassed that she made her way through the sanctuary only with the aid of a walker. Mom had endured a difficult three months after falling and breaking her
arm. (Who knew that a broken humerus could affect balance so severely?) And no one anticipated the domino effect of health problems that would follow as she nursed a painful and debilitating fracture in multiple hospitals and extended care facilities. But there she was, completely unexpected,
striding down the center aisle through church looking for a seat where she could attempt to get back to normal and reconnect with her church friends and with her creator. Turning an ordinary Sunday service into a reason for celebration and reaffirmation. Our church is like many others with
stained-glass, dramatic architecture, and a booming organ. But it is uniquely ours when it comes to family memories. Unforgettable moments with weddings, baptisms, and funerals. And my mom was in every one of them. She did not lead or organize the prayer circles, but she made sure that I was in church reg-
ularly. She made sure that I participated and treated everyone with courtesy and respect. And when I was ready, I assumed leadership roles. When my dad passed away, it hit my mom hard. She said, “We have lost our rock.” All of us kids told her that we had not lost our rock - that she was the rock
in our family. This caught her completely by surprise. But truer words were never spoken. Note: Andrew Wood is a Maysville City Commissioner and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Maysville
GOD'S Rx for Anxiety Attacks! By Libbie Bennett, Chair County Task Force Natl. Day of Prayer In our world today life is 'stressful' whether at work, at school or at home. The media recommends working out at the gym or some kind of exercise. Others tell us to practice yoga or some kind of mental religion. But they overlook
that priceless treasure, GOD's Holy Word, that has answers to every problem in this life. Indeed the Bible is a love letter from our Heavenly Father; and its a 'road map' that gives us daily direction for our lives when we are at a crossroad. In our culture today we face 'anxiety attacks' - fear of the unknown, strange sounds in the nite, bad news at the
Doctor's, phone calls at midnite, facing the future, to name just a few. Our reactions: heart racing, chills and shaking, your stomach in a knot, cannot eat or sleep, feeling depressed, are just some of the symptoms: diagnosis" an 'anxiety attack'! At times like that find the Bible and read His precious Holy Word. There are 365 'fear nots' and GOD knows our
thoughts and our hearts! When we are so broken hearted or burdened by bad news that causes an anxiety attack, we must cling to the 3 R's - read His Word, realize its inspired of GOD and remember so we can find His peace. Read Ps 34 to find comfort and strength; And when we're feeling weak, read Isaiah 41:10. We can find the
secret to David's strength by reading I Sam. 30:6 Often our spirits are 'in drought'; then read God's promise in Isaiah 58:11 - why not reach out to family and friends, asking them to pray for you to have a 'sound mind' 11 Timothy 1:7. Watch for daily reminders of GOD's love for you; it's not 'luck' when unexpected bless-
ings come down to calm our spirits. Let's share our GOD stories with others; we all talk about the news, weather, family etc but why not talk of the LORD and be a blessing to others as we're told in 1 Cor. 15:58 We're to be about GOD's work Col 3:23 and 1 Cor 15:58
And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. Matthew 16-2 thru 16-6
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A quilt for the heart By Marc Barnes I was in the military years ago and when I came back from Iraq in early 2005, I was really affected by what I saw in the combat hospital there and life kinda went sideways for me for many years. PTSD, depression and all that goes with it. In 2010 or 2011, in
the thick of all that, I received this quilt as a gift, made by “Patricia” in Richmond. I think the idea was that it would go to a deployed service member, based on the tag on the back, but it found its way to me where we lived in northern Virginia at the time. Through all those difficult years after Iraq, besides the constant
love and support of my wife Leslie and family, no gift meant more to me than this quilt, and the kind heart and gifted hands of someone I didn’t know, who made it for me. I can’t tell you how many times I sat on my couch fighting the seemingly endless battles in my head, with this quilt covering my legs.
Life is much better now by the grace of God, but I still treasure this quilt and always will. I kept it on the back of a couch by the window for a while, not realizing the affect sunlight could have on it, and it faded in some places, but it’s still beautiful, and I love it. I don’t know Patricia and have never met her, but
if you know her, please share my sincere thanks and heartfelt appreciation. It meant more than she realized it would, I’m sure. And one last note ... last year, a dear friend and longtime quilter took my amazing wife of 27 years under her wing and began teaching her to quilt, something she’s wanted to do
for a long time, which we could never find time or money to do while raising our children. This friend paid her way to a quilters meet, found a secondhand machine for her too, and now she’s making quilts as well, and absolutely loving it.
Finding faith during Easter celebrations For many Christians, modern Easter celebrations would not be complete without bonnets, bunnies and colored eggs. As fun as those components can be, Christianity is at the heart of Easter, which is the most important date on the Christian religious calendar. Easter Sunday marks the culmination of events that shaped the beliefs and teachings of an entire faith. Easter marks the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Christians believe occurred within days of his crucifixion and burial. The New Testament indicates that the Resurrection of Jesus is one of the chief tenets of the Christian faith and established Jesus as the Son of God. Easter is an example that God will righteously judge the world by sacrificing His son for the sins of others. And any person who chooses to follow Jesus receives everlasting life thanks to Christ’s Resurrection. Easter is linked to the Jewish celebration of
Passover due to its proximity on the calendar and the fact that Jesus was Jewish. The Bible states that Jesus
and blood, soon to be sacrificed and shed. Christians believe The Last Supper marked the first transubstantiation,
and Holy Mass that would become another core component of the Christian faith. Easter is a time of
Easter are commonly referred to as Holy Week. This encompasses Palm Sunday and lasts through Holy
participated in the Passover meal during The Last Supper. At The Last Supper, Jesus identified the matzo (bread) and wine as his body
or the turning of bread and wine into the actual substance of Christ’s body and blood. This also was the first celebration of the Eucharist
great celebration that is preceded by Lent, a weeklong period of reflection, prayer and repentance. The days immediately prior to
Thursday (the day of The Last Supper), Good Friday (when Jesus was crucified and placed in the tomb), and Holy Saturday (the 40-hour-
long vigil that the followers of Jesus Christ held after his death and burial). On Easter Sunday, four women, including Mary Magdalene, went to Christ’s tomb to anoint his body with spices and oils. They found the tomb was empty and were met with an angel who told them that Jesus had been raised from the dead. A biblical account in John 20:14-16 indicates that Mary Magdalene was the first to speak with the risen Jesus. She mistakes Jesus for a gardener and says to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” In regard to his apostle,s Simon Peter was the first to see the risen Christ. Easter is a time of joy and celebration, and a great opportunity for Christians to immerse themselves in their faith.
And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17
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The Red Boots By Kate Zweigart I glared at my mother as she stood in the doorway holding my winter coat and a pair of red rubber boots. I hated those boots. They went on over my shoes and required much tugging and pulling to get them on and a like amount of tugging and pulling to get them off. And my feet would get all sweaty if they were
worn indoors for any length of time. But to have to wear them on Easter Sunday, a day dedicated to new life and rebirth, was an insult indeed! It was my seventh Easter and I was delighted to have a new dress with matching hat and black patent leather shoes to wear to church. I had seven older female cousins and big cardboard boxes full of
hand-me-downs arrived in the mail with regularity, so it was a rarity for me to have a new dress and I was looking forward to my Easter finery. Imagine my dismay when a fresh blanket of white greeted me on that cold March morning instead of the desired and expected sunshine and flowers. Snow shouldn’t cover a landscape that was meant to be dotted with
Easter eggs and blossoms, dainty dresses shouldn’t be buried under winter coats, and shiny shoes shouldn’t be crammed into red rubber boots! My mother insisted I wear both the coat and the boots despite my protests and much to the dismay of my feminine heart. A frilly frock accessorized with red rubber boots? It wasn’t the look I was after! Fortu-
nately, I was able to find comfort in the chocolate bunny nestled in my Easter basket among the candy eggs and marshmallow chicks. As an adult, I look back at that Easter and grin at my disgruntlement, although the memory still has a little tinge of disappointment associated with it. And as a mature Christian, every Easter I am reminded that Jesus does
indeed gift us with new life and brings spring to our cold and frozen souls. When we are in the midst of an unexpected spiritual winter, we need only remember that God, through the gift of his Son, promises rebirth. The snow will melt, flowers will bloom again, and yes, even those red rubber boots will be put away for good!
Cracking the tradition of hiding Easter eggs Come Easter Sunday, eager children wake up to see if the Easter Bunny has visited their homes. For many families, Easter would not be the same without an annual egg hunt. From chocolate confections to money-filled plastic shells to colorful, handdecorated hard-boiled eggs, the Easter Bunny (and his parental helpers) hide eggs all around. As with many traditions, people may engage in the festivities without really understanding the origins behind the fun. It can be interesting to unearth just how such egg hunts were hatched. As with many religious traditions, Easter egg coloring and hunts trace their origins to pre-Christian societies. These societies developed rituals surrounding nature, the seasons and more. Some traditions were adapted to link
them to the Christian faith. Eggs held associations with new life and
nents of the Easter holiday, as they were prohibited (like meat)
known accounts of the origins of Easter egg hunts. The religious ver-
in the Bible in which women discovered Christ’s empty tomb.
spring. However, early Christians turned the egg into a symbol of the Resurrection and the empty shell became a representation of Christ’s tomb. Eggs also were important compo-
during Lent. But on Easter, fasting ended and eggs were a part of Easter celebrations, particularly for the poor who couldn’t afford meat. There are two widely
sion has Protestant reformer Martin Luther organizing hunts for his congregation. The men would hide the eggs for women and children to find, which mirrors Resurrection accounts
Another account traces the tradition to the Dutch tale of the “Oschter Haws” (“Osterhase” in German), which was a hare that laid eggs in the grass. Children would build
and decorate nests for the eggs and wait to see if they would be populated, according to Discovery.com. This tradition became popular in America with the arrival of Dutch and German settlers in Pennsylvania in the 1700s. By the 20th century, decorated Easter nests were replaced with baskets, and Osterhase was more affectionately known as the Easter Bunny, who chose to leave eggs as well as treats and candy. Easter celebrations continued to marry both the religious and secular to form many of the customs that are known widely today. Easter egg hunts are enjoyed by the young and old on Easter. They’re a key part of celebrations. Just remember to find all those hard-boiled eggs in a timely fashion.
Happy Easter!
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Ready for Something New By Reverend James Dougans “Is Paul McCartney there?” asked the caller. “No,” said my mother, exasperation in her voice. “No, Paul McCartney doesn’t live here. He doesn’t live in Saskatoon, he lives in Liverpool.” Hanging up the phone, she thought to herself, it’s a nuisance to be the only Mc-
Cartney’s listed in the phone book. If the caller had asked for John McCartney, my mother could have regaled them with stories of her uncle, the famous Scottish footballer, and coach. The one who lost part of his leg to a terrible football injury. Or she could have talked on about her sister, the “Wonder Child of the West.” About the Jean
McCartney hailed as a Highland dancing prodigy, whose earnings as a child helped pay her parent’s taxes. My mother, Dorothy McCartney, looked up to her big sister Jean. Inspired by Jean’s exploits, she sought to make her own mark. She married at twentyfive in 1950. In 1953, with one child in tow, the family moved east
to Winnipeg, leaving behind the safety and comfort of family and the known, for the new and unknown. My mother remarks that “she was ready for something new.” An even bolder step came in 1957. A Douglas DC-7, four propellers thrashing the air, transported my mother and now three children from Winnipeg to
Chicago. My dad was not there to assist, he had gone on ahead to make arrangements. It was up to my mother to soothe a crying infant brother Glenn, and comfort sister Patricia, age 3. I didn’t help matters with a bout of motion sickness, a lifelong malady. It wasn’t the smoothest start to our new life in the “states.” Fast forward 63
years, and my mother is still going strong. She lives without assistance in her own home. She had hip replacement surgery last year. It went so well she wondered if they had actually done the surgery! You are an inspiration, mom! Note: James Dougans is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Maysville.
Meanings behind the Easter lily Easter symbols and traditions help make the holiday familiar and special. Eggs, hot cross buns and frilly church dresses help paint the picture, and so does a delicate and beautiful white flower. The Easter lily plant is native to both Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. The plant’s flowering season begins in April and ends in June. The plant produces pure white flowers on top of long stems. Easter lilies often adorn homes and church altars during this time of year. Tradition states that the Easter lily originated in the Garden of Eden from the teardrops of Eve that spread when she and Adam were cast out of the garden. These were believed to be tears of repentance. Historians and biblical scholars say that the
lily has always been highly regarded in the
lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin
Legend has it that, after Jesus’ death and resur-
have prayed before his crucifixion. They were
Christian Church. Jesus even references the flower in Luke 12:27, stating “Consider the
not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
rection, lilies were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is said to
believed to have sprung up from a drop of sweat from his brow when his head was bent in prayer.
In Easter celebrations, the lily represents Christ’s Resurrection, and thusly new birth and new life. The delicate, white blooms can be viewed as pure, innocent and untainted by the world. The flower itself is used in various ways to tell the resurrection story. The bulb is buried in the ground as a representation of Christ’s tomb. The trumpetshaped fragrant flowers also announce life after death, since bulbed flowers often regrow year after year, according to the religious resource All About Jesus. And the trumpet shape signifies the angel Gabriel’s trumpet call. It’s common for Easter lilies to decorate homes, churches, gardens, and more throughout the Easter season.
HISTORY When celebrating Easter, many Christians don their best apparel to
attend church services and family gatherings. On Easter Sunday, gen-
tlemen often put on their best suits and women their fanciest
dresses. Children, too, wear formal clothing on Easter Sunday. Girls in
Color your own Easter Bonnet!
particular tend to wear an item of interest that seems to only appear once per year. Bonnets are part of the Easter attire for many girls, and even some women. Bonnets are part of long tradition of wearing new clothes on Easter that originated in parts of Europe, such as Great Britain. In fact, the tradition even dates back to Shakespearean times, as an “Easter suit” is referenced in “Romeo and Juliet.” According to some historians, there was a notion that ill-luck would affect a person who did not have something new to wear on Easter, and the bonnet is an element of newness that fits the bill for many young girls and women. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the Easter bonnet gained popularity in the Americas. Women and children participating in Easter parades, notably the New York City
Easter Parade, could be seen in their finest clothes with intricate bonnets often wreathed in flowers on their heads. Because Easter coincides with spring, lilies, daffodils, azaleas, hyacinths, and other blooms would adorn hats and hair. Even though the Easter bonnet may not be as popular as it once was, many people still embrace this tradition. In areas of the United Kingdom, for example, children and women design elaborate and ostentatious bonnets. In the United States, some hat-decorating contests still coincide with Easter festivities. Children in primary grades also may design Easteror spring-themed hats that they can wear during holiday celebrations. Easter bonnets have a storied history. From European beginnings to parade staples, they’re often a hallmark of the spring season.
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An old fashioned Easter All during Lent, I toss yellow and red onion skins into my old handcarved wooden salad bowls from Lebanon. The reason? To make homemade dye for coloring Easter eggs naturally. Along with the onion skins I’ll use red cabbage, the spice turmeric, beet juice and other natural dyes. If I have an abundance of wild violets growing, I’ll have the children pick those, as well. And I always let the little ones help. They watch in awe as they learn their first lessons in food chemistry: the red cabbage turns the eggs a gorgeous teal to dark blue, the turmeric gives a sun-shine yellow hue to the eggs and the onion skins are unpredictable but always beautiful in shades of amber to brick red. Beet juice produces a pinkish color. Purple violets turn eggs a lovely, pale lavender blue. The children get a bonus, too: they learn to be good stewards of their environment by recycling items that may have wound up in the trash. I have my Mom, Mary Nader, to thank
for making us such “green advocates”. She colored our eggs with onion skins. When we were kids, we liked commercially colored eggs better, but as I grew older, I came to appreciate just what the onion skin eggs meant. More than just coloring, naturally colored eggs were a way of telling a story and passing history on to the next generation.
Rita Heikenfeld Rita is an herbalist, educator, media personality, food journalist and author. Her website abouteating.com reaches people who share their tips, thoughts, recipes and memories. She lives on a little patch of heaven in Clermont County with her family.
PERFECT HARD COOKED EGGS Everyone has their favorite method. This is mine. Cover as many eggs as you like with an inch or so of cold water. Bring slowly to a boil over medium heat. Then put the lid on, remove from heat and let sit 1215 minutes. Properly cooked hard boiled eggs will have yellow yolks throughout, no green rings. You can boil the eggs a couple of days ahead. Bring to room temperature before putting into dyes. As far as peeling the eggs for eating, older eggs are best - much easier to peel than fresh.
MAKE DYES AHEAD Yes, you can make the dyes a week or so ahead. Strain and keep covered in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using. ONION SKINS In a saucepan, place as many papery outer skins of yellow or red onions that you have. Cover with a couple inches of water. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer, cover and cook until onion skins have colored the water, about 10 minutes. Strain and cool before adding vinegar. Egg colors vary from light amber to brick red. BEETS I heat strained canned beet juice to a boil or boil fresh skinned beets and strain. Cool before adding vinegar. Beets turn eggs a pinkish color. Onion skins. RED CABBAGE TURMERIC The little ones’ favorite as it turns the eggs teal blue! Bring 2 tablespoons turmeric in 1-1/2 cups water to a boil. Cool but don’t Barely cover a good amount of chunked up red cabbage with water. Cover, bring to a boil, lower to a gentle boil and cook until cabbage loses most of its strain. Add vinegar, stir and place eggs in dye until desired color is obtained. purple color and turns a bit gray. This can take up to 30 minutes or so. Strain Remove, swish them around in cool water quickly to remove particles. Turmeric colored eggs are bright yellow. and cool before adding vinegar. Now this dye does take a longer time to set — several hours at least PROPER VINEGAR TO WATER PROPORTIONS (overnight is best) so it’s good to put in the refrigerator while the dye is workThe proportion of vinegar to liquid is the same for all dyes: for every cup of ing. The longer the eggs sit in the dye, the darker the color blue. liquid, stir in a tablespoon or so of clear vinegar. A little more or less won’t matter. This “sets” the dye. Naturally colored eggs take longer to color, so be VIOLETS Pick purple violets, flowers only, from your yard. They should not have patient. After you make the dye, let it cool before coloring eggs. been sprayed with any chemical. For every 4 cups of water, you’ll need 3-4 cups violets, packed. REFRIGERATE! Place flowers in heat proof bowl. Pour boiling water over. Let infuse until Refrigerate hard cooked eggs within two hours after they’ve been found on desired color is reached. Strain and cool before adding vinegar. Violets proEaster morning. duce a light lavender blue.
Dyes left to right: Yellow onion skins, violets, red onion skins, red cabbage, turmeric, beets.
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The Daffodil Field By Donna Sutton In the black and white photo, she sat on the ground, legs crossed at the ankles, arms supporting her upper body, hands just behind her hips hidden by the grass. She was wearing a plaid suit and stylish Oxford pumps as she fixed the camera, or the person taking the picture, with a even pleasant look. This picture was taken in the early 1940’s of my mom before she became a mother. In this striking precious picture she was surrounded by thousands of daffodils in full bloom. The blooming daffodil is a sure sign of
spring, with their vivid yellow heads held up proudly brightening an otherwise drab background. Sometime they bravely hold their beautiful little blooms up against a late spring snow, managing to inspire and reassure us with the hope and promise that spring is coming soon. Daffodils do not possess the loveliness of some flowers nor do they carry the fragrances attributed to perfume flowers, but they remind us of our faith in better days ahead when we see their glowing yellow blooms. In the 1950’s, there was a special field, the one where my mother’s
picture was taken some years before, located on a gravel road near my Uncle and Aunts farm. Our family had moved away from this area a few years before making it necessary for my Aunt to let us know when the daffodils were blooming. The five of us, Daddy, Mom, my two older brothers and I would pile into the cab of our old farm truck for the traditional twenty five mile journey to go pick daffodils. We would bring along brown cardboard boxes for our treasured blooms. Everyone was in good spirits on this trip; we was headed to our favorite relatives
house and on a mission of good will. We would arrive at the gate that was just below their house and Daddy would let one of us children blow the horn all the way up the lane, making us sound like the celebration of a newly married couple! After greeting Uncle and Aunt with hugs and kisses, we would grab our boxes and head back down the way we’d come to the daffodil field. Since it was within “hollerin” distance, we were allowed to go without adults and felt lighthearted, free and full of happy anticipation, we skipped or walked to the field.
When we got there we sat our boxes down and got down to the business of picking daffodils! There were so many it felt as if we were in an ocean of yellow beauty. Each bobbing head of golden yellow seemed more perfect than the last. As we picked one our eyes would be looking for the next more perfect, yellower blossom to pick. When we had as many as our hand could hold, we would take them and gently lay them in our boxes. Oh, it was such fun to imagine the joy they would bring! Eventually the boxes were full and looking about, regretful to have to leave the daf-
fodil field, we consoled ourselves by knowing we would be back the following year to do it again. We would proudly carry our treasure back up the lane to Uncle and Aunts house for our efforts to be admired. After visiting a bit longer and enjoying a meal, we would take our leave with goodby hugs and kisses. The next day our anticipation was rewarded when we presented each of our teachers with the biggest most beautiful bouquet of daffodils, we were sure they had ever received!
Explaining the symbolism of candles on Holy Saturday Easter Week is an exciting time for Christians across the globe. Easter Week begins with Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday, and during the week, Christians commemorate the Last Supper on Holy Thursday and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. Come Holy Saturday, it may seem as though there’s little left for Christians to do besides prepare for Easter Sunday Mass the following day. However, some churches hold Easter Vigil services on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday. During these vigils, some of which may last several hours, priests will light what is known as a Paschal candle. This candle is several feet tall and within it are several rings of incense, which are intended to symbolize the wounds Christ suffered on the day of his crucifixion. Once the Paschal candle is lit, the priest proceeds to the front of the church, periodically stopping to light various smaller candles. By the time the priest reaches the front of the church, it is illuminated with what Christians believe is the light of Christ. But the Paschal candle’s work does not end on Holy Saturday, as priests will then use the same candle throughout the year during baptisms and funerals.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Happy Easter!
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Trust in the Lord changes a life By Jann Brittain Garner Trust in the lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6. I’m sure many of us have been taught or heard of this verse in the Bible sometime during our lifetime and I am also positive there has been times in our lives where we had to do this very thing. We were brought to a place that was totally out of our
comfort zones. Trusting God isn't always easy, but with him directing our path we can be assured that he has everything under control and will take us step by step . That’s exactly what I have had to do these past few years. Here is my story. One night I was awakened from a powerful dream. The dream was so real. I felt as if I was watching it on a movie screen. I continued to watch it play out. The people in my dream were somehow very fa-
miliar to me though I never recognized them. I woke up from the dream, sat up in my bed and felt the Lord’s presence in my room and he spoke to my heart. He told me he wanted me to write a story about the main characters in the dream. My first response was “'You want me to do what?” The Lord repeated it to me. With much reluctance and protest, I said I did not know first thing about writing. I told him I was perfectly comfortable being a pastor’s
wife and helping play music at our local church. He told me that if I would pick up the paper and pen he would tell me what to write and tell the story. I can’t tell you I wasn't afraid and hesitant but something inside of me pushed through that fear and that very day I did as the Lord directed me to do. For a solid year, I wrote. It became known as "Promises Unbroken". This process hasn't always been easy and there has been roadblocks. But with every
roadblock that came my way, the Lord opened up path for me to take. He has put people in my life and a wonderful family that has supported me. My church family and even strangers have helped me on this journey . He led me to a publisher who wanted to get the story out and "Promises Unbroken " was recently featured in "First for Women” magazine this past September. It is available on Amazon and bookstores like Barnes and Noble. The next time God
takes you out of your comfort zone, remember how much He loves you and will never leave you. His ways are much higher than our ways. Trust him and the plan he has for you. "Promises Unbroken" is about the journey of a first-year college student. During a trip to her hometown, she experiences a life-altering event that changes her life forever. Her journey shows how faith, love and courage lead her into the next phase of her young life.
Unique Easter traditions from across the globe Easter is the most important day of the year on the Christian calendar. A celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter commemorates the very core of the Christian faith. So it comes as no surprise that such an important day is steeped in tradition. Easter traditions such as Easter Sunday Mass are widely known. But there are many unique Easter traditions across the globe that, while
they may not be as widely known, illustrate the power of this very special day in the Christian community. • India: India may not be the first nation to come to mind when thinking of countries in which Christianity has a strong foothold. And while only a small percentage of people in India identify as Christian, Easter celebrations in the country are elaborate. For example, in the
small state of Goa, Easter celebrants host carnivals and exchange gifts with fellow Christians. Those gifts include the Holy Cross, which is exchanged after Easter church services have ended. Such services are then followed by Easter parties, where families and friends gather and break bread together, much like Christian celebrants do in other parts of the world. • Italy: Residents of
Florence celebrate Easter Sunday with a genuine flash. In a tradition that dates back several centuries, Florentines load a cart with fireworks before exploding it outside the famed Florence Cathedral. • Europe: Many European Christian communities burn an effigy of Judas Iscariot as part of their Easter celebrations. Christians believe the apostle Judas betrayed
Jesus Christ, a betrayal that led to Christ’s crucifixion. Despite some groups denouncing the burning of Judas as antiSemitic, the practice continues in many countries. • Spain: Holy Week commemorates the entire week preceding Easter Sunday, including Holy Thursday and Good Friday. In the Spanish town of Verges, Christians commemorate Holy Thursday by
reenacting scenes from the Passion, which refers to the short period at the end of Christ’s life. The “Dansa de la Mort (Death Dance)” is part of that commemoration, and during this dance, participants dress up like skeletons. Easter celebrations across the globe are steeped in tradition, including some that might surprise even the most devout Christians.
Happy Easter!
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Missions or some memory about Easter By Phillip Yunker A few years ago I was in Honduras with a medical evangelical team working in a very rural Elementary school. One afternoon when the temperatures began to cool down to around 80, I was taking a break and found some shade for some cooling off. There were lots of people, especially lots of children milling around and playing games. The team was busy and had been all week long and it had been a good week; in
fact it seemed like a wonderful week. There were many workers for the project from the local churches there, more than were on the team from the United States. While I thought about this I realized that I was looking at 3 guys there with me on the playground but also seeming to move around through the project. These 3 were dressed immaculately down to the shoes they wore which were perfectly shined. Their whole outfits looked like haute coutere for men.
They did not speak to me, I did not directly speak to them but as I watched them I realized that this was a spirit, this was our savior, this was our God there with us during this project. I was actually speechless if you can imagine that from me. Everywhere they went things went well it was their presence that gave us the energy and the desire and the pleasure of working with the hundreds, and, I believe was part of what drew the Hondurans who came for medical services and for spiritual guidance, both
of which were provided. The spiritual guidance and encouragement was continued for weeks and weeks and months and even years after the one week project ended. During Lent do we give up or do we give? I think that it is a reminder of the opportunities we have to give during the rest of our lives. If you have running water, electricity, and access to public transportation, you live in the 99th percentile of the world for standard of living. Most of us had nothing to do with achieving that, but we
were born into it. That is, we were given those things. What is it that we have that has not been given to us; I think very little or nothing. Jesus Christ gave everything for our lives and told us what he wanted us to do with our lives. I think that’s what we can give for Lent. I think that’s what Easter is all about is a life like Jesus, a life of giving not being served. How you treat people when you leave your house or when you travel abroad to serve on a foreign mission project; your mission is
to respect others and be kind and to share some of what has been so generously given to us‌ Either through support or through actual physical working with the projects or holding the door for someone who needs a hand. These are not things we do to get to heaven; these are the things we do out of gratitude for the grace that has been given to us through the sacrifice by Jesus, and his resurrection.
Faith and Family - Celebrating the Easter Season