Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 4-14-17

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FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017
Clergy Discuss Their Traditional Easter Celebration
SUPERINTENDENT CHARLES DAVIS ... College Hill Church Of God In Christ
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
This year, Friday, April 14th is recognized as “Good Friday” and Sunday, April 16th is Easter. In the Chris- tian faith, Easter is consid- ered the most important holiday of the year. It fo- cuses on the events leading to the death and resurrec- tion of Jesus.
In terms of celebrating Easter different religious denominations use their own methods to celebrate the holiday. But, they all share the belief that Christ died so that many can re- ceive everlasting life.
The Sentinel spoke with some members of the
DR. EARL MASON
... Bible-Based Fellowship Non Denominational Church
clergy in Hillsborough County about their plans for the holiday.
Superintendent Charles Davis, Senior Pastor of College Hill Church Of God In Christ said, “We are going to do the ‘Seven Last Words of Christ’ Friday night. On Sunday, we will have our Sunrise Service begin- ning at 6 a.m.
“Following that, we will have breakfast and then the 11 a.m. Service. We won’t have any evening service that Sunday.”
Reverend Dr. Earl Mason, Senior Pastor of Bible-Based Fellowship Non-Denominational Church of Temple Terrace
BISHOP MICHELLE PATTY ... New Progress M. B. Church
said, “We begin with Holy Week. On Good Friday, we have service with Pastor Patricia Hauser, of Pot- ter House Deliverance Church.
“On Friday night, we celebrate with Bible-Based Fellowship of Carrollwood and Pastor Anthony White. Every year, we have our Sunrise Service at 6 a.m., and the traveling pastor (we rotate visiting each year) preaches. This is followed by our regular worship service.”
Bishop Michelle Patty, an Associate Minis- ter at New Progress Mis- sionary Baptist Church said, “We begin our service with our children deliver-
REVEREND KAREN JACKSON SIMS
... New St. Paul A. M. E. Church
ing their speeches and plays. After church, our family visits the cemetery to put flowers on the graves of our loved ones.
“It’s not about eggs and candy. It is a time of family coming together and re- flecting on the price Jesus paid so that we can have everlasting life.”
Reverend Karen Jackson Sims, Senior Pastor of New St. Paul A. M. E. Church said, “We begin with Lent Season and I encourage everyone to stay focused because we are so busy and doing so many things that we don’t take the time to just be still.
“I tell everyone to take the time to be still and re-
BISHOP THOMAS SCOTT ... 34th Street Church Of God
flect on the greatest gift you could ever receive and that is the gift of everlast- ing life.
“On Easter Sunday, we come to church not to show off our new outfits and clothes, but to give thanks for what He did for us.”
Bishop Thomas Scott, Senior Pastor of 34th Street Church of God said, “Easter is about the Resurrection, which is one of the principle pillars of the Christian religion. If it wasn’t for the Resurrec- tion, our faith would be in vain. We support the Res- urrection and the fact that Jesus gave us the gift of everlasting life.”
Among Christians, Easter is considered the most important holiday of the year. The holiday chronicles the last days of Christ as He was crucified and died on the cross. He died so that mankind could have everlasting life.
The following are some interesting facts about the holiday:
Easter Holiday
Easter doesn’t fall on a designated date or even in the same month. Christians in the western hemisphere celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox on March 21st. Because of this, Easter is observed between March 22 and April 25 each year.
Holy Week
Holy Week takes place during the days leading up to Easter.
Palm Sunday —- When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds praised Him and waved palm branches
Holy Monday —- Jesus was anointed at Bethany
Holy Tuesday —- Jesus predicted His own death
Holy Wednesday —- Judas made arrangements with the high priests
to betray Jesus
Holy Thursday —- Commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus laid
out the model for Holy Communion
Good Friday —- the Crucifixion of Jesus took place
Holy Saturday —- the day between the Crucifixion and the Resur-
rection
Last Seven Sayings Of Jesus
For much of the time Jesus hung on the cross, He was silent. However, there are seven expressions that the Bible attributes to Jesus. They are:
Father, forgive them, they know not what they do Today, you will be with me in paradise
Behold your son: behold your mother
My God, my God, why have thou forsaken me?
I thirst
It is finished
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit
The Significance Of Easter Eggs
Eggs are symbolic of the Resurrection.
Dying eggs red represent the Blood of Jesus.
Boiling eggs symbolizes the Tomb of Christ
Cracking the eggs symbolizes the Resurrection and Jesus rising from
the dead