"UP TO FAITH 2011" Easter dance performed worldwide,organized by Faith Church, Hungary
(who wants to do this with me next year in Santa Cruz???)
ABOUT THIS VIDEO: On April 4, 2010, over 1,300 young people, all of them members of Faith Church celebrated Resurrection Sunday in Budapest, Hungary. Music: Ferenc Balogh Jr. Lyrics: Shelly Matos, based on the Hungarian text by Tamas Pajor (Tompage) Producer: Akos Nemes
http://youtu.be/QAuEArBqL6E (trailer video)
ISI recommends the following Easter Worship services that will welcome you (most are one hour long)
Santa Cruz Bible Church:7:30am @ Santa Cruz Lighthouse Point Sunrise Service; 9 or 10:45 worship service @ Santa Cruz Bible Church 440 Frederick St. Pancake breakfast before each service http://www.santacruzbible.org/easter2011
High Street Community Church:Sunday 8:45 a.m. - Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. - Fellowship hour 11:00 a.m. - Contemporary Worship Service * childcare available at the 11:00 service. 850 High Street, Santa Cruz http://hscchurch.org/
Felton Presbyterian Church: Sunday, 9 or 11:15 am Easter Brunch 10:15am, Easter Egg Hunt for Children AND Adults) http://www.feltonpresbyterian.org/
Twin Lakes Church: (next to Cabrillo College): Saturday at 4:30pm & 6pm Sunday at 9am, 10:15am & 11:30am http://www.tlc.org/
Happy Easter to all our ISI friends! This Sunday is the most important Christian holiday of the year. It is a traditional time to go to church, (visitors welcome!) have Easter Egg hunts, receive Easter Baskets full of eggs, chocolates and candy from "The Easter Bunny" and gather for Sunday brunches and dinners.
What do we celebrate on Easter?
by Peggy Pollard
Christians celebrate the most central teaching of our faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and our renewed spiritual life. the week before Easter is considered "Holy Week."
Starting with Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, characteristic of a national hero, to the Jewish people cheering and waving palm branches.
Tuesday is also the start of the Jewish Passover holiday, which, from the Old Testament celebrates God's freeing the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt.
Holy Wednesday: is celebrated in Poland and Czech republic, but not so much in the U.S.
Maunday Thursday: when Jesus and his disciples had their Last Supper (famous painting by DaVinci...ie. The Davinci Code!!) After the supper that night Jesus went to the garden to pray, was arrested by Roman Soldiers, and brought before an illegal trial with the Jewish religious leaders.
Good Friday: Jesus was brought before the Roman leader, Pontius Pilate, who sentenced him to a humiliating and painful death on the cross. Many churches hold a solemn Good Friday service to remember the "Passion of the Christ" (Mel Gibson movie) meaning his suffering out of love to pay the spiritual penalty before God for the sins of all humanity.
Holy Saturday: rembering the day that Jesus' body lay dead in the tomb, some churches do a vigil until their Easter celebration begins Saturday night.
Easter Sunday: some churches do a sunrise service at dawn to celebrate that Christ has risen from the dead, as well as their regular service times with special music, flowers and program. Traditionally families will gather for a family meal and Easter Egg hunt (can also happen before Sunday)
Many cultures around the world also celebrate new physical life that happens in the spring, rabbits, birds, lots of baby animals and flowers.The name "Easter" possibly comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of dawn or resurrection. The Easter Bunny who leaves colored eggs around the home and yard for children to hunt for, come from non-Christian tradition of coloring eggs and celebrating fertility. Birds lay eggs in the spring and rabbits are known to be quite fertile!
Christians have incorporated the symbols of new physical life to symbolize our new spiritual life in Christ. When we identify ourselves with Christ as our savior, Christ's death and resurrection give us our spiritual death and resurrection. Through his forgiveness we have power over sin.
