Glorious Easter

As is tradition for the Monday after Easter I have

to post about our day.

We, of course, began the formal part 

of the celebrations at a local park for our

"Sonrise Service".

I put that in quotations for a couple of reasons.

One...we intentionally misspell it and 

Two...it happens way later than sunrise.

That doesn't matter to us.

In fact that is the way we prefer it.

With so many families driving nearly an hour

to worship with us it just wouldn't be fair to 

ask them to be there at the crack of dawn.

So, 8:15am yesterday found us tramping through 

wet grass to come pondside for our brief service

which included a reading of the resurrection story, 

prayer and the singing of Up From the Grave He Arose.

We then asked everyone to gather closer

together for a group photo.

 

It was so striking to those of us who have been

there since the first Sonrise Service how much 

the church has grown.

How much we love all of these wonderful 

families and appreciate the rich friendships.

We did, however, miss Tim, Lindsay and Emily Rabe,

as they are on an adventure in Senegal.

You can read bits and pieces about their journey 

at Deanna's blog....Creekside Cottage.

Everyone convoyed back to the church for a delightful

breakfast.  Everyone was so enthusiastic and signed up 

to bring so much food.  

Since I sent the sign up form with Warren last week 

and stayed home sick I was thrilled when he brought it back

all filled up.

Georgia and I were kept busy making hot waffles

until people could eat no more.

I also took a sausage egg and cheese casserole, 

Baked oatmeal and fruit and yogurt parfaits.

Actually, I was making the parfaits at the church just 

before running for the Sonrise Service.

Chelsea was prepping the hot water and coffee

as we know that chilly people enjoy this straight away

upon their arrival.

While the majority enjoyed more of 

The Truth Project during our Sunday School time

the clean up crew was busy.

I appreciate the faithfulness of these ladies to 

the work of the church.

Do not feel bad for us....

We enjoyed our time together.

Worship service was awesome.

We set a new record for attendance with more

than 75 there.

Since we are not about numbers this is not

really the point....

but let me tell you that the music bursting out 

of that many rejoicing bodies makes one 

really believe that HE AROSE!

We came home to a delightful Easter dinner

at Georgia's house.  She and Mom worked together

to make a traditional meal of ham, mashed potatoes, 

baked pineapple, yams, deviled eggs and more.

Pastor Mike was with us.

We lingered over that for a very long time....

moved to the living room for another long 

time of great conversation and then 

our friend, Denny came over.

Soon it was time for a bite for supper so out came 

the leftovers.

More time of conversation at the table.

Then our friend Jenny joined us and the sharing

of testimonies and stories went late into the evening.

We ended our most wonderful day with prayer

around that table.

We are pretty stinkin' blessed.

In so many ways.

The only downside to the day was that 

Georgia's sink decided that it couldn't drain

 so much of the 

time that the rest of us were sitting at the table chatting

Warren and Georgia were listening from the kitchen

as they worked to open a clogged pipe.

While they made progress it was not completely 

open yet last night. 

I'll have to ask Georgia if it is better today.

How was your Easter?

Did you celebrate His goodness in defeating death

in your services and with your families?

Pastor Mike surprised Mom and I by quoting a 

part of my Dad's Poem, 

When Death Began to Die.

Tears.

They tried to pop out.

But I successfully blinked them back.

Made my heart smile, though.