What I did Easter Sunday

• Got up at 5am, made coffee, fed the animals, got breakfast for the kids, got kids and myself ready for church, went over sermon, children's sermon and Pastoral Prayer. Also sent out Easter thought for the day email.
• Got to church early to make sure things were setup, clean, put my sermon on the pulpit, get a bulletin and hymnal, find a bible to read from, put the items for the children's sermon in place, (a Easter Basket with eggs), and to greet people.
• Helped rearrange the Easter Lilys away from the altar area so the song leader who is highly allergic to them wouldn't get sick during the service. Vacummed up spilled dirt from dropped plants. Yep, we did drop two of them.
• Went over to the meet and greet to meet and greet, have a cup of coffee, and maybe have a little bite of food.
• Talked to the youth leader and the youth for awhile.
• Went back inside sanctuary for last minute check, met some people who were visiting.
• Went over to choir room to practice the songs and pray with choir.
• Started worship, Preached, sang in the choir; went back and forth between choir loft, pulpit, the place where I do the children's sermon, my regular seat and the floor of the sanctuary to do prayers. Whew.
• Shook hands with lots of people, some new, some coming back, some of our homebound, and some extended family members.
• Went home had lunch with the kids, and then crashed.
• Nursed a headache all day.
• colored easter eggs with the kids, with dye that didn't work. (Darn, that's what I get for buying the cheap pack.) Cleaned finger nail polish off the girl's bedroom floor. (Kara spilled it and then tried to hide it by smearing it in.) Took a walk with the kids and dogs in the woods.
• Had supper, that sweet hubby cooked, watched a little tv and crashed again.

So what did you do on your Easter Sunday

Easter Under Attack: The Colbert Report

"I seem to remember that on Easter Sunday Jesus rode out of the tomb on a giant rabbit that laid colorful pastel eggs. I believe that is the gospel according to Cadbury." The Colbert Report

Easter Wisdom from a Target Cashier

I know, I know, many of you don't shop Target, but I do. Wednesday I was in there finishing up some Easter shopping for the kids, and shopping for upcoming birthdays. (They had a sale going.) At the checkout counter, I started the usual friendly chatter with the cashier. She was a young girl and a new hire. I mentioned to her why I bought all I had for Easter and birthdays. She said to me at that point, "Used to be when I was little, all we did was dye the Easter eggs, and get a little candy. Now Easter is like Christmas, the way parents buy things for their kids for Easter." I said to her, "Sure loses its meaning." Her reply was, "My kids want a bunch of candy and things for Easter, but I told them no, we are not going to do that." "Well, good for you."

I left the store feeling guilty with my basket full of bags. And what did I do to feel guilty? I didn't want to give the kids a bunch of candy, they get enough from all the parties and Easter Egg Hunts. I decided I would try to find some things that were Eastery instead but not candy. I think I went overboard. God forgive me. The cashier was right, it's become more like commercialized Christmas, and I have helped it become that. Here it is Good Friday. Nail that nail into Jesus hand, Abi.

But I am not sure she knew what Easter really means, and I wish I had told her. Here is my excuse, the line was long, and she had already moved on to the next person. Maybe I'll see her again, and find out if she knows and if not tell her. Will my kids know from what I do, and say? I hope so. I hope so.