Easter Services at Pendle Hill Baptist Church
TENEBRAE SERVICE: Thursday evening 18 April, 2019 at 8:00 pm.
In the early fourth century the church observed at its Easter celebration a service called “Tenebrae”, which is Latin for “darkness” or “shadows”. Our service is an adaptation of that observance and is designed as a preparation for Easter. Throughout the service we remember, and meditate on, the incidents of the fellowship in the upper room, the Lord’s supper, and the agony of Gethsemane. Communion will be available.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE: Friday Morning 19 April, 2019 at 9:00 am.
A service reflecting on the Lord's agony on the cross and the meaning of the death of Christ. This service is normally shorter than our regular services and runs for just one hour. It is designed to help attendees reflect on the enormous price paid for our salvation. Communion will be available.
EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE: Sunday Morning 21 March, 2019 at 9:30 am.
A time of celebration as we rejoice in the fact that the Lord Jesus conquered death, rose from the grave victorious and reigns on high. He truly is the Saviour, redeemer and King of the world.
In the early fourth century the church observed at its Easter celebration a service called “Tenebrae”, which is Latin for “darkness” or “shadows”. Our service is an adaptation of that observance and is designed as a preparation for Easter. Throughout the service we remember, and meditate on, the incidents of the fellowship in the upper room, the Lord’s supper, and the agony of Gethsemane. Communion will be available.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE: Friday Morning 19 April, 2019 at 9:00 am.
A service reflecting on the Lord's agony on the cross and the meaning of the death of Christ. This service is normally shorter than our regular services and runs for just one hour. It is designed to help attendees reflect on the enormous price paid for our salvation. Communion will be available.
EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE: Sunday Morning 21 March, 2019 at 9:30 am.
A time of celebration as we rejoice in the fact that the Lord Jesus conquered death, rose from the grave victorious and reigns on high. He truly is the Saviour, redeemer and King of the world.
WHY DOES THE DATE OF EASTER CHANGE EACH YEAR
Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the full Moon, following the March equinox. It’s a bit of a complicated calculation.
An equinox is when the centre of our Sun is on exactly the same plane as Earth’s equator. The Earth’s axis isn’t tilted toward the Sun one way or the other and the hours of night and day are almost equal in length. Another thing to note at equinox is that sunrise is due east and sunset is due west. March’s equinox is on or around 22 March every year.
In 2017, the March equinox is on 20 March (at 9.29pm AEDT). The full Moon after this date is on Tuesday, 11 April and therefore Easter Sunday is the following Sunday which is 16 April 2017!
The reasons why Christians celebrate Easter according to the full moon, is that it coincides with the way the Jewish Passover date was set, which is the time of year that our Lord was crucified and then rose from the dead. His resurrection was the first Sunday after the full moon of the March equinox.
WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE EASTER EGGS (CHOCOLATE EGGS) ON EASTER SUNDAY
The custom of giving eggs at Easter eggs arose over the centuries because from an egg new life is born and Easter is all about new life. Christians remember that Jesus, after dying on the cross, which is remembered on Good Friday, physically rose from the dead. His resurrection happened on the first Easter Sunday. This miracle showed that life could win over death. It also shows that Jesus has the power to forgive us of our sins (all our past wrongdoings and mistakes) and so bring a new start in God's grace to all who follow the risen one, Jesus Christ. This new life is not just for the years we live on this earth, but for all eternity as Christians look forward to following their Lord into rising from the dead and joining Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. This new life is remembered in the egg.
For Christians the egg is also a symbol of Jesus' resurrection, as when they are cracked open they stand for the empty tomb.
Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the full Moon, following the March equinox. It’s a bit of a complicated calculation.
An equinox is when the centre of our Sun is on exactly the same plane as Earth’s equator. The Earth’s axis isn’t tilted toward the Sun one way or the other and the hours of night and day are almost equal in length. Another thing to note at equinox is that sunrise is due east and sunset is due west. March’s equinox is on or around 22 March every year.
In 2017, the March equinox is on 20 March (at 9.29pm AEDT). The full Moon after this date is on Tuesday, 11 April and therefore Easter Sunday is the following Sunday which is 16 April 2017!
The reasons why Christians celebrate Easter according to the full moon, is that it coincides with the way the Jewish Passover date was set, which is the time of year that our Lord was crucified and then rose from the dead. His resurrection was the first Sunday after the full moon of the March equinox.
WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE EASTER EGGS (CHOCOLATE EGGS) ON EASTER SUNDAY
The custom of giving eggs at Easter eggs arose over the centuries because from an egg new life is born and Easter is all about new life. Christians remember that Jesus, after dying on the cross, which is remembered on Good Friday, physically rose from the dead. His resurrection happened on the first Easter Sunday. This miracle showed that life could win over death. It also shows that Jesus has the power to forgive us of our sins (all our past wrongdoings and mistakes) and so bring a new start in God's grace to all who follow the risen one, Jesus Christ. This new life is not just for the years we live on this earth, but for all eternity as Christians look forward to following their Lord into rising from the dead and joining Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. This new life is remembered in the egg.
For Christians the egg is also a symbol of Jesus' resurrection, as when they are cracked open they stand for the empty tomb.