EASTER {Shoreline’s first!}

Our first Easter here – also our church’s first – was a very different one than in years past…

Joe didn’t have 4 services to prepare for between Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday. We didn’t stand in a traditional sanctuary and sing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” which I think I’ve sung every Easter Sunday of my life. And we were not as dressed up. In fact, I wore my Shoreline volunteer t-shirt and white jeans. How’s that for different?! We didn’t take our family picture outside of church looking our finest, but instead we took it later that afternoon in our front yard, tired and sweaty…

Nevertheless, it was still EASTER.

We still honored Holy Week and felt the emotions that always come on that Thursday and Good Friday.

We still read those Bible stories to our kids before bed at night.

We still had fun doing our little family traditions.

And, most of all, we still rejoiced in celebrating Jesus’ miraculous resurrection that first Easter morning.

Sure, we were in a new town surrounded by new people, but the biggest difference was where we celebrated, and how we did, on Sunday.

After Easter activities at school on Friday, Hannah and I had a little girl time at the nail salon…

We spent Holy Saturday the way we usually do – dyeing eggs and baking treats, but we tweaked it a little this year. Instead of bunny cakes, we made cupcakes in silicon planters that came in a kit from my mom. I also let the kids paint mini canvases. When Hannah saw the larger one I did at a paint party the night before (you can see it in the background below), inspiration struck!

…and Joseph is always up for some painting.

When it comes to their artistic styles, he is as quick, messy, and determined as his sister is precise, considerate and organized. He was finished rather quickly, until I messed him up by trying to help him with his eggs. She took her time, wanting my occasional assistance and direction, trying to make her nest look just like mine.

After Meme arrived in town, we got to work dyeing (and painting) Easter eggs.

 

Sunday morning, we were up and at ’em making empty tomb rolls at home, as we’ve done the last two years. I decided to wait to give the kids their baskets. Joe was gone early and we needed to get to the theater to set-up.

Such is life for a pastor’s family.

{I will say there were no complaints, I don’t think even a mention, of Easter baskets.}

Easter Sunday was crazy.

Maybe that’s not the best word. How about…Easter Sunday was thrilling? dramatic? hectic? exciting?!

Our leadership team planned it all out. Thoroughly, we thought. While there was no way of knowing how many people to expect (big crowd because it’s Easter? small crowd because people are traveling or at other churches with family?), we did the best we could.

We had a mailer designed and sent out to the surrounding zip codes announcing Shoreline’s first Easter service and the sermon series that would follow. We had our volunteers organized and jobs delegated. We talked through all the logistics required to put on a joyful Resurrection worship service in a movie theater, followed by an egg hunt and lunch in the community park behind the theater. Joe’s message was prepared and ready well in advance.

Everyone was at the movie theater, we were set up and just about ready to go…and then, 30 minutes before the service, one of our volunteers called to confirm our catered lunch was ready for pick-up and the store was closed (usually open on Sundays but closed for Easter). So, we could not get all that food that was ordered for our lunch. Even though Joe confirmed earlier in the week that it would be ready for pick-up at 10am Easter morning.

Womp womp. Not good.

There was definitely a little panic, and certainly some anxiety with so many unanswered telephones and restaurants closed for the day. But we rallied the troops and figured it out. Two of our volunteers, Mike and Olivia (who will forever be heroes to us), ran around town collecting all the food, drinks, and supplies we needed to feed 100 or so people. Subway trays, pizzas, chips, fruit, cookies – they put together a huge spread that was more than enough.

Talk about watching how God worked through our volunteers…

It was awesome to see everyone serving, completely all-in. Several of our people were going to be out of town so that left the remaining volunteers pulling double duty. We had a couple ladies give up their time in worship to be in Shoreline Kids (our children’s ministry). We had a few guys not ever make it into worship because they were handling set-up at the park and hiding the eggs. Then, of course, two were out finding our meal!

The service went well. My little boy took a picture while Joe and I were onstage welcoming everyone…

Joe read the story of Easter morning from the Gospel of Luke. Austin and the band played. Joe preached a message, “Dealing with Doubt”, and also told the story of the pelican. He shared this at a church we were serving years ago and I’ve never forgotten it. We like to say, “Remember the pelican…”

You might have no idea where I’m going with this, as I had never known.

Let me share…

When there is no food available, the pelican will wound herself in order to feed her young. She will pluck her breast, if necessary giving until she has nothing left. Because of this, the pelican is sometimes used in Christianity to symbolize Christ and His suffering for us.

It is a powerful picture of self-sacrifice, and both times I’ve heard Joe share it, he’s gotten emotional. I’m pretty certain he wasn’t the only one. The first time I heard about the pelican and the parallel to Jesus, tears fell for sure. Despite the busyness of the morning, tears still welled up in my eyes.

His love for us…

It’s almost impossible to comprehend. It is amazing love.

I didn’t get to stay in the theater for all of worship, which is something I’ve come to see will likely be my reality for a while. I’m trying to make sure things run smoothly, from my end, so I am usually in and out. But, at least I can listen to the sermons online! {You can too! Click here and scroll down.}

So, our Easter Sunday was a little more chaotic than in years past. But it was GREAT.

It is always challenging doing something for the first time, but it was incredible seeing how it all came together. And we had lots of people come, taking our need away for the pipe-and-drape we’ve been using on Sundays to make the theater seem smaller and more intimate. We saw a lot of new faces and there were a bunch of kids. My mom came, too!

We had 170 or so in worship and a good number (around 80) stayed for the egg hunt and lunch in the park. The weather was perfect and I think a pretty good time was had by all.

{I thought I took photos of the lunch itself, but they are not on my phone. Possibly Joe’s…?}

All in all, Shoreline’s first Easter was a success, and if I’m being honest, I am super relieved. Once everything was packed up and we finally got home, I think that might have been when I fully exhaled.

So exhausted.

But so grateful, too.

The rest of the day we were at home – playing in the backyard and doing Easter baskets.

It was 8pm by the time Hannah and Joseph got their baskets from us. {I was on top of it this year and had bought everything and even stuffed their baskets earlier in the week.}

Among the fun goodies were GIVE-SAVE-SPEND jars.

Joe and I gave them each 20 one dollar bills to start. We knew Hannah was ready and at the point to start understanding the concept. We didn’t want to leave Joseph out and figured he would catch on. {So far he’s loving that spend jar…it’s almost empty. Hannah, on the other hand, moved her spend money to save. Funny those two, and how different they are.}

It was a good weekend. And we needed a day to recover, but on Monday, we were back in action with work and school. No rest for the weary, right?!

I hope you had a happy one. I pray that the spirit of Easter lives on in your home. That you are still filled to overflowing with the love of Jesus and the joy of Easter morning.