EASTER is a time when families gather, school children have holidays, camping grounds are full and chocolate is high on everyone's wish list.
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But for Christians it signifies much more.
At this special time the community's spiritual leaders have given us some words to contemplate.
Father Donnelly
St Agnes Parish
THIS week, which Christians refer to as Holy Week or the Great Week, presents us with a strange narrative.
It is a week recalling hatred, betrayal, injustice, cowardice, violence, despair and dominating the whole scenario, a great love and a splendid hope.
There is the jealous hatred of the ruling class who felt threatened by the man claiming to be the Messiah, and proving it with his teachings and miracles; the betrayal of Judas, a trusted apostle; the unjust trial and condemnation of Jesus; the violent scourging and crucifixion and the cry by the son of God: "Why have you forsaken me?".
Jesus prays for his persecutors, a prayer of love and forgiveness - "Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing".
Then there was the cowardice of the apostles who abandoned him and the profound fear and despair of his followers in the aftermath of the crucifixion.
But while the world slept in the early morning of that first Easter Sunday, the event took place that has inspired love and hope in the hearts of untold millions of believers since - Christ rising in glory for the dead.
What we have seen in the resurrection of Christ is the impossible become a reality, life emerge from death.
The good news that the resurrection of Jesus Christ brings us is that nothing can destroy us, not sorrow, not rejection, not pain, not sin, not even death itself.
The famous writer C S Lewis wrote: "One must keep pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important".
Archdeacon John West
Rector, The Anglican Parish of Port Macquarie
EASTER - IT is all about qualifications.
You seem to need qualifications for everything these days. When I was a chaplain and member of the Rural Fire Service we needed training to use a chain saw, connect a hose, and even climb a ladder.
That wasn't too hard, but in many areas of life the standards are so high that most of the world's population would fail to qualify (take the Olympics for example).
Now there is a verse in the Bible (Romans 3) which reads: "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
In one translation it goes on to say, "Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ."
That's where the good news of Easter comes in.
While we couldn't qualify or be good enough for God's perfect Kingdom, Jesus qualified for us by living a perfect life and then dying for all our failures.
When Jesus rose from the dead it was the evidence of this truth and the assurance of eternal life in God's Kingdom for those who receive Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
That is good news indeed and well-worth celebrating!
Reverend Malcolm Hausler
Port Macquarie Uniting Church
SOMETHING old, something new
There is a certain attraction with new things.
The first drive of a new car, excitedly looking up facebook to see the new posts, putting on that new set of clothes for the first time, catching the first wave of the day, all give us a certain buzz.
Eventually though, the newness wears off, we discard it and we look for the next new thing. In the same manner many have left off the Easter message about Jesus Christ.
It all may have been new once, even drawn a bit of interest and involvement, but with the passing of time we move on to other things.
Granted, it is a message that has been around for a long time, yet it still puts forward the proclamation of new life.
Not new life in a totally open-ended and undefined way, but new life because it opens up the way to be part of God's kingdom through what Jesus Christ did.
The Easter message brings new life in terms of being reconciled to God, being renewed in heart and mind in such a way that impacts how we live now and brings us a glorious and secure future with God beyond death.
The point about this message of life is that it does not deteriorate, tarnish, fade or lose its significance; it is not time dependant.
The opportunity is here for all of us over this Easter period to not only hear the message of life that God makes known to us in Jesus Christ, but to enter into and experience that life personally. Why not check it out - it may be just the thing you have been searching for all this time.