Easter triumph, Easter joy!

We gathered in the school courtyard for the blessing of the new fire, which I attempted to capture on my iPhone. You can watch it here. After heading into the Church (and many of us relighting our candles), the liturgy continued with the Service of Light, the Service of Readings (yes, all twelve of them, plus two sung canticles), Reception of New Members (yeah!!!!!), Service of Prayer, Service of the Eucharist. Pastor gave us St. John Chrysostom’s incomparable homily. It was long, exhausting, and completely joy filled. 

We headed home and enjoyed some snacks to break the Triduum fast before we hit the hay. This morning, choir gathered at 6 to practice, and Easter Matins was held at 6:30. Pastor was liturgist and vicar served up a delightful homily on John 20 that missed none of the Old Testament allusions in that account. I realized his preaching reminded me quite a bit of Johann Gerhard’s sermons with their frequent OT illustrations. I’m certain it is the only Easter homily I’ve ever heard that wrapped up with Song of Songs! Beautiful.

After a fine Easter breakfast served by our Walther Leaguers, and one more choir practice, the Mass of the Resurrection began. We were joined by a guest trumpeter who just sent things, well, over the top. Our regular trumpeters are always a blessing, but this guy… Awesome! The whole weekend the organ’s new zimbelstern played for our Gloria in Excelsis, for Sanctus, and for any doxological stanzas. Pastor gave us an excellent sermon framed by some comments of the Dean of Westminster about not seeing the Queen again. Um. WRONG! As he preached the truth of the resurrection to us from all the readings, the joyful hope that Christ’s resurrection brings our hearts just grew and grew. I’m so glad that Elizabeth would have not hesitated to correct the Dean, “Oh, but my dear sir, we shall most certainly see each other again.”

After the liturgy we headed home to a delicious Greek themed Easter: cheeses, then Lamb-beef-feta balls with tzaziki, chicken souvlaki, baklava and a whole bunch of other goodies. The children got to enjoy their second easter egg hunt of the day. And then folks dispersed. So glad that we got to spend the day with two of my three children’s family (sniff, sniff, missed my eldest’s crew), and that they got to spend it with us and Opa (Cindi’s dad). Another four generation feast for the books.