Easter

Easter Sunday came much earlier this year than last. Last year at this time we were just about to board a plane for Amsterdam where we would worship on Easter Sunday with 450 others in a church that has worshiped in the same building since 1607.

It was a little different this year. Church of the Resurrection meets in the commons of Coconino Community College, a building not even 25 years old. The music last year was very traditional, this year was a blend of traditional and contemporary. But one thing remains the same - the fellowship of God's people who are called together and who celebrate Christ's resurrection.

Last year we went to the tulips, but this year God brought the tulips to us. No one is ever going to accuse me of being a gardener, but I've planted tulip bulbs and then neglect them. I hear about how you should dig them up and separate them, then replant them in the fall, but it somehow never happens. Despite all that, this is what we have coming up in our front yard. We've even been visited by bees who like them.

We were also pleasantly surprised when we went for a walk around the neighborhood. Several houses had large patches of Muscari (aka Grape Hyacinth), a flower that I don't recall knowing about until we saw them at Keukenhof Gardens last year. I fell in love with the dark purple variety, and that is what we saw around the neighborhood today. I may have to work at gardening after all.

One of the other highlights of the day was that the COR-tet opened the service with a fun gospel quartet number called "Your First Day in Heaven". The lyrics are a bit corny, but it's really a great song to celebrate Easter with. After all, it's only because Jesus was raised from the dead that we have assurance that we have eternal life and will have a first "day" in heaven someday.

(Sorry for the poor quality of the video. Our usual camera is being repaired.)