I woke up this morning thinking about of all things Easter egg hunts. This was never a part of my childhood memories. I do remember hunting for our Easter basket, and playing an old 78 rpm plastic record of Gene Autry singing "Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail." Our baskets were old ones that Mama had saved in the basement from previous years and were newly filled with green paper grass, and single color eggs, and candy eggs and chocolate bunnies. We would eat the jelly beans first and perhaps the candy eggs that were not so tasty, and admire the colored eggs, until Mama collected them and put the in the refrigerator to cool for later deviled eggs. As I got more sensitive to terms I learned to call these stuffed eggs. Who wants to think of the devil on Easter? The first Easter egg hunt I remember was one that Jean and Ray Atchinson had for their grandchildren at their house in Flint, where my friend Kathy and I had been invited for Easter. I thought that was an interesting thing to do with eggs and wondered what one would do if the kids did not find all of the eggs that were hidden in and around the house, a tri-level on a large lot.
Many years later my nieces and nephews planned a hunt for their children at Woody and Betsy's house. I had heard of egg hunts before these events, such as the "Annual Easter Egg Hunt" on the White House lawn. I never heard of filling plastic eggs with candy until my niece's hunts which continue to this day. Then my church started hosting a community egg hunt, which has gotten bigger and bigger each year. Yesterday's hunt had beautiful weather, but was held inside, because last year's indoor hunt proved to be very worthwhile. The last two years the hunt has included face painting and a petting farm display.
Petting Farms used to be stationary events, with a host of animals that lived where the farm was. There was one at Canatara Park in Sarnia, much easier for us to get to back in those days prior to terrorist threats that have caused us to make our borders tighter. That farm had goats and beautiful peacocks. We did not pet the peacocks. There was also a petting farm at Boblo Island for a while, and I will never forget the time we took the 8th graders to that amusement park on our annual 8th grade end of the year trip. Another teacher, Sandy Z. had purchased a small bag of feed and was feeding the goats and other small animals when a Llama tried to get her bag and although she was holding it high over her head, the animal could almost reach it with its long neck. I am not sure why the petting farm let you wander in the pen with the animals but they did. I was nearby and being taller was able to take the feed bag away and thus free Sandy from her unwelcome admirer. To this day, I would bet if the two of us got together and Llama's are mentioned, Sandy would remember and we would have a good laugh.
Well Today is the Day we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, and our choir is singing a dynamite song a modern arrangement with the theme of how God sent Jesus from His birth to his resurrection with one purpose, to rescue His prize creation, man, from the chains of sin and death! The choir doing it here, is not ours. Hopefully ours will be a little less deadpan, but the song is powerful! Click on the Title to see a choir in the south do this.
Travis Cottrell Worship leader series, Jesus Saves.
"Freedom's calling Chains are Falling Hope is dawning, bright and new.
Day is breaking, Night is quaking, God is making all things new!
Jesus Saves.
Hear the heart of heaven beating, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves,
And the Hush of Mercy breathing, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves,
Hear the host of angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
And the sounding joy repeating, Jesus Saves
See the humblest hearts adore Him, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves.
And the Wisest bow before Him, Jesus Saves Jesus Saves.
See the Sky alive with Praise, melting darkness in its blaze,
There is light forevermore in Jesus Saves
He will die our burden bearing, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves.
IT IS DONE! will shout the cross. Christ has paid redemption's cost!
While the empty tomb's declaring Jesus Saves!
Freedom's calling, chains are falling, hope is dawning bright and true.
Day is breaking, night is quaking, God is making all things new.
Jesus Saves. Jesus Saves!
Oh to Grace how great a debtor, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves!
Are the saints who shout together, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves!
Rising up so vast and strong, lifting up salvation's song
The redeemed will sing forever Jesus Saves!
Now since dawn has not dawned yet, and I need to practice, I must sit with the music, play the bad choir singing it and practice hopefully the right notes.
Happy Easter.
HE IS RISEN!
Because He lives, we can also live!
HE IS RISEN!
Because He lives, we can also live!
