WITH so much commercialism surrounding Easter in this day and age, for many children, the holiday is all about the Easter Bunny and hunting for eggs.

But the real significance of the celebration is about new life, new beginnings, love and hope.

“It’s about Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection,” Myall Coast Catholic Parish Pastoral Coordinator Sister Libbey Byrnes said.

“All of us today should keep our lives as a memory of Jesus and to do the things he did, like treat people well, be kind and fight for justice for those who are downtrodden.”

Anglican Rev Denis Kirkaldy, said Easter is also an opportunity to share a hope for the future.

“Without Easter and without Jesus, there would be no future,” Rev Kirkaldy said.

“I would like to see families come together and think about the Easter message, it is a good time to stop and pause and think about its meaning.”

To share the spirit of the Easter period, Myall Coast congregations of all denominations, gathered in the grounds of St Brigid’s Bulahdelah last Sunday, to follow the Stations of the Cross.

“The significance of the Stations of the Cross is to remember Jesus’ last journey in Jerusalem on to the cross of Calvary where he was crucified,” Sister Byrnes said.

Community Of Christ Evangelist Frank Flood, encourages us all to remember the hope that Jesus offered for the future.

“I wish that we could regard every day as Easter, because Easter gives us newness of life in Christ,” he said.

“If we could have a new start every day, this would be a much better world.”

The combined churches invite all residents and visitors to share in the spirit of Easter by attending any of the services which will be held throughout the region over the Easter weekend.

“It’s a time of new life, a new beginning and hope,” Rev Kirkaldy said.

 

 

By John SAHYOUN