Easter – lovingeveryleaf.com

Posted on April 20, 2020 by aprilbumgardner

The Difference

Yesterday was Orthodox Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead as commemorated by Eastern Orthodox Christians. Their observance of this most significant Christian holiday is often differentiated from Christians in the West by a week or two as they liturgically follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian. Even so, we remember the same event, the rejuvenation of the body and life of Jesus. We celebrate and hope in our eventual resurrection because of his sacrifice and promise and triumph.

Good Friday is a day of mourning and loss and confession. The world is not what it should be. Our hearts are not what they were meant to be. Saturday is a day of sitting with this loss in uncertainty, learning to grieve before we can experience the joy of Easter. Saturday is painfully remembering Friday, but hopefully looking toward Sunday.

Yesterday I posted these photographs on another social media site. My own backyard demonstrated the process and change the resurrection makes in our lives.

As we sit with his mortality and our own, Saturday provides us with flickers of hope and the beauty in his promise. We will not always know death and sickness and pain and sadness. A day is coming when all of creation will be full and new. It will perpetually refresh and bloom, and it will defy the laws of entropy and ennui.

Sunday, the day of his resurrection, we fully acknowledge his eternal nature. We are glad because he is alive and has restored life to us. We can now live with the faith that he will perfect us and guide us into the flourishing life he longs for us all.

Happy Easter, happy spring, happy Resurrection day!

He is risen, and he is coming.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Posted on April 16, 2019 by aprilbumgardner

Good Friday

Image result for roger wagner artist menorah

The work above entitled Menorah is by the contemporary painter Roger Wagner, a London-born artist about whom I know little. I discovered his work by a happy accident a few months ago, and am drawn in by the pathos of his works. Honestly, I am not sure how I feel about his style of painting, but I am frequently mesmerized by the content. I find myself entering the painting as one of the figures, or as part of the landscape.

I appreciate the way in which Wagner makes use of biblical narratives. He often places the familiar Bible scene in an incongruent modern setting. Other times, he creates the surroundings squarely in the Middle East. I appreciate the way his paintings startle me into examining them and questioning what they might be saying about history, the Bible narrative, and about God. His startling juxtapositions of characters and locales give his works a more poignant punch. He speaks both theologically as well as artistically.

In Menorah we notice the belching smokestacks in the background and the dark figures in mourning in the foreground. Symbols of the Holocaust and of Christ’s crucifixion all take up space here, creating a jarring sense of something not being quite right. It is an interesting painting to reflect upon with Good Friday approaching.

Image result for roger wagner dartmoor

Dartmoor crucifixion study 2006

Here is another one of Wagner’s paintings with the crucifixion as the central theme. Here, however, we are in a bucolic setting with gently sloping hills in the background. Again, the viewer notices the anachronistic setting with modern telephone poles instead of crosses. Sheep punctuate the bottom of the scene while flocks of birds seem to move all across the top. The sky itself even seems to suggest angels’ wings. We are given the impression of a quiet night, outside of town, and it seems Wagner may want us to remember both Jesus’ birth announcement and death simultaneously.

Both of these paintings, I believe, help us realize that although Easter is a joyous holiday, Good Friday was truly a day of mourning, and could only be called “Good” retroactively.

Posted on April 11, 2017 by aprilbumgardner · 2 Comments

Lilies in Solidarity

With a heavy heart I approach the Easter season. Death is inextricably intertwined with this holiday of faith. In order for there to be rejoicing on Sunday, there must be the death on Friday afternoon. And yet although He died “once for all,” (Romans 6:10) there are still countless lives lost every year because of hatred. As a Christian, I know these are not pointless deaths. They are horrible and unthinkable. Yet in Christ’s powerful narrative over death He has brought victory.

Here I am talking about the bombings at Coptic churches in Tanto and Alexandria, Egypt this past Palm Sunday. This brief post is a prayer for the families and for the perpetrators that Christ’s love and sacrifice will prevail in all of our hearts. I pray for peace. I pray not only for the kind of peace which erases war and terrorism, but the true peace which obliterates any kind of animosity, jealousy, greed, avarice, envy and prejudices. I pray against even the threat of violence. I pray for the peace that passes our understanding.

The Coptics date their Christian faith and practice back to Mark’s missionary journey to Egypt around 50AD, approximately the time Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians. They broke off from what was then mainstream Christianity in 451 AD at the Council Of Chalcedon over their Christology (their view of Christ’s divinity and humanity). As I am technically a Protestant- although I dislike this term as I am not protesting anything- there are a few doctrinal and practical differences in our faith. This, however, is immaterial at such a time as this. I can only bow my head in prayer for such a people, who for centuries have been persecuted, and yet still seem to endure, who in recent years are only further persecuted, threatened and even murdered for wearing the name of Christ. May He keep His promises and strengthen His church.

We live less than half a mile from this Coptic church under construction. It is a daily reminder of the universality of the Christian faith. Even in the suburban Midwest, I feel a connection to those far away. What could I possibly do besides pray for these people? Indeed, what is the greatest thing we could do, if not to pray?!

And so I pray. Yes, I pray for peace. I pray for their safety. I pray for the terrorism to cease. But as the early church also prayed, I pray we also have the boldness to live lives of faith.

I want them to know we are praying as well. It may seem trivial, but my husband has been talking about giving them flowers in our support. Ever since the January bombings of last year. And so, today, S and G and I brought them Easter lilies. Lilies in solidarity. I do not know if these Christians have any personal connections to Egypt, or any family members living there. Perhaps they have all been here for generations. But, we take this time at Easter to rejoice together that there is Life even in the middle of death. And I am encouraged that there are others around me who are struggling to live out their faith as well.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of the cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself…

Colossians 1:18-20 KJV

Please pray with me for them.

Posted on April 5, 2015 by aprilbumgardner

Easter Sunday

Easter didn’t come with chocolates, jelly beans or an egg hunt for our family. There was not ham or roast lamb for a big Sunday feast. As much as I love family traditions, I just haven’t prioritized the organization it takes to pull it off for holidays and special events. Without extended family nearby, and now that my first two boys are getting older, it just seems less of a priority. Sometimes I allow it to make me feel a little frustrated, a little sad.

Yet, when I reflect on our Easter weekend, I honestly don’t know how I could be disappointed. The Midwest has been enjoying the first true signs of spring. Trees are budding, I have seen daffodils, and the robins are plentiful . The weather is mild, and for the most part, a light cardigan or long-sleeved t-shirt is all you need during the warmth of the day.

My family has been out enjoying the graciousness of warmer weather for the last several days. I can tell, because there are flakes of dried mud in my entry way where my boys have tromped in and out multiple times throughout the day. The bicycles, scooters and skateboards are all askew in the garage from their constant use (and apparently we need to work on training them to return to their proper place). Although G opted for riding his scooter over an egg hunt, it has all been good, solid family time.

Easter Sunday church services provided us with a reminder of the unbelievable nature of what we profess. A man 2,000 years ago rose from a tightly sealed tomb, and we meet every week in his name. We were encouraged to live boldly, bravely and pray for those in imminent physical danger. My family was confronted with the miracle of resurrection, as well as the challenge of living out our faith even in the most potentially heinous of times. A serious message for an eleven and (almost) thirteen-year-old. I am thankful we were present.

As always, we read the Bible together as a family. I am determined to find a way to practice this more regularly and meaningfully for my boys. A gentle retelling of Christ’s death and a joyful narration of his resurrection helped us celebrate the weekend. There is something special about Easter, but I am grateful that every Sunday we have the opportunity to celebrate the fact that He still lives.

As I look back on our “uncelebrated” Easter, I smile. No, I hardly missed the jelly beans. I hope I am correct in saying that my guys didn’t miss them either. Spring, family time, encouragement in our church, and Bible reading. It was all more than enough.

Posted on April 17, 2014 by aprilbumgardner

Rechenka’s Eggs : our experience with an Easter story

Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco tells the story of an elderly woman, a babushka, who spends her winter painstakingly painting Easter eggs to display at the Easter festival in Moscow. After rescuing a goose whom she names Rechenka, all her fragile eggs are shattered when the goose haphazardly flies about the little house. Babushka continues to care for her adopted pet unaware of the surprise which awaits her the following morning.

Patricia Polacco is one of my favorites for her knack at revealing stories of family, kindness and tradition. Her illustrations beautifully coordinate both ink sketches and ornately painted cultural and familial patterns.

This is a rich and gorgeous story of kindness, love and searching for the daily wonder in our lives. Babuskha does this so fluidly and naturally. Children also seem to do this intuitively, don’t they? Here are a few helpful hints for making the most out of this delightful Easter and springtime read.

TALK ABOUT THE ANIMALS – caribou/calves; goose, geese, gosling

TALK ABOUT NEW WORDS (vocabulary)

beamed – smiled warmly
processions – long lines or groups of people like in a parade
quivered – trembled or shook like from cold, fear or excitement
miracle – something extraordinary; brought about by God

TALK ABOUT RUSSIAN CULTURE

St. Basil’s cathedral – the main cathedral in Moscow on Red Square, characterized by the “onion” domes.

Pysanky – an ornate and artistic style of decorating Easter eggs in the Ukraine and Russia using hot wax and a stylus.

Icons, triptych – Byzantine religious works of art representing biblical figures, characterized by large eyes, long, slender noses and small mouths. Triptychs are icons presented in a series of three panels.

TALK ABOUT RUSSIAN WORDS

Da – Yes Nyet – No Dacha- a small house in the countryside babushka- grandmother

kulich – a sweet bread pashka – a cheese spread with raisins Moskva– Moscow

ACTIVITIES

Color your own Easter eggs, of course!
Fly around the house or yard, or even the park honking like a goose.
Read the story 20 times together and cuddle up with your favorite family quilt!