Tag Archives: christianity

The Season of Eastertide

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We are in the season of Easter or ‘Eastertide’. Easter, which like Christmas, is a far longer period than the days which serve as national holidays. In fact, Easter has just begun and is a joyous 50-day season spanning from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, (at the end of May) marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his appearances to the disciples before his ascension to heaven.

Eastertide is the church’s longest season. While it runs, Christians celebrate victory over death through special services. Church decorations and priests vestments change to white and gold, and worship features constant “Alleluias”, emphasising themes of light, new life, and sacramental joy.

In nature, at least in the northern hemisphere, Eastertide coincides with the burst of Spring into Summer, longer hours of daylight for some places, growth and colour in new leaves on the trees and as flowers burst into life. Decorations return to our churches and flowers decorate as the season progresses.

In the UK, we see hedgerows at their most abundant, with hawthorn’s white flowers lining the field edges.. and traditionally, the cricket season begins after Easter too. Villages up and down the country, will be preparing wickets ready to play.

Key Facts: Eastertide (Church of England)

Duration: 50 days (often called “The Great Fifty Days”), lasting from Easter Day until Pentecost.

Theme: Resurrection joy, life, light, and the presence of the risen Christ.

The Easter Candle: A large candle is lit from a new fire at the Vigil, placed near the altar, and lit at all services throughout the 50 days.

Liturgical Changes: Liturgical colors are white or gold to signify celebration. The word “Alleluia” is used frequently.

End Point: The season concludes on Pentecost Sunday (also known as Whitsunday)

Key Moments:

Easter Vigil: Occurs on Holy Saturday night, initiating Easter with light, fire, and a service of renewal.

Ascension Day: Celebrated 40 days after Easter, marking Jesus’ return to the Father.

Easter Octave: The first eight days are treated as a single day of celebration, ending on Low Sunday. 

Customs and Symbolism

Worship Texts: According to the Church of England’s Common Worship, the season includes reflections on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Candles: Individual worshippers often light their own candles from the main Easter Candle, symbolising their personal new life in Christ.

Proclamation: The traditional greeting is “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” with the response “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”.

Easter Worship – Easter Sunday

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Services for Easter Sunday take place at St Peter’s and throughout the day at our churches in the Launde Deanery Community – See all the details here:

Launde Deanery Full service pattern for Easter

Easter Sunday

Easter services at St Peter’s Church this Easter and next week a special family service at Thorpe Langton on Sunday 12th April, as some of our families are away over the holidays. Everyone welcome.

  • Easter Sunday, St Peter’s Church, 5th April 11.00am

Easter Sunday

After the sorrow of Good Friday and the quietness of Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday celebrates the great mystery and heart of the Christian faith, that Jesus came back to life, rising from death, his body restored and whole again. Christians call this ‘The Resurrection’

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
John 3.16

The Resurrection

On the morning of the third day after Jesus died, the gospels recount his coming back to life. Versions between the accounts differ slightly, but either singly or as a group, the first people to learn of his resurrection were women, notably Mary, who mistook Jesus for the gardener. When he spoke to her and said her name, she recognised him and reached out to touch him. He gently told her not to, as he was not yet ascended to his Father.

This moment is profound on many levels. Jesus asked Mary, ‘Whom do ye seek’ Who are you looking for?’ A deep question for us all on this day. Who do we look for, whom do we seek? What do we want and what do we need? If we seek Jesus, what does finding him mean to our lives both now and in the future?

In the mouth of the tomb, 'Who do ye seek?' Jesus greets Mary against the sunlight, with arm outstretched to lead her from the darkness to the light
Whom do ye seek?

For our children, this lovely day is a promise of Easter eggs and possibly an Easter egg hunt! Read all about different ways to remember Jesus while enjoying that very special Easter egg!

Easter Day activities for children

Alleluia! He is risen!

He is risen indeed, ‘Alleluia!’

The main feeling today is one of joy. A love supreme and glorious in its mystery offered to us all without reservation or restraint.

The Church of England has a really useful guide online called Easter Day, Fact File which you might enjoy reading

Jesus and Mary on Easter morning by Maxine Dodd, pen and ink sketch, showing Mary and Jesus silhouetted against a large sun in the mouth of the tomb
Jesus and Mary on Easter morning

Easter Worship – Good Friday

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Services for Good Friday take place throughout the day at our churches in the Launde Deanery Community – See all the details here:

Launde Deanery Full service pattern for Easter

Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Two services at St Peter’s Church this Easter and a family service for children at Thorpe Langton on Sunday 12th April, as some of our families are away over the holidays. Everyone welcome.

  • Good Friday Reflection, 2pm – 3pm and
  • Easter Sunday 5th April 11.00am

Good Friday

Good Friday is the most sombre and saddest day of the Christian calendar. We remember Jesus’s death upon the Cross; the most brutal end to life we could imagine. We remember his sacrifice, his promises and kindness to the prisoner crucified with him and the awful moment we all feel at times, that God, his father abandoned him in his greatest hour of need.

Why is it Called Good Friday?

This strange name for something so horrendous seems almost cruel in its irony. The reason for this paradox perhaps, lies in the evolution of our language and the way words change their meaning over time. The word ‘good’ in older times also meant ‘pious’ and reflected personal behaviour. In other words, ‘being good’. So ‘Good Friday’ was a day to observe, pray, fast and remember the death of Jesus. To be ‘good’ on that Friday and behave appropriately, as we would when a loved-one dies, seems more understandable in that context.

The real reason why Good Friday is ‘Good’

‘Good Friday’ though has always been about hope in the worst of times. The word, ‘good’ is used for this day, because Jesus’s dreadful death was not the end. In fact, it was the beginning. Jesus’s suffering and death on his cross was the last sacrifice. Everyone who comes to him will find salvation and love.

The most beautiful gift of love and new life, which can be described with only one word…GOOD

Good Friday for children

Traditionally, in the UK, Good Friday is marked by eating hot cross buns – a lovey soft bread flavoured with cinnamon and marked with crosses, served hot and oozing with butter! A super treat after six weeks of restraint during Lent. Hot cross buns are on sale everywhere and throughout the year, but to enjoy one on Good Friday is a real treat.

Making an Easter Garden

Making an Easter Garden, or drawing or painting one is a lovely Good Friday activity. These miniature gardens are made simply on a plant pot tray, with a little plant pot disguised as the tomb, with a cloth inside and a stone cover. This stone comes off on Easter Sunday. The surrounding tray is filled with little plants or grass to represent the hill and topped with the three crosses, of Jesus and the two men crucified alongside him.

More details can be found here

Good Friday activities

The Church of England has a really useful guide online called Good Friday Fact File which you might enjoy reading

Three Crosses on the hillside a drawing by Maxine Dodd artist in pen and ink on white paper - The three crosses and hanging figures are seen in silhouette with a large white sun behind - the figures of Mary and John are suggested below Jesus in the centre
Three crosses on the hillside, pen and ink drawing by Maxine Dodd