V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2 7 2 0 2 1 THE GIFT EXCHANGE A weekly newsletter for GIFT households.

GATHERED AS COMMUNITY THE HISTORY OF THE

WHAT'S Easter is a religious holiday, but some of its customs, such as Easter , are likely linked to pagan traditions. The egg, an ancient symbol of INSIDE new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent ’ emergence MAGNIFYING from the tomb and resurrection. Decorating eggs THE MASS - 2 for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then WHAT'S eat them on Easter as a celebration.

Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two popular COMING UP egg-related traditions. In the U.S., the Roll, a race in which children push decorated, hard-boiled eggs across the White APRIL House lawn, is an annual event held the Monday after Easter. The first official White House egg roll 1: HOLY THURSDAY occurred in 1878, when Rutherford B. Hayes was 2: president. The event has no religious significance, 3: although some people have considered egg rolling 4: EASTER SUNDAY symbolic of the stone blocking Jesus’ tomb being 18: GIFT SESSION 10 rolled away, leading to his resurrection. 25: CONFIRMATION REHERSAL To learn more about the history of Easter symbols in secular culture and their religious connections, head to history.com! V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2 7 2 0 2 1

MAGNIFYING THE MASS EASTER SUNDAY Reading 1 Acts of the Apostles 10:34a,37-43 Reading 2 Colossians 3:1-4 Gospel John 20:1-9

Reading 1: Take it to Heart (Acts 10 9-48) Have you ever been so sure about an idea that it required a major experience to see the limitations of your idea? Aha! now I see the bigger picture! This is just what happened to Peter. This passage shows how difficult it was for Peter and the original Jewish Christian church leaders to relate to non-Jews. Yet Peter's vision and subsequent encounter with Cornelius left no doubt that the very same Holy Spirit who came to the Jewish apostles at also comes to the Gentiles. Peter learned that he must not call anyone unclean or regard any group as less worthy of God's loving compassion. As your household grows and matures, you are continually challenged to adjust your vision and broaden your perspective about how to live together in harmony. Let Peter's vison be your guide. Be open to a vision of the bigger picture that the Holy Spirit may have for you. Individually and as a household, how can you extend God's compassion to someone who is not a part of your usual circle of friends?

Reading 2: Make the Connection Through the days of , we prepare ourselves for the coming celebration of Christ's triumph over death, and our anticipation grows. We long for the day when we can once again sing "Alleluia!" To get to this point of celebrations, however, we must walk the path from darkness to lights. Paul challenged the Colossians that to follow Christ meant abandoning old ways, particularly ways of thinking and acting that are forgetful of the new life in Christ. He reminded them that Christ's way is a demanding way but one that leads to the light of salvation. Soon our preparation will be complete. We will be ready to hear that the stone has been rolled back from the tomb and that Christ is risen. Once again we will proclaim: "We are an Easter people. Alleluia is our song!"

Gospel: Take it to Heart (John 20 1-18) God raised Jesus from the dead! We can now proclaim with confidence: Jesus is the Son of God, he has triumphed over death. Jesus' message and ministry are true. What he said and did in his life was the work of God. The resurrection demonstrates the truth of Jesus' claims and teachings about God. Jesus is alive in the Christian community through the Spirit. Jesus' resurrection reveals that God works within the mystery of suffering to bring good out of evil. Suffering and death are not final. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so shall we. Jesus' resurrection changes our lives. As children of God, we are invited to live in a relationship of love with God for the whole of life.

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