St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Lent and Easter Program 2004
LENTEN TRADITIONS
Jesus and the Easter Bunny
Often parents are uncertain what the connection might be between the
secular world's preoccupation with candy and the Easter Bunny and the
church's focus on rebirth and the risen Lord. Churches may seem more intent in
combating the secular image of Easter with directives of their own. Is there a
middle ground where parents may feel that they are not succumbing to the
world's demands but are still helping foster their child's religious understanding
of the real story of Easter?
The answer may be found in rediscovering the origin of our Easter
customs. Perhaps the most popular symbol of Easter is brightly colored Easter
eggs which, as everyone knows, are delivered secretly by the Easter bunny.
What religious meaning could parents impart to their children about these
commercially lucrative symbols?
Eggs have long been associated with new life. Long before Christian
times the Greeks, Chinese and Persians gave eggs to their friends as a way of
celebrating new life. One need only take a moment to consider the lowly egg to
understand what a powerful symbol of life it is. Out of this seemingly dead and
lifeless object emerges a young chick. For Christians, the image of Jesus
emerging from his cold, dark tomb was somehow reminiscent of this tender,
vulnerable chick struggling to break free of its own "tomb".
Eggs became desirable as expressions of friendship and soon were the
medium through which many people expressed their artistic talents. From the
simple use of early vegetable dyes to the elaborately decorated pysanka eggs of
Middle European people and again to the fabulously decorated masterpieces of
Faberge, the simple egg remains, at its most basic, a symbol of life and rebirth -
a perfect concept to celebrate at Easter.
Parents need to remind children of how eggs are part of God's creation
and are harbingers of new life. If decorating eggs at home, use stickers with
religious themes or metallic gold or silver felt pens to mark colored eggs with
crosses or the words "Alleluia" or "The Lord is risen."
The Easter Bunny is the distant relative of the Germanic people's Oster
Haas, the Easter Hare. Unlike our soft and cuddly looking rabbit, this
European relative is larger and quicker and uses moss and grasses and leaves to
fashion a nest in gardens and woodlands.
It wasn't long before children in many countries were fashioning "nests"
to encourage the visit of the Oster Haas. Of course, the hare's reputation for
large families reinforces the theme of rebirth and fertility.
In some countries the custom developed of children going door to door to
beg for eggs. English children call it Pace-egging. An old Russian Easter
carol makes the connection between the old customs and the new expectation
of Christian people who celebrate Christ's Resurrection:
Easter eggs! Easter eggs! Give to him that begs!
For Christ the Lord is arisen.
To the poor, open door, some thing give from your store!
For Christ the Lord is arisen.
Those who hoard, can't afford - moth and rust their reward!
For Christ the Lord is arisen.
Those who love freely give - long and well may they live!
For Christ the Lord is arisen.
Eastertide, like a bride, comes, and won't be denied.
For Christ the Lord is arisen. |
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Adapted from D. Triplett, Earthen Vessels, Jan. 1995
Suggestions for Keeping Lent at Home
The keeping of a serious and holy Lent is largely a private and personal
discipline. One way to do this is to use "Daily Devotions for Individuals and
Families" beginning on p. 136 in the Book of Common Prayer. These are one
page devotions for morning, noon and evening.
The "Litany of Penitence" from the Ash Wednesday service,
BCP p. 267, is especially fitting for this season and may even be read by
families before an evening meal or before retiring. It is particularly suitable for
daily recitation for individuals striving to keep a faithful Lent.
Many people like to undertake a more serious daily prayer schedule in
Lent. The Book of Common Prayer offers many forms for prayers for
ourselves and others. One form that is particularly broad, inclusive and
appropriate for this season can be found in the liturgy for Good Friday on pages
277 - 280. Composed to serve as the Prayers of the People for the Good Friday
liturgy and entitled "The Solemn Collects", these prayers remind us that when
we pray as the People of God, we are in spiritual communion with Christians
past, present and future.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of (he living God, we pray you to set
your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and
our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and
grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead, to your holy
Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life
and glory; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and
reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 282)
Laetare or Mothering Sunday
The mood of Lent is usually sober, thoughtful, and attended by strict
personal disciplines. However, in times past, the fourth Sunday in Lent, known
variously as "Mothering Sunday," "Refreshment Sunday," or "Laetare Sunday."
became a time to relieve the austerity of the Lenten disciplines and ready the
faithful for the intense drama of Holy Week and its joyful climax of Easter.
Several traditions became associated with this fourth Sunday in Lent.
In England, "simnel" cake (click link for a recipe), cake made with fine flour, was served to ease
the Lenten fast. Today in many parishes a large pound cake is baked and served
at the coffee hour. One of the Gospel lessons appointed for this day
( John 6:4-15 - Year B) is the story of the feeding of the five thousand, hence.
the name "Refreshment Sunday."
In the British Isles the custom arose for children away at school, or in
domestic service, to be given the day off to visit their mothers, so the day came
to be called "Mothering Sunday." Originally it was known as "Laetare Sunday.
"Laetare", meaning "rejoice", was the first word of the traditional choral
introit used at the beginning of the service for that Sunday.
However it is celebrated, the fourth Sunday in Lent is a time for us to
change our focus from repentance for our sins to the contemplation of the
events of Holy Week, which leads us to the most holy of all feast days - The
Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Adapted from D. Triplett, Earthen Vessels, Jan. 1997
Lenten Booklet Index
Lenten Liturgies
Lenten Calendar
St. Andrew's Home Page
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, Virginia. (703) 522-1600
§§Image: Cornelis Engelbrechtsz, Christ Taking Leave of his Mother. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.§§