According to the New Testament, Christ was crucified on the eve of the Passover (Hebrews leave Egypt) and shortly afterward rose from the dead. As a result, the Easter festival commemorated Christ's resurrection.

Scholars believe the word Easter probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name for a teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. The Teutonics were an order of early Roman Catholic knights who went throughout eastern Europe waging war to convert people to Christianity .

Easter is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25 and is therefore called the movable feast. The actual date is determined by choosing the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (first day of spring in the northern hemisphere). This year, for example, the first day of spring occurred on March 21^st and the first full moon was on April 16^th. We, therefore, celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following which would occur on April 23^rd. It was a coincidence that the first full moon occurred on a Sunday as well.

Special Church Service There will be a special church service on Good Friday, April 21st, 2000 in the chapel. All are welcomed.