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From Rev. Brock Patterson
"The Ooster Bunny"
Do you have fond memories of Easter? I think most of us probably have some special memory about Easter, even if it’s just biting the ear of a chocolate bunny.
When my youngest child was little, she loved Easter. I have fond memories of the family dyeing Easter eggs with her sitting on the counter. As we crowded around to dye the eggs, she told us stories about the “Ooster Bunny”. She couldn’t quite pronounce her long “E’s” (which is probably why she’s a speech therapist), but in fact, she was pronouncing it correctly.
“Osterhase”, the German origination of the word “Easter Bunny”, appeared in America in the 1700s with the arrival of German immigrants. The Easter Bunny laid colored eggs and visited children on Easter morning, leaving chocolate, candies, and decorated baskets that are similar to the Easter Bunny’s nest. Sometimes, children would even leave a few carrots for the Easter Bunny, just in case the Bunny was tired from all the hopping.
At the Chapel, we are celebrating Easter with special worship services. The first of these services, the Good Friday service, is a truly special Easter experience. During the service, we progress through the readings of the Resurrection Story with powerful music and an inspiring devotional message. This service has become the favorite of many folks, and like our other worship services, this service will also be streamed and recorded. I encourage you to attend in person if you are in the vicinity of the Chapel, but if not, the streaming quality is fantastic.
Good Friday worship is this Friday evening, March 29, 2024, at 6 pm.
On Easter morning, March 31, 2024, the Chapel hosts two different worship opportunities. The first is the Easter Sunrise Service in the Garden. The Chapel Gardens are a beautiful setting for sunrise, and this year, we will provide electric candles to help provide additional lighting for singing. By the time the service concludes, it will be full daylight and attendees will be full of smiles. The sunrise service begins at 7 am and lasts about 45 minutes.
Our second worship opportunity on Easter Sunday is our main Easter Worship Service in the Chapel sanctuary. This service, beginning at 10:00 am, will include our own Chapel Choir and some of our favorite accompanying musicians. This service is more of what one might expect from a primary Easter Worship Service, with a few, new God surprises added.
Will you put some carrots out on Saturday evening for the Ooster Bunny? If not, that’s okay. The Chapel Gardens are one of his favorite hangouts, so even if the Ooster Bunny skips you this weekend, you can probably catch him at the Chapel’s sunrise service on Easter. He’s usually there and doesn’t seem to mind all the people!
Join us this week. Christ is Risen! Easter is Here!
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