Easter's Grace in Ceremony, Fellowship

Easter Sunday was a glorious day, from the beautiful sunrise to the Hallelujah chorus during communion to the late evening witnessing. I experienced the full spectrum of spiritual celebration at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Prescott, at home in the beauty of the mountains and at the chapel for Christ Unlimited.

Coming home from the overflowing church service, I had to stop the car for the crowds of people leaving the Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, where an even larger service had been held specially for Easter. As I watched a girl skip by in her yellow dress, I heard on the radio that the American captain who'd been held hostage in the Gulf of Aden by pirates had been rescued. It was a moment of joy, and I believed that the prayers that had been poured out had been answered.

Later in the day, after walking in the woods and on the country road, we rested and prepared for an evening of worship.

Bud, Betty and their guests Monte and Chuck, also ministers, worshiped with us and sang songs of praise to the strains of Chuck's guitar. After more than three hours of discussions, prayer and blessings, we went home feeling an energy like nothing I've felt before -- awakened. The experience of having four ardent ministers pouring out their faith on one of the holiest celebrations of the year is something I highly recommend.

From the acclamations of a large crowd of people at the formal church to the intimate sharing of the chapel up the hill from our current home, the day began and ended with faith in the Resurrection and a readiness to rededicate ourselves in the days to come.