In about 10 weeks

...I'll start decorating for Easter. The first decorations will go up March 20, which is the start of Spring. Easter Sunday is April 5.

This year, for the first time, I am considering buying a white artificial tree and decorating that for Easter season. I'm also considering putting out a Good Friday & Easter Sunday story set (like a Nativity set for Easter) for Toddler and Baby Holidays.

Easter Sunday

"Where, O Death, is thy sting? Where, O Hades, is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22

"Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead." Holy Saturday liturgical prayer

 

 

Following up on my Good Friday post, there are three data which reach the level of 'historical bedrock' concerning the end of Christ's life.  These three data are accepted by the vast majority (90% or more) of New Testament scholars from all across the theological spectrum, i.e. atheist, agnostic, moderate, liberal, and conservative. The first, as I already shared, is Christ's death by crucifixion. The next two are as follows:

- Very soon after Jesus died, His disciples had experiences that they believed were appearances of the resurrected Christ

- A few years later, Saul of Tarsus (high-ranking Jewish religious leader who zealously persecuted the early Christians before converting to Christianity) also experienced what he thought was a post-resurrection appearance of the risen Jesus

Now, obviously, this does not mean that all of these scholars accept the traditional Christian, philosophical interpretations derived from these data. It merely means that, independent of any particular theological paradigm, these data are considered to be well-established by the standard rules of historical scholarship. 

Coincidentally, while this particular datum does not quite rise to the level of historical bedrock, the historicity of Christ's empty tomb is accepted by 2/3 to 3/4 of all New Testament scholars.

To learn more, you can read this article published in the Southeastern Theological Review in 2012.

Easter Sunday at the Cove

Baby Holidays' Easter basket

The Easter Bunny dropped off some Easter lilies to add to the decor

The Easter Bunny scattered a bunch of eggs throughout the Cove

More eggs scattered about

Even more fun was the fact that Grandma Holidays got to meet her Great-Grandson (Baby Holidays) for the first time. Before the night was over, I gave Mrs. Holidays a final tour of Easter Bunny Cove, and she was greatly pleased.  Clean-up begins tomorrow. Then, it's time to start looking ahead toward Summer.

Resurrection Sunday

Image Source

Image Source

Easter Decorating Schedule

Mother-in-Law Holidays has now given me permission to start decorating on the first day of spring, March 20. Isn't she grand?

Depending upon PWIW Holidays' delivery date, here's a tentative schedule for the fast-approaching holiday:

March 20- 1st decoration

March 24/25- The Big Bang (of Easter eggs)

April 7- Easter vigil light display

April 8- Easter celebration; Light Display II after dinner