Easter Services and Masses filled the morning hours as Christians gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Pastors and priests delivered messages centered on hope, joy, and new life.
“Resurrection changes everything,” said Pastor Matthew Judd of Glenwood Methodist Church. “It’s the hinge on which everything in history turns, and to be able to come out and worship and be thankful for what God has done for us is always the highlight of the year.”
Pastor Judd explained that this year’s message focused on joy and the power of the Resurrection.
“We are talking about joy and how Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead allows us to lead our lives with joy and without despair and without hopelessness,” said Judd.
At St. George’s Roman Catholic Church on Peach Street, the themes of renewal and hope echoed throughout the service. For Parochial Vicar, Fr. Brandon Feikles, the celebration marked a personal milestone, his first Easter as a priest.
Transitioning from sitting in the pews to leading the liturgy, Feikles said it’s an honor. His homily centered on the significance of the Resurrection.
“The fact that Jesus is alive, if we are not celebrating our Lord and Savior, our faith is in vain, as St. Paul says and this means everything to us,” he said.
Acknowledging the challenges many face in today’s world, Feikles encouraged parishioners to keep their focus on eternal life.
“We don’t live for this world. We know it’s passing away,” he said. “So fundamentally, as a Christian and as a Catholic, we have a different perspective. If you are not focused on eternity, you should be depressed, because the world is awful and so many awful things are happening. But if Jesus really rose from the dead, as we celebrate today, you have no reason to be depressed.”