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 It’s a strange irony 
that many church people 
try to live faithfully 
during Lent to observe 
forty days of preparation, 
yet virtually abandon 
Eastertide after going to 
church on Easter Day.
 
H. Boone Porter

Let us keep the feast
Contrary to how it’s popularly celebrated, Easter Day is not a one-off celebration, but the inauguration of the Great 50 Days of Easter. Just as Christmas Day is the opening of the Feast of Christmas, Easter day is an overture of the coming season rather than the grand finale of Lent.
 
The Great Feast of Easter is 50 joyful feast days stretching from the First Sunday of Easter (commonly just called Easter) until the eighth Sunday of Easter (the Day of Pentecost). These 50 days are all Easter – one long, continuous celebration of the resurrection.
 
Just as we set aside one-seventh of our week as holy unto the Lord, we set aside the season of Easter - one-seventh of our year (or close to it) – as consecrated time.
Breathe
 
Inhale: the joy of the Lord
 
Exhale: is my strength
 
of Nehemiah 8:10
Pray
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast may be made worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer for Monday of Easter Week, Book of Common Prayer
Sing
Theme Party
If you're a person who loves theme parties, then the season of Easter was made for you! Each of the eight Sundays in Easter has a distinct theme and the lectionary readings of these weeks have a two-fold focus:
 
- On the character of Jesus and his interactions with his disciples after the resurrection.
- On the gospel going forth into the world via the early Church in the book of Acts.
 
These readings culminate on Pentecost with the story of Jesus promising to send the Holy Spirit from John 14 and the descent of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. This reading structure offers “a sturdy affirmation that the church is built upon the resurrection and its proclamation by people of faith." (Laurence Stookey)
 
Next up: Meal Sunday (a great day to host friends and remember that Jesus actually spent most of his recorded time post-resurrection / pre-ascension eating with his friends!)
 
Here's an overview of the eight Sundays of Easter:
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This art - featured above - is by 
Stephen Crotts and was created for my upcoming fall release… 
more details coming soon!

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