Passover in 2010 will start on Tuesday, the 30th of March and will continue for 7 days until Monday, the 5th of April.
Note that in the Jewish calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Passover on the sunset of Monday, the 29th of March.
Celebrate new beginnings with Wesley Mission Sydney this Easter, 2009. View a montage of Wesley Missions past productions of The Palm Sunday Procession and The Good Friday Way of the Cross Procession with performances from Wesley Institute students. Also, included are clips from our live Easter Sunrise telecasts and preview footage of our Channel 9 documentary, Runaway to Freedom.
Marina Prior, Darlene Zschech and Daniel Kay brought the Opera House to life with their voices at Wesley Mission’s Easter Sunrise Service on 12 April. The 6am service was televised nationally on Channel 7 and broadcast on seven Christian radio stations across the country. Wesley Mission CEO, Rev. Keith Garner, delivered a powerful sermon on the hope and new beginning that Jesus’ resurrection offers to all who choose to follow Jesus.
The service was held in the Northern Foyer of the Opera House’s Concert Hall and was filled to overflowing, with over 100 attendees having to stand.
Mrs Prior, a musical theatre star who is currently performing in Guys and Dolls at the Capitol Theatre, moved the crowd with her soulful voice. She sung in the Easter dawn with Was it a Morning Like This and joined Daniel Kay for a duet of The Prayer.
Mrs Prior was interviewed by Mr Garner about what her Christian faith means to her and about her work with Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian humanitarian aid organisation run by evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham.
“I’m not validated by my career; I’m validated by who I am in Christ,” Mrs Prior told the audience.
Ms Zschech, an internationally known Christian singer, songwriter and worship leader, captivated the audience with Worthy is the Lamb and Hosanna. The gathered faithful joined her, raising their voices in worship with even Mrs Prior spotted singing along to Hosanna.
Mr Kay, who has performed as a back-up vocalist for Barry Manilow and Michael Bolton, opened the service with a stellar performance of Great South Land and closed with Up from the Grave He Arose.
In between the musical performances, Mr Garner turned to Mark 16:1-8, the shortest Easter account, for his message that hope can be found in Jesus’ resurrection and death is “swallowed up in his victory”.
“As the sun emerges across our beautiful land the most important message is that Jesus Christ who died has been raised, bringing a new sense of hope and purpose to our world,” Mr Garner said.
Despite the early starting time, attendees said they were thrilled to spend Easter morning at the Opera House.
“I’m thankful to God for the opportunity to worship him with all these people,” said Robert Silva, a university student from Sri Lanka.
People watching and listening to the service across Australia and New Guinea emailed Wesley Mission to share how much they enjoyed the program.
“I am spending this Easter weekend alone as my kids are elsewhere and it is with wonder and joy that I turned the TV on to find this celebration,” wrote Lorna Hamilton. “Now I feel a part of the family of God and not just one single woman worshipping alone.”
“As a 30-year-old average Aussie mum, many of my friends and teenagers do not see the church as modern and relevant to them, but this morning you have shown the message of Jesus is strong always and forever,” wrote Pip Dos Santos of Fairy Meadow, New South Wales.
LORD taught us to rest 1 day every 6 days, 1 week every 6 months, 1 year every 6 years, 2 consecutive years every 50 years.
LORD also taught the female to rest 7 days at menstruation, 40 days after giving birth to a boy, and 80 days after giving birth to a girl. [Lev 12].
A car needs replacement parts, so is our body. We need rest so that our body can repair itself. Continuous working without rest will wear out our body parts, and we will become sick.
Feast of Passover is from 14th day to the 21st day (lunar Calendar, which is the week after full moon) of the first month.
LORD taught us not to appear before Him empty-handed [Ex 23:15]. What we have earned in 6 months, we should not spend all the money ourselves, but use some towards the poor and needy, the orphans and widows. We should buy nutritous food and invite them to our house to have a joyous time together.
Most important of all is to remember our Lord Jesus, who was so humble and meek, and was so obedient to the will of LORD, to give up his life on the cross. The present world is a difficult world for Christians, and very often, we are tempted to take vengeance with our own hand, and forget Jesus teachings of "bear the cross to follow him every day" [Luke 9:23].
Remember brother Peter's words about Lord : "... because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. " [1 Peter 2:21-23]
The President Obama and First Lady speak at the 2009 Easter Egg Roll, a White House tradition since 1878 and the largest public event held at the White House since the day after the Inauguration.
A short video montage of the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll - President Obama's first. Narrated by Christina Bellantoni, White House correspondent for The Washington Times
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it" (John 3:16-17).
The Last Supper (Mark chapter 14) So the two disciples went on ahead into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.
In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. As they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said,
"The truth is, one of you will betray Me, one of you who is here eating with Me."
Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask Him, "I'm not the one, am I?"
He replied,
"It is one of you twelve, one who is eating with Me now. For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for My betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!"
As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,
"Take it, for this is My body."
And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them,
"This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people. I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God."
Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. A La Croix (At The Cross) - Hillsong
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said,
"Sit here while I go and pray."
He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be filled with horror and deep distress. He told them,
"My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with Me."
He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass him by.
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will, not Mine."
Then He returned and found the disciples asleep.
"Simon!" He said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with Me even one hour? Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak."
Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating His pleadings.
Again He returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say. When He returned to them the third time, He said,
"Still sleeping? Still resting? Enough! The time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let's be going. See, My betrayer is here!"
Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
And immediately, as He said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law and the other leaders. Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give Him the kiss of greeting. Then you can take Him away under guard."
As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. "Teacher!" he exclaimed, and gave Him the kiss. Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant. Jesus asked them,
The Resurrection - Jesus Is Risen! (Mark chapter 16 )
The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus' body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb. On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone - a very large one - had already been rolled aside. So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, "Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died!" The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk. It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, and the first person who saw Him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they didn't believe her.
Afterward He appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn't recognize Him at first because He had changed His appearance. When they realized who He was, they rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later He appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief - their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And then He told them,
"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them."
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. God continues to live! That's the message of Easter. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!
Muhammad died, and was buried. His faithful followers take pilgrimages to visit his remains, the same is true of Buddha and other religious leaders. But it is not true of Jesus. You cannot visit His remains, you can only visit His empty grave, because He isn't there. He Arose!
That's why we celebrate Easter! Jesus Christ is alive and He loves you! He created you and longs to have a personal relationship with you. You can know Him personally by receiving Him into your life. Receiving Christ involves trusting Christ to come into your life to forgive your sins and make you want He wants you to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of your will. When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient.
When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.
When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable.
When you are the weakest, He is the most able.
When you are the most alone, He is intimately present.
When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest!
When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.
When it is darkest, He is the only Light you need.
When you feel the least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress.
When you are the most humble, He is most gracious.
When you say that you cannot, remember that He can!
Easter is a wonderful mix of Pagan, Hebrew and Christian traditions 2009 Easter celebration starts on Friday, April 10-11, 2009 in Hong Kong and many parts of Asia.
Easter's Pagan Roots Pagan symbology of fertility in the shape of the easter bunny and easter eggs are still part of our easer tradition, while the word Easter itself may be a derivation of Eostre, Goddess of Spring.
So from ancient Pagan roots the forms of western easter emerged. However, the meaning was adopted and altered by early Christians.
Easter Bunny Origins Where did the easter bunny originate from? The easter bunny is a strange little tradition. A rabbit that hides painted eggs in the garden for children to find is either daft, surreal or downright spooky when you think about it.
So where did the little chap come from and how has he (is the easter bunny even male?) or she, get involved in easter?
Well firstly we have to go back in time and see when the easter bunny first appeared.
The written record only takes us as far back as the 1600s in the Alsace region of Europe (modern day France close to border with Germany).
It seems unlikely that the easter bunny was an invention of the 1600s because europeans at the time were turning against anything that smacked of superstition and idolatry. Therefore many people argue that the easter bunny is actually far older and is the remenant of pre-christian pagan practices.
Firstly a point about the name. In most of europe the Easter Bunny is refered to as the 'Easter Hare' to this day. When the German and Dutch immigrants to America took the tradition with them his species was changed from Hare to Rabbit and that is how he became the Easter Bunny.
Spring is a time of new birth and both hares and eggs are fairly obvious symbols of new life. Hares, because Spring is about the only time when they are seen by people, the young males fighting in the short grass is a common sight and led to the phrase 'mad as a march hare'. Eggs are even more obvious symbols of new life, because that is what they actually contain (unless we boil them for breakfast of course).
So old traditional associations between spring, hares and eggs don't get forgotten with the coming of christianity. In much the same way that Christian churches were often built on the sites of former Pagan temples, it seems that Christian festivals were overlaid upon older celebrations. Elements that didn't harm the Christian message (or were particularly popular with the people) were integrated into the new religion. Perhaps the origins of the Easter Bunny are many thousands of years old. Yet each year, the (mostly chocolate) eggs he brings us are fresh and delicious.
印尼腓力牧師 Review of the conference held at Full Gospel Assembly - FGA Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia. Pastor Philip Mantofa & Joshua Team from Taiwan was serving in this conference. Date: 4-7/6/2008
台灣信義會台南區會復活節聯合崇拜 2009年台灣信義會 善牧堂台灣信義會 靈糧堂台灣信義會 大道善牧堂台灣信義會 救主堂 音樂：You are my all in all、我在這裡敬拜 耶稣从死里复活的经过最权威的记载是四部"福音书"：耶稣死后第三天，最先是几个女人发现他的坟墓空了，接着耶稣在她们及耶稣的门徒们面前显现，并和他们同吃、同谈话。其中一个门徒不相信这真是复活的耶稣，非将手指探入耶稣十字架上的钉痕不可。在下面的四十天中，更有数以百计的人目击了复活的耶稣，直到他升天。
德国政府规定复活节休息两天。在节日里，家人团聚，品尝各种传统食品，亲戚朋友见面要互相祝贺。 象征生命的蛋、火、水、兔等成了复活节的吉祥物。鸡蛋和兔子在西方是新的生命和兴旺发达的象征。鸡蛋的本色象征太阳，把鸡蛋染成红色则象征生活幸福。在复活节中，父母要特地为孩子们准备制成鸡蛋、兔子形状的巧克力糖。亲友间要互赠彩蛋。在莱茵河中游和黑森东部的一些城镇，至今保留着“彩蛋树”这一古老习俗。人们把成百的蛋壳涂上彩画，串成蛋链，在复活节这天挂在松树上，制成彩蛋树，大人孩子围着彩蛋树唱歌、跳舞、庆祝复活节。而阿尔卑斯山的姑娘们则通过赠送红鸡蛋来表达自己的爱情。在复活节这天，姑娘如果向某一小伙子赠送三个红鸡蛋，表示姑娘向小伙子求爱。 关于兔子成为复活节的吉祥物，是有一段传说的。 在古代耶稣复活之日，正值斯堪的纳维亚地区居民庆祝大地回春的“春太阳节”，作为草原、森林动物中多产动物之一的兔子，它象征了春天的复苏和新生命的诞生，同时它又是爱神阿弗洛狄特的宠物，也是日尔曼土地女神霍尔塔的持烛引路者。因此，现在兔子作为给孩子们送复活节鸡蛋的使者，深受孩子的宠爱。'在复活节这一天孩子定会收到兔形礼物。 火不仅给人类带来了光明，也使大地获得了新生。作为耶稣再生的象征，复活节的许多活动都与火相关。 复活节这一天，人们在教堂前点烛以示圣化，并将圣烛迎进千家万户。这一天，孩子们最快乐的事是把圣火送到各家。他们在教堂前用圣火点燃树枝，然后奔跑着送到各家各户，其间充满着欢快的节日气氛。在德国的巴伐利亚地区，每年的复活节居民们都要举行火炬赛跑，以庆祝耶稣的再生。而北莱茵上威斯特法伦州的吕克台复活节滚火轮更是远近闻名。六个巨型大木轮被火点燃滚下山谷，就像六个火球从天而降，漆黑的山谷被大火轮照得通明，它与五彩缤纷的焰火交相辉映，再次显示了火给人类带来了新生。 Review of the conference held at FGA KL. Pastor Philip Mantofa & Joshua Team from Taiwan was serving in this conference.
