Displaying items by tag: Europe

For the first time ever, all the UK’s biggest supermarkets have stocked a religious-themed Easter egg. Out of 80 million eggs on sale in the UK, The Real Easter Egg is the first and only one to explain the real story of Easter. Morrisons, Sainsbury, Coop, Waitrose and Tesco have it on their shelves, though stock levels will vary. This egg is backed by church leaders, including the Archbishop of York. At first, all the supermarkets turned down the idea, but the Meaningful Chocolate Company, which manufactures the egg, sold over 250,000 through mail order. This year’s supermarket turn-around is a milestone. The manufacturers donate profits to Tradecraft Exchange, it is a Fairtrade egg, and it appeals to children and adults with its Easter story activity pack in the box.

London buses are featuring Bible verses this Easter as part of the ‘Quote Jesus’ bus campaign. Revelation TV is spearheading the campaign. Scriptures including ‘Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die,’ ‘In my Father's house there are many mansions,’ and ‘I am the way, the truth and the life,’ will be displayed on 75 London Routemaster buses. The campaign will run for two weeks. Promoters said, 'In the wake of Westminster’s attacks the lack of hope is becoming an issue in this generation. We think the Bible has a lot to say about hope, and our vision is to influence the hearts, minds and perceptions of people, offering them hope and faith for a better future.’ Revelation TV want the campaign to draw people to Scripture, and to find hope amid a world filled with chaos, violence, and hopelessness.

Recently the BBC has received much criticism for its Christian content, but it has announced a range of new and returning religious programmes for Easter. The line-up of innovative documentaries, music, reflection and worship to mark this cornerstone of Christian faith include an emotional and personal journey to the Holy Land by Fern Britton, Franciscan Friars in Bradford, live worship from Hereford Cathedral, Revd Kate Bottley and the London Community Gospel Choir, and a Good Friday meditation with Revd Lucy Winkett. Such a wide range of programming across television and radio reflects the sanctity of Eastertide and the celebration of the resurrection.

Fundraisers for the Manchester Passion Play had planned to offer ‘The Full Crucifixion Experience’ for £750 to donors willing to help fund the £50,000 event. Members of the public were going to be hoisted onto a cross outside the city's cathedral, under one of the ideas posted on a crowdfunding website used by the organising committee to raise £8,000. The idea was branded ‘blasphemous’ and dropped when clergy found out, but the Passion play went ahead. It involved local schools, music and drama. Several thousand watched the event on stage and on big screens last Saturday, and it will be televised by the BBC's Songs of Praise.

‘I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.’ (John 4:35)

Father, we thank You for every promise you have given for revival and awakening, and for those who have already come to know You in this season. We thank You for Your anointing upon each one of us - to preach good tidings to the poor - to heal the broken hearted - to proclaim liberty to the captives - and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. (Is.61:1) This Easter season, in Jesus’ Name, we call forth salvations, Jesus-centered conversations, prophetic encounters, and we declare our nation will not miss the day of your visitation. Father, even as you are restoring many ministries to the church, we pray for a new season of evangelism. We pray for release for those who will speak to individuals and those who will speak to the crowds.

As Jesus died on the cross, the thirty-foot curtain in the temple, which separated the ordinary people from the very presence of God, was torn in two. It’s a beautiful picture of God the Father saying ‘the way to me is now open’. He is no longer residing in a stone temple but in our hearts if we invite him in.

(written by Andy Hawthorne, The Message Trust)

Many children believe the Easter story because it's how their parents raised them, but they may not grasp the meaning of Easter. Others only know the secular Easter- eggs, bunnies, etc. Question: how do we help those who don't understand in their hearts that Jesus is the reason for this season? Answer:play a game with an Easter theme. Look around for crosses on necklaces, hospitals, churches and ask, ‘What do you think happened on that cross to make it so important?’ Say that Jesus happened on that cross. Because of this, his love transforms everything it touches. Or play 'Connect the Dots' with prophecy. Explain that everything about Easter was prophesied before it happened! Help children connect the dots of Messiah's long-foretold Passion (a list of prophecies can be found at: ). Then read the Easter story from a children's Bible.

Bishop Donald Allister’s report on financial problems at Peterborough Cathedral has led the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to commission a working group to review the governance of English cathedrals. The group has been established at a time when a number of cathedrals are facing financial and other difficulties. One of its tasks will be to advise the Archbishops’ Council on whether the Cathedrals Measure – the 1999 legislation that sets out the regulations that cathedrals must follow in their administration – needs to be revised. Bishop Allister made 20 recommendations regarding the cathedral’s management; and he offered ‘reflections’ to the House of Bishops and the national church institutions. He said that he believes that there are lessons to be learned from the Peterborough situation by the Archbishops’ Council, the House of Bishops, the General Synod, and the Deans’ Conference.

This Easter and over the coming months there will be many outreach services, and conferences to encourage the people of God to move on in their faith. Jesus said that one day every nation would not only hear the gospel but be transformed by it. Spring Harvest, New Wine, Hillsong, Creationfest, Newday, Big Church Day Out and Soul Survivor are just a few of the many events happening in showgrounds, churches, country estates, and campsites this year. Pray for every event to be full to overflowing, for God to expand people’s vision of the scope of the gospel, and for renewed and empowered people to leave the events and shine the light of Christ into every area of the lives of those in their communities. Pray for millions of new Christians to be birthed this year across our nation.

In Estonia, Easter has many names: for example Ületõusmispüha (resurrection), Lihavõtted (meat-taking holiday, marking the end of Lent), and Munadepüha (egg holiday). Easter Sunday is celebrated with a long lunch, egg painting, and an Easter egg hunt. Decorated eggs are placed in a basket as a centrepiece for the meal table. After lunch is an egg-knocking competition, creating a new champion each year. Competitors tap their egg against their opponent’s, and the shell that doesn't crack is the winner! Easter customs, like egg-knocking and egg-rolling (with the same aims as egg-knocking), come from old folk traditions. The Joshua Project describes Estonia as non-religious.