Saints Alive Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 I must admit that I have a "holy envy" of our Christian brothers and sisters. All of the focus and celebration surrounding Easter seems to be missing in Our (LDS) worship. Sure there will be talks on the resurrection on Sunday but I guess I wish we offered a sacrament meeting on the day of the last supper or some other holy week observance. Am I alone in this or are there others who long for more Easter season observances?
bluebell Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 No, you're not the only one. I also wish we, as a church, had more traditions surrounding the celebration of Easter.
aranyborju Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 No, I don't want to have another meeting to go to. Don't give them any ideas.
DispensatorMysteriorum Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 Me too. Easter celebration is lame in our church.
Saints Alive Posted April 5, 2012 Author Posted April 5, 2012 (edited) "No, I don't want to have another meeting to go to. Don't give them any ideas."I am sure you meant that tongue-in-cheek. I would be eager to celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ in an LDS context. Edited April 5, 2012 by Saints Alive
Scott Lloyd Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 I must admit that I have a "holy envy" of our Christian brothers and sisters. All of the focus and celebration surrounding Easter seems to be missing in Our (LDS) worship. Sure there will be talks on the resurrection on Sunday but I guess I wish we offered a sacrament meeting on the day of the last supper or some other holy week observance. Am I alone in this or are there others who long for more Easter season observances?When he was bishop of a single adult ward, Daniel Peterson put on a version of Passover seder at the ward meetinghouse for members of his ward. Reportedly, it was received very well. For my part, I think there is nothing to stop us as individuals, families, or groups of friends to endeavor to put more meaning into our Easter/Passover observance. We need not "wait to be commanded in all things" as it were. 1
Log Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 (edited) I really don't want Easter to resemble Christmas. I don't know how to put that. Edited April 5, 2012 by Log
Scott Lloyd Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 Me too. Easter celebration is lame in our church.I think this is extreme. More could be done, probably, but this does not take due cognizance of cantatas and other choir programs, sermons, narration, etc. that are traditionally a part of sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday.
Saints Alive Posted April 5, 2012 Author Posted April 5, 2012 For my part, I think there is nothing to stop us as individuals, families, or groups of friends to endeavor to put more meaning into our Easter/Passover observance. We need not "wait to be commanded in all things" as it were. That is true, it would be nice to be "offical" and not risk others thinking you are an apostate for holding a passover sedar.
Saints Alive Posted April 5, 2012 Author Posted April 5, 2012 I really don't want Easter to resemble Christmas. I don't know how to put that.From a Mormon perspective I am not sure how it doesn't?
blueadept Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 I must admit that I have a "holy envy" of our Christian brothers and sisters. All of the focus and celebration surrounding Easter seems to be missing in Our (LDS) worship. Sure there will be talks on the resurrection on Sunday but I guess I wish we offered a sacrament meeting on the day of the last supper or some other holy week observance. Am I alone in this or are there others who long for more Easter season observances?I agree. I'm surprised this hasn't been improved upon over the years. As an outsider, I was more impressed with the LDS celebration of Mother's Day than I was of your celebration of Easter.
Freedom Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 We celebrate the resurrection every Sunday. Easter is a pagan celebration that has no endorsement in the scriptures. We have an Easter hunt and have a lesson on the resurrection at home, but this propensity towards pointless ceremony, pomp and circumstance is simply not part of the restored gospel. Our services are simple and adding special worship services is a slippery slope in my opinion.
bluebell Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 I think this is extreme. More could be done, probably, but this does not take due cognizance of cantatas and other choir programs, sermons, narration, etc. that are traditionally a part of sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday.I wish we had more organized worship on days leading up to Easter. I wish we had a church wide observance of Good Friday, for example, or the equivelant of Lent even. Something more than a special musical number on Sunday morning.I think that usually (I say usually because i have been in a couple of Easter sunday meetings where the Bishopric actually forgot it was Easter and absolutely nothing special was done-i think in one the topic for the speakers was even missionary work) our sacrament services are fine on Easter Sunday, but when i think of all we do, church wide, to celebrate christmas for the whole month of December, i see Easter as greatly lacking. 2
bluebell Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 We celebrate the resurrection every Sunday. Easter is a pagan celebration that has no endorsement in the scriptures. We have an Easter hunt and have a lesson on the resurrection at home, but this propensity towards pointless ceremony, pomp and circumstance is simply not part of the restored gospel. Our services are simple and adding special worship services is a slippery slope in my opinion.So is Christmas, but the church has no problem recognizing the importance of what it stands for. I guess i don't see services that would specifically focus our attentions upon the last week of the Savior's life, his Atonement, and Resurrection as "pointless ceremony, pomp and circumstances."
Saints Alive Posted April 5, 2012 Author Posted April 5, 2012 So is Christmas, but the church has no problem recognizing the importance of what it stands for. I guess i don't see services that would specifically focus our attentions upon the last week of the Savior's life, his Atonement, and Resurrection as "pointless ceremony, pomp and circumstances."I concur, additionally the weekly sacrament becomes profain because we do it every week, a special Easter / holy week observance would be more "special" or holy in a sense because it is set aside. I hope that makes sense
Buzzard Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 We are having Fast and Testimony this Sunday. which did provoke some debate in bishopric meeting. Fast Sunday with all the little kids on a sugar high-could be interesting! I wonder if Easters proximity many years to General Conference tends to get in the way of a dedicated Easter service. I do have youthful memories of Easter Sunday services with presentations by the Primary, special talks, etc...
blueadept Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 Are most LDS wards having F&T meetings this Sunday?
cinepro Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 (edited) We had our F&T meeting two weeks ago (the week before conference).I suspect our subdued tradition of Easter observance stems partially from a perception that much of it is based on Catholic traditions, and a desire to not adopt their ways. Unless Joseph Smith and Brigham Young saw fit to observe Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, and the rest, I doubt we'll ever give the days official recognition. Edited April 5, 2012 by cinepro
volgadon Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 Has to be a cultural thing, because the church does celebrate Easter in other parts of the world. Easter is the most important Orthodox holiday, converts in Ukraine and Russia brought their traditions with them, so the wards and branches tend to hold Easter celebrations. In my home branch in Israel I've organised a few Easter celebrations myself. 1
volgadon Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 (edited) We had our F&T meeting two weeks ago (the week before conference).I suspect our subdued tradition of Easter observance stems partially from a perception that much of it is based on Catholic traditions, and a desire to not adopt their ways. Unless Joseph Smith and Brigham Young saw fit to observe Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, and the rest, I doubt we'll ever give the days official recognition.Part of the reason, I suspect, is that we don't have unique liturgy for those days. Edited April 5, 2012 by volgadon
blueadept Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 Has to be a cultural thing, because the church does celebrate Easter in other parts of the world. Easter is the most important Orthodox holiday, converts in Ukraine and Russia brought their traditions with them, so the wards and branches tend to hold Easter celebrations. In my home branch in Israel I've organised a few Easter celebrations myself.This is AWESOME to to hear in regards to the celebration of Easter in other parts of the world
Freedom Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 So is Christmas, but the church has no problem recognizing the importance of what it stands for. I guess i don't see services that would specifically focus our attentions upon the last week of the Savior's life, his Atonement, and Resurrection as "pointless ceremony, pomp and circumstances."Actualy it doesn't. Other than the christmas broadcast early in December, there is strict instructions NOT to make anything special for christmas.
Damien the Leper Posted April 5, 2012 Posted April 5, 2012 I believe that Holy Week deserves much greater attention. I'm currently reading Marcus Borg's book The Last Week. It is a fascinating play-by-play of what happened on each of the days and their significance and relevance.
aspire Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 I must admit that I have a "holy envy" of our Christian brothers and sisters. All of the focus and celebration surrounding Easter seems to be missing in Our (LDS) worship. Sure there will be talks on the resurrection on Sunday but I guess I wish we offered a sacrament meeting on the day of the last supper or some other holy week observance. Am I alone in this or are there others who long for more Easter season observances?No. I attend other Christian churches for Easter celebrations.
bluebell Posted April 6, 2012 Posted April 6, 2012 Actualy it doesn't. Other than the christmas broadcast early in December, there is strict instructions NOT to make anything special for christmas.Well then i've never yet (in the more than 10 wards i've been a member of) had a ward that followed those strict instructions. I've always been a member of a ward that had a Christmas ward party and a very special Christmas sunday service that was mostly musical in nature.
Recommended Posts