He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

As I read the family blogs I am filled with joy for the celebrations of Resurrection, New Life, Springtime, Gift-giving, etc. that has made its way into each family's experience.  Thanks for sharing.

At Prince of Peace, our Worship Arts Committee came through once again. 

They turned the sanctuary into a tomb!  It was really dramatic on Good Friday evening.

The stone-masons being creative!  Styrofoam insulation sheets ...

... turns into this ...

 and from down the hall ...

the "rugged cross" held red votives lit for the Wednesday

services, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (black candle),

and Easter Sunday (white candle);  the cross on the right was from our

"Journey with Jesus" interactive walk - at the cross each person "nailed

their own sins" to the cross.

the windows were blackened (pic was taken during daylight)

and the front looked like this ...

 didn't do Tenebrae (in terms of stages of darkness) this year - yet the darkness was real!

 then came Easter and we were greeted with a garden at the tomb!

the windows reminded us of Easter - 

1st window - "Do you seek Jesus?"

2nd window

3rd window

 and 4th window - "Go and tell"

the altar was a vacant grave-stone

 it is so great to experience festival days with more than just

aural sensations!

and once again I thank the WAC's for their creativity and shared efforts!

Gorgeous weather!  Officially hit 77 on both Saturday and Sunday!   What a treat.  But the rains are coming on Thursday - and would you believe they are needed?  We've just about up to average rainfall this year.

And, add to that - a call from Kristi on the 30th (Saturday).  She had been with Clarence for the weekend and it happened on the banks of the Potomac River ... I am now the proud Papa of an engaged-to-be-married girl!  Hooray!  They worked it better than I - when Lin and I were engaged, I asked her on March 31st in the evening ... so she called all her friends the next day and no one would believe her (April Fools Day)!  I still get a chuckle out of that one.

Changed traditions this year - usually do three services on Sunday - the middle one is a "kids only" service - but with last year's egg hunt on Saturday we noted the attendance at the Sunday service was dramatically less, so we made our "kids only" service on Saturday morning and had 130-150 in attendance before the egg hunt.  I think that's a plan that can work for years to come - (it took us 14 years to change the "old" way)!  But we changed!!!  And it was good!

Been doing odds and ends in the yard to spruce up the place - mowing, fertilizing, pruning, and sitting on the deck watching Karina do it right!  She likes it when I don't mess up!  We even had a steak on the Barby for Easter dinner!  Capped off an already perfect day.

Now, going through the motions of looking interested in what I am doing for two weeks, when Karina and I get our spring break - and head off to San Francisco to take in a week of sightseeing and relaxation.  We leave the 14th after church.  Wish us well!

from the left coast - 

we love ya'

Karina and Dan