1. Easter Sunday Human Holiday – not Holy Day

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3. Alleluia, Christ is Risen Assumption Catholic Church Bellingham, WA Every year we move through the season of Lent to this great high feast of Easter. From the grip of temptation, the threat and fear of death, and the valley of our sins we have made the journey into the beckoning light of Easter. Our hearts are full with the joy of discovering, again, that Christ lives as truly today as he did over two thousand years ago. Alleluia! Our God, three in one, Father- Son-Holy Spirit, calls us to see with Easter eyes the meaning of our earthly lives. -Kathy Ernst (April 15, 2001) Every year we move through the season of Lent to this great high feast of Easter. From the grip of temptation, the threat and fear of death, and the valley of our sins we have made the journey into the beckoning light of Easter. Our hearts are full with the joy of discovering, again, that Christ lives as truly today as he did over two thousand years ago. Alleluia! Our God, three in one, Father- Son-Holy Spirit, calls us to see with Easter eyes the meaning of our earthly lives. -Kathy Ernst (April 15, 2001) 3

4. 4 Jesus Christ Born: Bethlehem Died: Jerusalem Age: 33 Jesus Christ Born: Bethlehem Died: Jerusalem Age: 33

5. http://www.cornwallchurch.com/special_events /2003/easter.html Many churches are having Special Easter Services… Why arent we? 5 Come join us for a weekend of worship, reflection, and celebration of the New Day Jesus Rose Alive!

6. Its an ancient Christian festival that is the PRINCIPAL EVENT of the church year. Its the joyful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ For all Christians, its a celebration of NEW LIFE and REDEMPTION through Christ. THE DATE VARIES* Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25 Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25 The Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21 The Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21 If the full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter is the following Sunday. If the full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter is the following Sunday. THE DATE VARIES* Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25 Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25 The Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21 The Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21 If the full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter is the following Sunday. If the full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter is the following Sunday. * The date of Easter in some Eastern Christian Churches may vary from the Western date. 6

7. THESE ARE NOT THE SAME! 1 Cor. 15:4, 12-20 Acc. to ScriptureAcc. to Scripture Preaching is truePreaching is true Faith is realFaith is real True witnessesTrue witnesses Freed from your sinsFreed from your sins Dead will liveDead will live Not pitiableNot pitiable C HRIST IS R ISEN! No Scripture Unknown to NT saintsUnknown to NT saints Not instituted by Christ or His apostlesNot instituted by Christ or His apostles Not in NT (not even in Acts 12:4, KJV )Not in NT (not even in Acts 12:4, KJV ) First historical reference is 155 ADFirst historical reference is 155 AD E ASTER NOT IN NT! 7 BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION CELEBRATION OF EASTER

8. There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this. The original is simply after the Passover. -Barnes Notes Is Easter in Acts 12:4? 8

9. There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament or in the writings of the apostolic fathers. The sanctity of the special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians. -The Encyclopedia Britannica 14th ed., II:859 Easter Unknown in NT Times 9

10. Resurrected on the first day of the week, Mark 16:9 Resurrected on the first day of the week, Mark 16:9 Resurrection proclaimed and His church established on the first day of the week, Acts 2:1, 24-32, 36, 41, 47 Resurrection proclaimed and His church established on the first day of the week, Acts 2:1, 24-32, 36, 41, 47 Regular worship is on the first day of the week, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2 Regular worship is on the first day of the week, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2 The Lords day, Rev. 1:10 The Lords day, Rev. 1:10 First Day of the Week Worship Honors Christs Resurrection 10

11. The first day of the week, the Lords Day, was the regular, weekly commemoration of our Lords resurrection. It is more than doubtful if there was an annual commemoration (Easter) in Apostolic times. (James Hastings, Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, Grand Rapids: 1973, II:133) First Day of the Week Worship Honors Christs Resurrection 11

12. The baptism of Johnwhere was it from? From heaven or from men? -Matthew 21:25 The celebration of Easter – where is it from? From heaven or from men? Easter: Holy Day or Man-Made Religious Holiday? 12

13. The Convergence of Three Particular Events Jewish PassoverJewish Passover Christian PassoverChristian Passover Pagan festival of Spring (festival of goddess Eastre)Pagan festival of Spring (festival of goddess Eastre) 13

14. Historical Addition There is no trace of Easter celebration in the New Testament. H. Porter International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Volume II, page 889 14

15. While there is reason to suppose that Easter had been honored from early in Christian history, the first definite record of its celebration is in connection with a visit of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, to Anicetus, bishop of Rome, in 154 or 155. While there is reason to suppose that Easter had been honored from early in Christian history, the first definite record of its celebration is in connection with a visit of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, to Anicetus, bishop of Rome, in 154 or 155. (Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church, New York: 1950, p. 64) Only Supposition that Easter was Always Observed 15

16. Man-made feasts require man-made rules (Col. 2:8; Gal. 4:10-11) Man-made feasts require man-made rules (Col. 2:8; Gal. 4:10-11) Council of Nicea (325 AD) fixed the Christian Passover on Sunday Council of Nicea (325 AD) fixed the Christian Passover on Sunday Rules adopted in the 7 th century fixed the annual date Rules adopted in the 7 th century fixed the annual date Differences over the date remain between the Eastern and Western Churches Differences over the date remain between the Eastern and Western Churches When to Observe Easter? 16

17. Was first called the Christian Passover (cf. Col. 2:16-17; Gal. 5:3-4) Was first called the Christian Passover (cf. Col. 2:16-17; Gal. 5:3-4) By the 8 th century, Easter was adopted: By the 8 th century, Easter was adopted: Originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honour of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occurred at the time of the Passover. (Eastons Revised Bible Dictionary) The Name Easter 17

18. Modern-day Easter is derived from two ancient traditions: one Judeo-Christian and the other Pagan. Both Christians and Pagans have celebrated death and resurrection themes on or after the Spring Equinox for millennia. Most religious historians believe that many elements of the Christian observance of Easter were derived from earlier Pagan celebrations. (Easter: Origins, Meanings, and Current Practices, religioustolerance.org/easter.htm) Blend of Paganism and Apostasy 18

19. Eastre: Saxon goddess of spring and fertilityEastre: Saxon goddess of spring and fertility Festival celebrated on the vernal equinoxFestival celebrated on the vernal equinox –Customs used to help new converts more easily adapt to their new faith –Customs used to offer a corresponding incentive for people to convert The pagan influences of the goddess Eastre and the apostate observance of the so- called Christian Passover blend to produce modern-day Easter Sunday The pagan influences of the goddess Eastre and the apostate observance of the so- called Christian Passover blend to produce modern-day Easter Sunday Blend of Paganism and Apostasy 19

20. The Religious Holiday Easter is Without Bible Authority Religious celebration of Easter is from man, Matt. 21:25Religious celebration of Easter is from man, Matt. 21:25 No NT pattern (authority) for it, Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 1:13 (Heb. 8:5)No NT pattern (authority) for it, Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 1:13 (Heb. 8:5) Only pattern for it is human tradition, Gal. 4:10-11; Col. 2:20-23; Matt. 15:8-9Only pattern for it is human tradition, Gal. 4:10-11; Col. 2:20-23; Matt. 15:8-9 It perverts the gospel of Christ, Galatians 1:6-10It perverts the gospel of Christ, Galatians 1:6-10 20

21. Apostles did so with divine power and blessings, 19:11-12Apostles did so with divine power and blessings, 19:11-12 Imposters tried to invoke the name of the Lord without success, 19:13-16Imposters tried to invoke the name of the Lord without success, 19:13-16 The name of the Lord was magnified (celebrated), 19:17The name of the Lord was magnified (celebrated), 19:17 21 Calling on the Name of Christ Without His Approval Acts 19:11-17

22. First day of the week worship is approved by heaven, Acts 20:7First day of the week worship is approved by heaven, Acts 20:7 –True worship celebrates the name of the Lord, Jno. 4:24 (Acts 19:17) Easter worship is approved by men but is rejected by heavenEaster worship is approved by men but is rejected by heaven –Easter Sunday does not celebrate the name of the Lord 22

23. Be Content with Gods Way 1 Peter 4:11 Worship in spirit and truth, Jno. 4:24Worship in spirit and truth, Jno. 4:24 Distinguish between religious traditions of men and divine will of God, Prov. 14:12Distinguish between religious traditions of men and divine will of God, Prov. 14:12 Uphold all the truth:Uphold all the truth: –Resurrection of Jesus Christ –True worship Oppose all error, 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:2-4Oppose all error, 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:2-4 23