03/23/2008
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
Inspired residents share historic night
Democratic National Convention: Obama's party
Second suspect indicted in home invasion attacks
Many facing higher costs for E-911 services
PITTSTON 2nd suspect indicted in attacks on Guerrettes
Inspired residents share historic night
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Junior class worth watching
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTES: Husson has tough road ahead
All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
Inspired residents share historic night
Democratic National Convention: Obama's party
SKOWHEGAN Two men arrested in theft
Towns face 911 rate hike
Thieves steal veggies grown for charity, gardener says
WATERVILLE Motorcyclist gets injured in collision
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Junior class worth watching
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTES: Husson has tough road ahead
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Staff Writer
Today's celebration of Easter, which marks the Resurrection of Christ and is the highlight of the liturgical year for Christians, brings local "new beginnings" as well.
For the Rev. James Cummins, pastor of Winter Street Baptist Church in Gardiner, today marks the return to the pulpit after a month spent recovering from heart surgery.
For the congregation at South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta, it marks a transition from meeting in the fellowship hall to gathering in the main church itself.
And for the children at Torsey Church in Readfield, it will be a learning experience as the Rev. Karen Munson conducts "The Teaching Eucharist."
People in Eastern or Orthodox rite churches will wait a little longer to celebrate. Their calendar has Easter on April 27 this year.
Based on the verses of Matthew 22: 23-33, Cummins' sermon at the 10:30 a.m. service is titled "Getting Easter Right."
First, Cummins said, he provides examples of where people got it wrong, citing the Sadducees, who asked Jesus to say which of seven husbands a widow would be married to at the Resurrection.
Cummins said it was a trick question -- the Sadducees did not believe in the Resurrection.
"From that question we look at other examples of how people erred by not knowing the Scripture, Cummins said. "From their bad examples, we go on to learning how to get it right."
At the 10 a.m. service at South Parish Congregational Church, guest minister the Rev. Susan Craig will present the Easter message as seen through the eyes of the women who went to the tomb of Jesus and found it empty.
Using the passages of John 20 as the basis for "The Dawning of Faith" message, Craig said she will discuss the dark times that were enlightened by the good news of the Resurrection.
She said people in grief and despair were found. "We will look at it in the contest of the world today," she said. "It's been a difficult year and a long winter."
The congregation itself will move from the worship site it has used all winter, into the main meeting house, a tradition Craig said, in many places where churches may be costly to heat all winter.
At 10 a.m. at the Torsey Church on Route 17 in Kents Hill, Munson will describe for an expected 24 to 30 children the different parts of communion.
"We kind of walk them through it step by step," she said. "We have a lot of new children in the congregation, and we now offer communion every week."
Children also will see a video that narrates the story of Easter.
Her Easter message, "When Word Gets Out," is addressed to those in grade six and up and concerns rumors. "Immediately after the Resurrection, rumors abound about what happened," she said.
She said she will use the Gospel of Matthew and look at the role of the soldiers at the tomb.
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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