CHRISTIANS, JEWS CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS

Christianity and Judaism share a common heritage, scripture and moral code. This year, the two religions also shared a holiday.

About 18 million Jews observed Passover Friday evening with the Seder, or traditional Passover feast marking the ancient Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery.

Passover also is significant to Christians. It was the Passover meal Jesus and his disciples shared at the Last Supper, when, on the eve of his execution, Jesus instructed the 12 that the unleavened Passover bread signified his soon-to-be broken body, and the wine, his blood that would be shed for sin.

It is Christ's death and resurrection that Christians celebrated at Easter Sunday services.

Many churches conduct special sunrise services to commemorate the discovery by Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, on the Sunday after Jesus was crucified. Arriving at his tomb, the women found the stone rolled away and Jesus' body gone -- fulfilling Christ's own promise that he would be resurrected.

Many area churches held services similar to those at Grace United Methodist Church at Broadway and Caruthers in Cape Girardeau.

Grace's alter was adorned Sunday with Easter lilies and the choir sang a special repertoire of music.

The two Easter services at Grace also attracted a record number of 740 parishioners, the Rev. Dr. Larry E. Gallamore announced.

During the Easter sermon, Gallamore applied the resurrection story to a Christian's life.

Gallamore said Christians must remember "Christ always goes to the forward.

"We don't have to carry those burdens, because Christ has gone before us and has already done those things for us," he said.

Gallamore said Christians also must remember that "Jesus Christ is always years ahead of us," when applying the resurrection story to themselves.

"You don't have to worry about the years in front of you because Jesus Christ is years ahead of you," he said. "As long as you have Jesus Christ in your life, every thing else will fall into place."