CHURCHES READY FOR EASTER

Neither of the buildings look much like a place of worship, but that doesn't really matter to Lynwood Baptist Church or First Assembly of God Church.

The two Cape Girardeau churches needed more space to accommodate the crowds expected for Easter worship on Sunday, and the A.C. Brase Arena Building and Osage Community Centre have space to spare.

Lynwood Baptist Church will have its Easter worship at the Arena Building at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. First Assembly of God Church will worship at 10 a.m. at the Osage Community Centre.

Lynwood began meeting at the Arena Building for Easter service five years ago before a new sanctuary was built.

At the time, it was the only place where all members of the rapidly growing church could meet at the same time. The congregation was gathering for three separate worship services each Sunday.

"We needed the space," said the Rev. Mark Anderson, pastor of the church. "It allowed us the chance to meet for one service, which we hadn't done in several years. It also gave us the opportunity to take the gospel to the community."

Moving to the Arena Building quickly became a tradition.

Even though the church has a new sanctuary, "we feel philosophically that we need to be at the Arena Building," Anderson said.

There are between 200 and 300 visitors without church homes who attend Lynwood's Easter service each year. Moving to the remote site provides a neutral place for people to come who might not otherwise visit a church.

"Our service is actually the same as we do every Sunday, so that if they want they can experience it every week," he said.

The church already holds two services each week and will present an Easter pageant, "One Voice," at the sanctuary at 7 p.m.

First Assembly of God Church also wanted to give its members a chance to worship together for one service.

With three services each week, including one at a satellite location on South Sprigg Street, First Assembly wanted to find one site big enough to handle its membership.

The church expects a crowd for its Easter service, so worship has been moved to the Osage Centre. It is the first time that the church has moved for Easter.

Because it is something new, "it takes a process of education to know that the building isn't the church, but the church is the people," said the Rev. Gary Brothers, pastor of First Assembly Church.

The church is in the process of relocating to a 56-acre site along Interstate 55 west of the city, but it will take at least 30 months.

For many, Easter is the culmination of a week of remembrance, reverence and preparation for Christ's resurrection. Holy Week began Palm Sunday and ends Easter.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. People lined the streets waving palm branches and laying clothes before him as he entered. It was just days before his resurrection.

"Without the incarnation, their wouldn't be a paschal mystery," said the Rev. Jim Marten, director of the Saxon Lutheran Memorial in Frohna.

Marten erected a cross luminary at the Saxon Memorial in rememberance of the Easter season. "It makes clear the connection between the Christmas season and the Easter event."

Holy Week also includes Maundy Thursday, a day whose name recalls the foot-washing ceremony with Jesus and the disciples before Passover.

This year, Maundy Thursday also marks Passover, a Jewish festival that recalls the flight of the Israelites from Egypt. It is usually an eight- day festival that includes a Seder or ceremonial feast.

The Seder is a symbolic meal that tells the story of the Israelites' flight. The story is read from a book called the Haggadah. Symbolic food like unleavened bread or matzah, honey and a lamb shank are placed on the table.

Maundy Thursday not only marks the day when Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples, but it is the day he instituted the sacraments of the Lord's supper, said the Rev. David Dissen, former pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Good Friday is set aside as a day of mourning for Christ's crucifixion. Holy Saturday is an observance of the vigil or watch for Easter.

Easter, however, is the most significant of the holy days because it celebrates the resurrection.

Without Easter, there wouldn't be a need for Christmas, Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. Without the holy day, you wouldn't have the assurance of forgiveness and life after death, Dissen said.