By Wezi Tjaronda
WINDHOEK
Easter, the most important religious celebration of the Christian liturgical year, is here again.
While many people will be travelling to their villages and others taking a well-deserved break, many others will be attending church conferences and special Easter services to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Among the many activities that are held in celebration of the end of the Lent period, is an annual prayer conference, a brainchild of the Light of the World Ministries that will this time be held at the coastal town of Swakopmund. Hundreds of people from all over.
Namibia will converge on Swakopmund for the prayer conference, whose speakers will come from the Council of Churches in Namibia, Transformation Namibia, the Prayer Movement of Nigeria and South Africa. Erongo Regional Governor, Samuel Nuyoma will open the conference.
The five-day conference that runs from today until Monday, falls under the theme “Riding the Storms of Life”.
Since a couple of weeks ago, shops are already awash with Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and hot cross buns that are associated with the period.
Reverend Ernst //Gamxamub, Deputy Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCRN) says this is the time to ponder on why Jesus Christ came and died for people’s sins.
Through Jesus Christ, said he, the heavens and the earth merged because God stretched out his hand to grab mankind and shared His Grace. And from total darkness that engulfed the earth, //Gamxamub said with the coming of Easter, light brightened the earth.
“There was pain before with the cross. There was total emptiness but with the resurrection, there is hope, joy and laughter,” he said.
This period, which in Christian circles should be observed with special dedication followed by introspection on the meaning of the day, is however regarded as one of the many holidays when people take a well deserved break from their hectic schedules and time to travel to their rural homesteads especially.
With the understanding that Christ unconditionally took upon Himself the pain of all men, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints believes that “Jesus not only satisfied the requirements of divine justice but also, particularly in is Gethsemane and Calvary ordeals, demonstrated and perfected His capacity to succour His people and his empathy for them.
“The agonies of the Atonement were infinite and first hand! Since not all human sorrow and pain is connected to sin the full intensiveness of the Atonement involved bearing our pains, infirmities and sickness as well as our sins.”
Even though it is more of a celebration to the world, he said, the meaning of Easter today still stands above all else.
“We have to call the Christians of today back to the values of Easter, for them to open their ears and hearts and internalise the message to transform the world around them,” he added.
Most Christian churches during this period usually hold the traditional church services as from Thursday evening to commemorate the death and resurrection again of Christ. This time around, churches are awash with crosses to symbolise the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
While some churches do not believe in Easter celebrations, many others are already busy preparing special activities such as seminars or special sermons to mark the period.
New Era called up a number of churches yesterday and below are some of the churches and the activities they are holding:
– Gospel Outreach Church in Hochlandpark kicks off its Easter celebration with a prayer meeting tonight at 19h00 followed by a Passover message tomorrow at 09h00. On Sunday, the church will hold Holy Communion on the mountain at 05h30 followed by a Resurrection message later at 09h00.
– The Restoration Ministries International in Katutura is holding the Arise and Shine Annual Conference with this year’s theme being “Reclaiming our Position and Right”.
Among the speakers who have confirmed to speak at the conference are Reverend Goroh and Brother Mason Charply. This will include daily seminars from 09h00 and conference as from 18h00 every evening from today until Sunday.
One of the departments of the church, Women of Excellence, will also hold a cultural evening which portrays traditional dresses, dances and foods of different cultural groups and also an exhibition of various items from businesses in the church.
– In town, St Georges Cathedral, a congregation of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa is already observing activities as part of the Holy Week Services, comprising Eucharist and Blessing of Palms on Palm Sunday, which falls on the first Sunday of April, addresses on Monday and Tuesday, Eucharist and address on Wednesday. Tonight, the church will have Eucharist at 07h00 and foot washing, a sermon and a solemn vigil. On Good Friday the church will hold a morning prayer session and a Good Friday Liturgy at 07h00 and 12h00 respectively. Dawn Liturgy will mark Resurrection Sunday at 04h30 followed by Eucharist and Baptism promises at 08h00.
– AGS Emmanuel congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) in Pioneerspark will hold services tomorrow at 09h00 and Saturday at 10h00 and two services on Sunday at 08h30 and 10h00.