The importance of Easter to Christians

As we approach the Easter holiday – how time flies! – I thought it would be useful to articulate why Easter is so important to Christians. Easter is the celebration of Jesus dying for our sins and then rising again. In so doing, he offers us new life in him.

Lent is the 40 days preceding Easter, representing the amount of time Jesus fasted in the wilderness before he began his public ministry. Jesus’ fast is why we often give up something during Lent.

Palm Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday before Easter Day. It marks the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, an event that is recorded in all four Gospels. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, while the crowds waved palm branches and shouted: "Hosanna!" (an exclamation of praise). To mark this, Palm Sunday is often celebrated with a procession, either inside the church or through the streets outside. Congregations carry palm branches or other greenery, sometimes decorated with flowers.

Maundy Thursday is the day when Christians remember the Last Supper shared by Jesus and his disciples before he was betrayed and arrested. During the supper, Jesus poured a basin of water and washed the disciples' feet – the act of a servant. Many churches, including Lichfield Cathedral, recreate this act at special services on Maundy Thursday as a reminder of how Jesus served others and of how Christians should also serve others.

The Stations of the Cross have formed part of Christian devotion for many centuries because they offer a particularly vivid way of following in the steps of Jesus on the way to the Cross. Many churches have images of the traditional Stations of the Cross on their walls.

Good Friday is the most sombre day of the Christian calendar when the crucifixion and death of Jesus is commemorated in churches and cathedrals, so it can be difficult at first glance to see what is ‘good’ about it. Some sources suggest that it may be a corruption of ‘God’s Friday’ which has evolved over time. But – more importantly – Christians see the death of Jesus as the means by which God’s people are invited to share in new life.

Easter Day. On the third day after his crucifixion, Jesus's tomb was found to be empty - he had risen from the dead. Life triumphs over death! The joy of resurrection is possible only because Christ endured death and conquered it. The Easter Vigil is the first service of Easter and begins on the evening of Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Day) with a symbolic expectant waiting for the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. This is represented visually by a large Easter candle, which is brought into a darkened church. This depiction of new life and light represents Jesus’ resurrection on the first Easter morning. The congregation then light their own candles from the Easter candle, representing their own new life as followers of Jesus.

Throughout Lent, churches are kept stark and bare but on Easter Sunday, the churches are decorated with flowers and the sombre purple of Lent is replaced with celebratory white or gold. There is a real party feel to many services with uplifting music and repeated alleluias (an exclamation of joyful praise).

Our Cathedral Choristers and Choral Scholars will be busy throughout Holy Week with rehearsals and many services in the Cathedral, but we always make time for celebrations on Easter Day. Following Holy Week, the senior choristers will be going on a tour to Ireland to perform services and concerts in and around Dublin. We wish them well!

This week we will be saying thank you and goodbye to Mr Neil, who has provided maternity cover for Mrs Lemin in the Science Labs, and two long-serving and well-loved members of staff. Mrs Rice, Head of Music, joined LCS in 2013 and poured her heart and talent into creating meaningful music lessons for our students and guiding them through performances, achieving incredible results. Her commitment to excellence and her unwavering belief in her students' abilities propelled them to achieve great success year after year, especially at GCSE and A Level. As a Form Tutor and mentor, Mrs Rice has an amazing ability to connect with our students on a personal level. Her kindness, patience, and genuine care for their well-being created an environment where they felt supported and encouraged to reach their full potential. As Mrs Rice embarks on a new chapter of her life, we wish her all happiness and success.

Mrs Norgrove, Music & French Teacher at Longdon, is a gifted teacher who has touched the hearts of both children and parents alike across an incredible 23 years. Her passion for Music and French has been a driving force in our school, inspiring our youngest pupils and creating unforgettable moments for them, demonstrating the power of music and language to shape young minds and foster creativity. We thank you for hard work and commitment and wish you success in your new career.

Inservi Deo et laetare!