Harriet: The meaning of Easter to me

Harriet Nelson, Marketing & Communications Assistant

With Easter arriving this weekend, I've been reflecting on what this time of year means to me personally as a Christian and my religious journey. I thought I'd share a little about how I celebrate Easter and the lovely traditions my Church has during this time.

Growing up, attending Church on Sundays with my mum was a familiar part of my Christian upbringing. But it was at Falmouth University, through the Christian Union Society, that my faith truly came alive. This supportive group of friends had a remarkable impact, and our weekly Bible studies offered a new and engaging way to explore Christianity with people my age. During this time, I also found a new connection to my faith through the modern worship at Harbour Church.

Easter holds a very special place in my heart because of its spiritual significance and how my local Church, St Andrews Church in Sonning, comes together to celebrate it within our community to make this day so special and memorable.

On Easter Saturday, the day begins with a short but meaningful family service inside the Church. It's a lovely time when we gather together, give thanks, and reflect on the incredible story of Easter - of Jesus's sacrifice and resurrection.

After the service, excitement quickly builds as we prepare for the Easter Egg Hunt! It's set up so children of different ages are allocated to various areas of the Churchyard where the Youth Ministry Team has hidden mini Easter eggs. Once all the eggs have been found, there is a BBQ for everyone to enjoy and three bouncy castles for tiny tots, primarily aged children and teenagers, to have fun on. Craft activities are set up for children and adults to get creative, making Easter-themed art and decorations. And traditional egg-and-spoon races always bring a hilarious competitive spirit!

The bell ringers also give tours of the church tower. You can climb the long, narrow spiral staircase to the top of the tower and admire the view from the very top of the Church.

Inside the Church, we're always proud to display the children's Easter Gardens. Our Sunday school children make these small but significant creations as a visual representation of the Easter story. Each garden is uniquely crafted with stones, moss, twigs, and whatever else the children could find, all arranged to reflect what they imagine Jesus' tomb and the surrounding garden might have looked like. I remember this being a highlight of my childhood during Easter, and I had lots of fun making them with my twin sister in the garden.

Easter Sunday, the next day, is a time to come together with family and community, reflect on the Easter story, and embrace the traditions that make this a very special day. The service is beautiful, with songs sung by the congregation and choir and sermons read from the Bible about the Easter message. One of the most meaningful parts of the service is Communion. With bread and wine, we remember Jesus' body and blood, and Jesus' breaking the bread and wine and offering it to his disciples. It's a moment to reflect and give thanks for the incredible sacrifice he gave us.

I wish everyone a meaningful and joyful Easter celebration filled with love, happiness, and delicious chocolate eggs!