Church

Easter 2008 - Messages From Australian Church Leaders

Over the centuries, as they have scattered over the face of the earth, Christians have developed different dates for the festival of Easter. This collection of Easter messages from Australian Church leaders is timed for March because Australians mostly follow the Western tradition, when there is a national public holiday. Other Australians, however, following the Eastern tradition, will not celebrate Easter in their Churches until the end of April.

National Council of Churches in Australia

Over the centuries, as they have scattered over the face of the earth, Christians have developed different dates for the festival of Easter. This collection of Easter messages from Australian Church leaders is timed for March because Australians mostly follow the Western tradition, when there is a national public holiday. Other Australians, however, following the Eastern tradition, will not celebrate Easter in their Churches until the end of April.

Whatever the date over 2 billion Christians around the globe agree on what Easter is – the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is the original Christian festival, and the highest point in the Church’s calendar. Easter – or more properly the three days from the death of Jesus on Good Friday to the resurrection on Easter Sunday – is more than a commemoration. Christians really celebrate Easter every week, every Sunday, but this special festival makes sure we never forget what God has done for us. In these few days humanity itself dies and is born again to a new life with new possibilities.

This is a vast claim, and it lies at the heart of Christian faith. Is Jesus really the Son of God? Did God raise him from the dead? All around the world every year, Christians celebrate with a resounding, ‘YES’. And they are sure to do it again this year, on March 23 and again on April 27.

John Henderson
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in Australia

Anglican Church

The Christian Easter message is a message of new life. This new life is offered to all by God, through Christ, and is to be found even in death.

In recent weeks and months Australians have caught glimpses of new life emerging from situations that have been painful and threatening. Thanks to welcome rains some parts of Australia are beginning to break free from the devastating cycles of drought. Last month’s bi-partisan apology to the nation’s indigenous people, especially members of the Stolen Generations, was given and received in a spirit of graciousness that prepares the way for the healing of some of the most painful chapters of our national life. Australia’s signing of the Kyoto Protocol signals our intention to be part of an international response to the dangers and injustices of global warming.

These are promising beginnings. Much will depend upon actions that are taken now and in the coming months.

My prayer for us all this Easter is that we might know God’s life-giving Spirit, even in the darkest places of our own lives and of our nation and our communities. May we be enlivened by that Spirit to participate in God’s transformation of death into life and may we constantly rejoice and give thanks to the Lord our God who gave his only Son that we might have life and have it abundantly.

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