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St. Ambrose Episcopal Church
Easter Eggs, Easter Joy

Someone said recently, "I used to color eggs at Easter. But now I'm serious about being Christian. I think Easter eggs are pagan. Easter eggs aren't in the Bible. Am I an Easter Grinch to tell my kids they can't color eggs?"

True: Easter eggs aren't in the Bible. Eggs have signified new life far back into the mists of human origin, long before Christianity. An ancient Roman proverb said that all life comes from an egg.

Christians from the 1st Century on have transformed pagan symbols so that they embody Christian teaching. Christians "baptized" the egg into a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. The White House Egg Roll is descended from Easter games in Europe when children roll eggs down a hillside to recall how the stone was rolled away from the opening of the tomb.

One Easter legend tells how Mary Magdalene was invited to a banquet with Emperor Tiberius. She pointed to the eggs in a dish and exclaimed, "Christ is Risen." The Emperor tossed her an egg and said Christ rising from the dead was as likely as that egg turning red. As Mary caught the egg, it flushed a brilliant red! Today, Orthodox Christians exchange eggs dyed red to announce, "Christ is Risen!"

All over the world Christians exchange decorated eggs at Easter. They are a rich gift to share, because eggs represent as few other ordinary things how God's love brings amazing, irrepressible life to all Creation.

By all means, help your kids color eggs. While you are sharing quality time with your little ones, tell them again the old, old story of how Jesus gave up his life so that all humankind can have life abundant and life forever.

Mary L. Goshert, Rector

Miracles Happen.

Two thousand years ago, the miracle was an empty tomb. It was the end of death, the redemption of the world, and it came through the son of God, who gave up everything to be just what the world needs. But the miracle didn't end on Easter Day. Even after two millennia, millions of people around the world still discover and honor his sacrifice by living out the mission of Jesus Christ in their own lives. We count ourselves among those people.

Are you ready to join the celebration of the greatest miracle in human history? St. Ambrose Welcomes You!


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