Tomorrow is Easter, one of the holiest days of the year on the Christian calendar. However, even those with differing beliefs often enjoy celebrating the day as a chance to ‘think spring.’ Here’s a look at how Lowell has been getting ready for the holiday.
For some Christian denominations, preparations for Easter began more than 40 days ago with the start of Lent. For those churches, the final week of Lent is Holy Week which begins with Palm Sunday. At St. Mary Church, parishioners gathered in the adjoining Parish Life Center, received blessed palms and processed into church to remember Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion.
On Holy Thursday, parishioners at St. Patrick Church lit candles at the end of their evening Mass and processed with the Eucharist to their parish center for song and prayer. It’s a tradition that replicates the disciples keeping vigil with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before he died.
On Good Friday, the day in which Christians commemorate Jesus’s death, the Lowell Ministry Alliance organized a Cross Walk. Community members took turns carrying a cross in remembrance of Jesus carrying his own cross.
At various spots around downtown, participants stopped to hear Scripture and pray. The walk concluded in Oakwood Cemetery.
By Saturday, many local churches were busy preparing their sanctuaries for Sunday’s Easter services. Above is the view of the sanctuary at Lowell First Congregational United Church of Christ. While Holy Week is often marked by solemnity and stark decor, Easter means joy, color and celebration.
Regardless of whether you celebrate Easter as a religious or secular holiday, chances are candy will make an appearance in your house tomorrow. Springrove Variety has quite a selection to help you fill your baskets.
Or you could head to Meijer and get what is possibly the most 21st Century Easter bunny ever. Yes, not only does everyone and their brother have a smart phone, but now our chocolate bunnies do too.
However you celebrate, we here at Lowell’s First Look hope you have a very happy Easter!
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