Antiguan Eastertime

Sunrise on Easter morning, looking out over St. John's, AU

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Isn't it awesome how that greeting rings 'round the world on Easter morning?! I was up at 4:15 am so I could make it up to church for 5. My pan group played the music for our sunrise service on the lawn in front of church. However, before we could set up all the pans, we needed to carry out the pew benches for the people to sit. As we were in the process of bringing the benches out of the church, it began to rain...

Apparently it never rains on Easter. Ever. Apparently it always rains on Good Friday. But this year there was no precipitation on Good Friday. What follows? Rain on Easter! Fortunately, the rain tapered off about 5:40. We were able to finish moving pews and setting up the pans as people were arriving. We opened the service in true Antiguan style: at 6:15 (instead of 6), playing Iron Band - each person playing a different metal percussion instrument in a certain rhythm. It was pretty cool, not gonna lie. Pan played the 4 hymns and the offering. We thought we might get rained out during the sermon when it began to sprinkle, but thankfully the Lord decided we could finish up our service. One of the coolest parts of the service was the confirmation of 3 adults, proclaiming their trust and commitment to God in front of the congregation.

Afterwards we had breakfast: bakes, saltfish, cassi, okra, pumpkin, salad, bread, hard-boiled eggs, boiled plantains, juice, and fruit. Not exactly a typical American Easter brunch, but all very nice.

     We came home after breakfast, then went back up to
church for the Festival service at 11. The highlight of that service was a baptism. All that was missing from the day was holy communion! It was such a blessing to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with my brothers and sisters here in Antigua. What an amazing experience! It is certainly one I will take with me wherever I go.