2026 April news-letter article

Hey gang!

Christmas or Easter!?!  Here we go!  What do you prefer?  Which is more fun for your family?  Which is more fun for us as a church family?  I was asked last week whether I enjoy Christmas more, or Easter.  Without even letting the question mark come out of the mouth of the person asking me, I fired back “EASTER!”  No doubt, no hesitation, I didn’t have to think about it.  So, here, let me attempt to give my best defense of why I answered that way.

First, let me go ahead and acknowledge how little I enjoy “special events”.  Many of you know that about me already.  I absolutely subscribe to the Adrian Rogers approach to church events: our church has 52 special events per year; that’s enough for me.  I love worship services on Sundays, every week.  I want them to be well-planned, well-executed, high-quality affairs.  I want the sermon to be clear, stirring, convicting, encouraging, Spirit-driven, and completely centered around God’s Word.  I want music to be good; I want the Choir to sound great (they do!).  I want prayer to be a central component, I want God to speak to our hearts, I want us to leave looking more like Jesus than we did when we arrived.  If Sundays are quality events, what else do we need?  I have a soft spot for out-reach events, because I want the unchurched to be drawn to our fellowship, but “special services” usually just stress me out.  I don’t love “special events” around Christmas; I don’t love “special events” around Easter.  That can’t be why I prefer either.

In my family (my mother’s side in particular), both days involve a trip to Gramaw’s house, and both occasions involve ham.  It may go without saying that the food is spectacular both times, but I’ll give the edge to Christmas.  When I account for having to bring gifts (and the shopping that’s required before that), Christmas loses it’s edge, so it remains a wash.

Special church events aside, let me score the trappings surrounding each of these holydays.  Christmas is in winter: that’s one point (or a dozen).  It’s cooler, I can wear a coat and be comfortable.  Easter is in the spring.  I love a chilly early Easter, but it’s always a gamble, because on many years, I’m sweating already.  Spring is when the flowers are blooming, or to put it more accurately, spring is when the pollen is blowing up my nostrils.  The new life of spring is why pastels and eggs become symbolic.  I know that rabbits mate in the spring, but I still don’t understand why a bunny represents anything!  For that matter, the word “Easter” has pagan roots.  For these reasons, Christmas takes a strong lead.

In the words of the angel Gabriel (played by Nate Bargatze) to Mary and Joseph [in Nate’s 2024 Christmas special]: “it’s going to have a real Scandinavian feel”.  Saint Nicholas (Ni’Claus) didn’t wear a fuzzy red suit or a stocking cap, and the reindeer entering the picture is a particularly weird piece of the imagery.  Add the special music and movies and decorations (tasteful and not) and hilarious sweaters to the mix, and Christmas pulls way ahead.  For that matter, it has such an over-whelming cultural lead, that Jews and Muslims and Hindus and atheists the world over are completely comfortable celebrating Christmas with their families!

Christmas is sweet; it makes us feel warm and fuzzy.  Few are really offended by the story of a baby.  Even the folks who refuse to believe the bible, like the Christmas story (I mean, who doesn’t love a baby?).  Easter is offensive.  Death is not fun to discuss; crucifixion is particularly gross.  The idea that sin has consequences because God hates it and is the righteous judge, tends to step on too many toes.  When we talk about which groups of people are responsible for killing Jesus, things get awkward.  So, let’s just prefer Christmas.

However, when we discard family traditions, and shove all the trappings and ridiculous traditions aside, let’s ponder – simply – Jesus life and the biblical story.  When decorations, and menus, and music, and even church services are stripped away, all we are lift with is God’s Word, and the ministry of Jesus in our hearts.  When we sharpen our focus upon Him, we can see Him in the manger, and preaching by the Sea of Galilee, and healing just outside the Temple, and drinking wine at a wedding banquet, and feeding a great crowd, and napping in a boat during a storm, and kneeling in the garden, and silently taking the beating, and hanging upon a cross, and walking by the Sea again, and ascending to heaven!  His life and ministry culminate in redemption.  His atoning sacrifice is THE reason for His incarnation (and birth) to begin with; and aren’t we all-the-more thankful that His redeeming sacrifice was not the end of His ministry.  On the third day, once and for all, He defeated death and sin, vacating His own tomb!!  This is why Resurrection Sunday is my preference.  This day is the day of celebration!  This day is the day where we receive the benefit of His birth, and life, and death, through His resurrection!  Were it not for Easter, we wouldn’t have anything to celebrate on Christmas.  Join me in preferring Easter!  Nah, I don’t care what you prefer.  Join me in celebrating, and worshipping Jesus!  Join me in making and keeping all the holydays (and every day) all about Him!  Hallelujah!

Christmas has its cradle, where that Baby cried;
in the Easter garden Christ lay, crucified;
when death’s power was conquered, God’s life through Him poured;
Christmas has its cradle, and Easter has its Lord!
--A.J.