Morley Update 2011 #9

Everyone,

Easter is upon us and we have the joy of getting to have family here to experience Easter in Greece. There is nothing quite like it. Scripture says that Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This takes on a whole new meaning in Greece. A few days before Easter the streets will be lined with butchered lambs. It is traditional to roast a whole lamb on a spit over a fire in your front yard on Easter Day. As I see this somewhat disturbing sight I think what it must have been like to live in Old Testament days when each family sacrificed a lamb at Passover. I am so thankful that Jesus made that sacrifice once for all.

For us the Easter celebration will start on Saturday evening. We gather with team mates, friends and family in our home for dinner and to spend the evening together. At 11:00pm we walk down to the orthodox church a few blocks away. Each of us carries an unlit candle or Lambada. The first part of the service is mostly chanting by the priests, but about 11:45 the lights in the church go off and the priest brings out the "holy fire" flown in from Jerusalem. Once the fire is brought out, the priests begin to tell the Easter Story over the loudspeakers and everyone moves outside. Just before midnight there are several loud booms like a cannon and it feels like power is coming down from heaven. At exactly midnight the church bells begin to ring wildly and there is a huge display of fireworks. The holy fire is passed from candle to candle until the whole platia is filled with flickering light. "Christos Anesti!" (Christ is risen) is on everyone's lips and the answer comes back, "Alithos Anesti!" (Truly he is risen). After the fireworks are over and kisses and greetings are exchanged, the candle light that flowed from the church into the courtyard now flows into the city as people wend their way home still carrying their lighted candles. It's such a beautiful picture of Jesus coming into our lives and how we take Him with us out into our world.

At about 12:30am we get to bed for a few hours of sleep but get up by 4:30am. At 5:00 we drive downtown and park near the Acropolis. In the early morning darkness we begin the climb up the cobblestone path on the side of Philapappou hill. The path winds through the olive trees and we hear the birds making sleepy little chirps as they begin to waken to the dawn. I think to myself that this is how the women must have felt going to the tomb on that first Easter morning. As we draw near the top of the hill we break out into an opening where there are others gathered, waiting in the half light. Then seated on cold stone benches we hear songs, scriptures and prayers offered up in many different languages. As the day breaks the sun rises in front of us from behind the Acropolis and Easter Day is here.

We take coffee and home made muffins along and when the service is over we find a place to enjoy the view and share this little breakfast with friends. We then go to an English speaking service in the downtown area where we get to hear our friend and team mate Kate lead in worship and bless us with her wonderful voice. We don't go to our own church because most Greeks go to their villages for Easter so the Greek churches in Athens will be almost empty. After church we come home where we will share another meal with family and friends. We don't roast a lamb but will most likely fire up the grill and eat outdoors. After lunch we often take a nap in the sun and just spend a quiet day.

I hope that whatever your Easter traditions, you have time to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made and on the wonder of the resurrection. I hope you will take the light of His love into your world and share it with others that you meet. Christos Anesti - have a wonderful Easter. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
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