“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>Holidays often bring families closer together, and millions are already planning to celebrate Easter although it will not be observed until April 24.
Often what
we celebrate is not the truth and is rooted in lies, legend,
falsehood and fallacy.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>An African pope set the standard for when we celebrate Easter. Yes, a black pope – Pope St. Victor I – designated the period for which the holy day would be observed.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Saint Victor was born in Africa and bore a Latin name. Saint Victor was the fifteenth pope and a native of black Africa. He served from 186 A.D. until 197 A.D.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>A troublesome controversy over when Easter should be celebrated occurred during the reign of Victor, with the result that Christians observed different days for the most important feast of the year. Victor decreed that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>Easter is the oldest and most important Christian festival, marking the end of the fasting season of Lent and the death of Jesus on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. It has deeper and more complex associations than Christmas.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>There are many customs and traditions associated with Easter that are derived from a combination of Jewish lore and pre-Christian and pagan practices. It is named after Eostre, the goddess of fertility and birth, worshipped by first-century pagans at the vernal equinox, who believed she would bless their families and crops. Christian missionaries saw that this celebration took place around the time of the resurrection of Christ, so they adopted Easter as a Christian holiday to increase conversion.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>However, for many years it has been agreed that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the Full Moon that occurs on or after the Vernal (spring) Equinox (March 21). If the Full Moon falls on a Sunday then Easter is the next Sunday. This means that Easter can fall as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. Next year it falls on March 23, the second earliest date possible. Easter last fell on the latest possible date, April 25, in 1943, and will next fall on that date in 2038. However, this year it will fall on April 24, just one day before this latest possible date. It is the origin of the phrase “moveable feast.”
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>What if our African-American family knew “font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>that there have been three African popes
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>So when you celebrate Easter this year, with your new suits and dresses, expensive fancy hats and shiny new shoes, remember why that Sunday is special and say, “Thank you” to one of our ancestors.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Please listen the Bernie Hayes radio program Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on WGNU-920 AM, and watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday Night at 10 p.m. and Friday Morning at 9 a.m. on KNLC-TV Ch. 24. I can be reached by e-mail at:
“mailto:berhay@swbell.net”>berhay@swbell.net
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Jerusalem
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>M.B. 80th Anniversary “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Rev. J.B. Garris, pastor of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, is inviting everyone to come celebrate their 80 Anniversary. The event begins Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. with guest speaker Rev. LaMarr Goldman of Christ Southern Mission Church, culminating on Sunday morning, March 13 at 10 a.m. with Pastor J.B. Garris preaching, and at 3:30 p.m. with guest speaker Rev. Robert C. Scott of Central Baptist Church.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The theme
“mso-spacerun: yes;”> richness of our blessed past, as we progress into our glorious future in Christ.” Jerusalem is located at 5596 Ridge Ave. Call 361-0480. “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“EN” xml:lang=”EN”>Bible Conference March 4-5
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Jesus Christ’s declaration “I will build my church” will be the theme of an area-wide Bible conference scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5, at the Bible Chapel, 10255 Musick Rd.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>All conference sessions are free and open to the public. Friday’s two sessions will be from 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday’s five sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Conference speakers Dave Glock and Myrue Spivey will expound on different aspects of the theme, with emphasis on “The Local Church in the 21st Century.”
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Glock, who has been teaching at Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, Ia., since 1968, also serves as its dean of education. He is also editor of “Journey,” a quarterly magazine.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Spivey serves as a fulltime elder of Grace Bible Sanctuary in Palm Bay, Fla. He traces his appetite for the Bible to his 1975 conversion “from a life of sin and crime.”
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Contact Srini Tumati at 314-846-8343.
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