www.times-age.co.nz SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
FEATURE SUPPLEMENT l 19
CHURCH SERVICES GUIDE 2024
EASTER WORSHIP
Easter reflections from Han, Isaac, Aisling, Lucy, & Coby Reverend Mannie Marara, the Chaplain at Hadlow Preparatory School says, “Easter is a hard topic to teach because someone dies, but the focus is on that person coming back to life. Christianity as a religion only exists because of the Easter story.” The Wairarapa Times-Age sat down with students from Hadlow to talk about what Easter means to them. Han [year 4], Coby [year 5], Lucy [year 5], Aisling [year 7], and Isaac [year 8], together with their Chaplain, shared their insights. Hadlow is one of the Anglican Trinity family of schools in Wairarapa. The students reflect a range of ethnicities and come from different towns across the Wairarapa. Rev Mannie was born in Zimbabwe, worked in the UK for a time, and then came to New Zealand with his kiwi wife. “Easter is a special time,” Lucy says. “Jesus, who is really God, came to earth in the form of a man. He died for us and so our
sins were forgiven.” “God had only one son. On earth, he was in human shape,” Han agrees. Coby says, “two thousand years ago, people were doing bad things and so God came down to show people what is right. He sacrificed his only son, who was crucified on the cross, to save people from their bad things.” He thinks awhile and then says, “we don’t have punishments like the cross in New Zealand today, but we do have taxes.” “People were sinning and doing bad things,” Aisling says. “We are so grateful to Jesus for dying on the cross for us.” She envisages God as a flame of light who “hears us.” Isaac envisages God as a pair of hands, for many reasons: “God’s hands created the world. When we pray, we put our hands together. We also stretch out our arms and our hands to help people in need.” Aisling and Isaac both talk about being close to God and
From back left: Han, Isaac, Aisling, Lucy, and Coby. Photo supplied.
Rev Mannie talks about the emphasis in Christianity on free will.
doing devotions with his grandma.
the use of prayer. “I pray if I’m worried or if someone else needs help,” Aisling says. “We can be closer to God because now we don’t need a priest to mediate between us and God,” Isaac says. “We can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus.” All the students talk about how Easter is also a special family time. Lucy and Coby both said that Easter is a time to spend with family and, also, to think about any family members who have died. Han talked excitedly about how Easter is a time when he gets to see family from all over New Zealand and even from Malaysia. Isaac enjoys reading the Bible and
The giving and receiving of chocolate eggs at Easter comes up. “Eggs have an ancient meaning,” Rev Mannie says. “They were given and received long before chocolate became popular.” “They represent new life and the miracle of Jesus,” Coby says. “He rose again and gave us all new life.” “And the hollow chocolate eggs represent the empty tomb once Jesus rose,” says Lucy. Isaac adds that, “God gave us the ability to have our sins forgiven, which is sweet like chocolate.”
Anglican Maori Pastorate Te Hepara Pai
“We are promised grace when we make mistakes - and Easter is the biggest reminder of that grace - but we must ask for it. There is the need for action on our part.” The concept of serving is important. “If we serve, we remind people they are all worthy.” He encourages all the students at Hadlow to reflect Christian values through their lived experience and how they treat others. “We are all important and we are all loved. Jesus stressed that point the night before he died. We respect everyone and all other religions.”
Reformed Congregation of Carterton
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? (Acts 26:8)
Easter Sunday 31 March @ 9.30 am
131 Cole Street Masterton
Good Friday: 10:00 AM Easter Sunday: 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM Live streaming at www.rcnz.org Reformed Congregation in Carterton 6 Howard St, Carterton Though we prefer your presence, you can also listen online. www.rcnz.org