Comments on: The Problem of Marketing Easter http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Thu, 17 May 2012 03:50:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anna Fairechild http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-41119 Anna Fairechild Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:00:50 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-41119 Google is the best search engine Google is the best search engine

]]> By: Lawrence Underwood http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10438 Lawrence Underwood Sun, 16 Apr 2006 12:35:47 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10438 Mike, Thanks for your comment on observing Easter. It is refreshing. I've enjoyed perusing your blog. Many blessings on this Ressurection Day morning! Lawrence Mike,
Thanks for your comment on observing Easter. It is refreshing. I’ve enjoyed perusing your blog. Many blessings on this Ressurection Day morning!

Lawrence

]]> By: Heather Alkire http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10419 Heather Alkire Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:25:42 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10419 I am a person who loves celebrations, so celebrating Easter seems only natural to me. I love the way it reminds me of the power of the cross and the resurrection! For many years, I have enjoyed going to see Pioneer Drive's Easter pagaent. The last two years, I have been honored and moved to participate in this annual tradition by playing in the orchestra. When I invited some of my ACU friends, they kind of turned their noses at me, like, Why go to a play to tell a story we already know? But I'm here to tell you that seeing the story reenacted before your very eyes moves you in a way that reading the words off the page cannot. Nearly every line in the play is straight from Scripture, and I find every one of the six performances moves me differently. If anyone would like the chance to come see this show, I would highly recommend it! We have two more performances: this evening (Good Friday) at 7:30 and tomorrow afternoon (Saturday) at 3:00 at the Civic Center in Abilene. One more thought: Jesus left us with the act of communion, knowing we would need a ceremony to remind us of his love for us. Why not view Easter in the same way? A yearly reminder of Jesus' triumph over the grave, though we can certainly celebrate that triumph at other times as well! I am a person who loves celebrations, so celebrating Easter seems only natural to me. I love the way it reminds me of the power of the cross and the resurrection! For many years, I have enjoyed going to see Pioneer Drive’s Easter pagaent. The last two years, I have been honored and moved to participate in this annual tradition by playing in the orchestra. When I invited some of my ACU friends, they kind of turned their noses at me, like, Why go to a play to tell a story we already know? But I’m here to tell you that seeing the story reenacted before your very eyes moves you in a way that reading the words off the page cannot. Nearly every line in the play is straight from Scripture, and I find every one of the six performances moves me differently. If anyone would like the chance to come see this show, I would highly recommend it! We have two more performances: this evening (Good Friday) at 7:30 and tomorrow afternoon (Saturday) at 3:00 at the Civic Center in Abilene.

One more thought: Jesus left us with the act of communion, knowing we would need a ceremony to remind us of his love for us. Why not view Easter in the same way? A yearly reminder of Jesus’ triumph over the grave, though we can certainly celebrate that triumph at other times as well!

]]> By: mac sandlin http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10405 mac sandlin Fri, 14 Apr 2006 03:29:33 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10405 How does excluding words like tithe, lent, passion week, etc. make us more like God? Certainly Christians are not required to celebrate lent or Easter (a Christianization of an old celebration to a Norse goddess), but I think that what people are saying here is that these traditions that most Christians have held over the centuries can be benefitial for those of us in churches of Christ to experience. How does excluding words like tithe, lent, passion week, etc. make us more like God? Certainly Christians are not required to celebrate lent or Easter (a Christianization of an old celebration to a Norse goddess), but I think that what people are saying here is that these traditions that most Christians have held over the centuries can be benefitial for those of us in churches of Christ to experience.

]]> By: Richard http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10345 Richard Thu, 13 Apr 2006 03:39:05 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10345 On Palm Sunday last week I did something I have never done in my life. I went to a Presbyterian church for the second time in my life. The first time was the week before. The traditions were so moving, and I was frankly suprised that I could get beyond by own heritage. What really amazed me was the powerful sermon. I think that one thing that leads to our exclusivness is the simple fact that we never visit anywhere else. This guy just preach the Bible and with power. I have no plans of becoming a Presbyterian, but my life was richer for having gone. This Sunday I will be filling in for a church inbetween preachers. The Easter story will be told, and hopefully I will be asked back to speak again. Great post as usual. Rc On Palm Sunday last week I did something I have never done in my life. I went to a Presbyterian church for the second time in my life. The first time was the week before. The traditions were so moving, and I was frankly suprised that I could get beyond by own heritage. What really amazed me was the powerful sermon. I think that one thing that leads to our exclusivness is the simple fact that we never visit anywhere else. This guy just preach the Bible and with power. I have no plans of becoming a Presbyterian, but my life was richer for having gone. This Sunday I will be filling in for a church inbetween preachers. The Easter story will be told, and hopefully I will be asked back to speak again. Great post as usual.

Rc

]]> By: Lisa http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10330 Lisa Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:39:48 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10330 "No Christmas and no 'music' may have set us apart, but at Easter we were normal." Is that what we're aspiring to nowadays -- what the world considers "normal"? I read these posts and these comments with words like "pastor," "lent," "passion week," "tithe" -- and I think maybe our focus has become to be more like others -- so they'll think we are "normal" -- than more like God. “No Christmas and no ‘music’ may have set us apart, but at Easter we were normal.”

Is that what we’re aspiring to nowadays — what the world considers “normal”?

I read these posts and these comments with words like “pastor,” “lent,” “passion week,” “tithe” — and I think maybe our focus has become to be more like others — so they’ll think we are “normal” — than more like God.

]]> By: Victor Knowles http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10308 Victor Knowles Wed, 12 Apr 2006 15:49:11 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10308 The cross cannot and should not be separated from the resurrection of our Lord. He was delivered to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). The gospel message is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This is our message too. It should also be our manner of life. "Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!" (Charles Wesley, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"). The cross cannot and should not be separated from the resurrection of our Lord. He was delivered to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). The gospel message is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This is our message too. It should also be our manner of life. “Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!” (Charles Wesley, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”).

]]> By: Beverly http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10264 Beverly Wed, 12 Apr 2006 10:44:29 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10264 Mike, just sent you an email. Mike, just sent you an email.

]]> By: Mike http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10262 Mike Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:47:41 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10262 Beverly - I'm a bit behind on reading comments. My prayers are with you and my friend Sam. Please drop me an e-mail to catch me up on more specifics. Mike Beverly – I’m a bit behind on reading comments. My prayers are with you and my friend Sam. Please drop me an e-mail to catch me up on more specifics. Mike

]]> By: Beverly http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10259 Beverly Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:18:52 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10259 Excuse me..I just want to tell Greg, Neal, Joyce and Amy thank you for your prayers..We find out results in a couple of days...Sam was covered with many prayers.... Okay,,,now you can go back to what you were talking about... Excuse me..I just want to tell Greg, Neal, Joyce and Amy thank you for your prayers..We find out results in a couple of days…Sam was covered with many prayers….

Okay,,,now you can go back to what you were talking about…

]]> By: Mike http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10256 Mike Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:56:23 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10256 Well, we started our Palm Sunday service like we have for the last several years: with a reading from the gospels and all the children walking down the aisle waving their palm branches. The Taize service is in our atrium with everyone gathered around a cross and Palm branches. The worship "style" is typical for Taize (resources are online), with an invitation from the leader at the end, to write something on a card that we'd like to "leave in the shadow of the cross" as we left in silence (with the Taize choir singing). It was, for me, both refreshing and convicting. Well, we started our Palm Sunday service like we have for the last several years: with a reading from the gospels and all the children walking down the aisle waving their palm branches.

The Taize service is in our atrium with everyone gathered around a cross and Palm branches. The worship “style” is typical for Taize (resources are online), with an invitation from the leader at the end, to write something on a card that we’d like to “leave in the shadow of the cross” as we left in silence (with the Taize choir singing). It was, for me, both refreshing and convicting.

]]> By: Traci http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10255 Traci Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:37:57 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10255 Easter was always celebrated at my home congregation as a child. It was the one time in the year that we were normal christians. No Christmas and no "music" may have set us apart, but at Easter we were normal. It wasn't until I was an adult that I discovered that wasn't the normal Church of Christ tradition. I wonder how that happened. Autonomous congregations, I suppose. Easter was always celebrated at my home congregation as a child. It was the one time in the year that we were normal christians. No Christmas and no “music” may have set us apart, but at Easter we were normal. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I discovered that wasn’t the normal Church of Christ tradition. I wonder how that happened. Autonomous congregations, I suppose.

]]> By: Johnny http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10254 Johnny Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:29:57 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10254 Very interested in hearing more about this Palm Sunday Taize Service. Can you give details or a source? Very interested in hearing more about this Palm Sunday Taize Service. Can you give details or a source?

]]> By: Joyce http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10253 Joyce Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:37:27 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10253 I realized with a start on Sunday evening that it was Palm Sunday. We sure didn't mention it at church. After celebrating Palm Sunday in an Anglican church for the past three years, I am sad that I don't have the opportunity to do that with my church family here. I tried to talk to someone about Lent a couple of weeks ago and got only blank stares. :-( Clint - I heard that one about wearing an electric chair around my neck, too! I realized with a start on Sunday evening that it was Palm Sunday. We sure didn’t mention it at church. After celebrating Palm Sunday in an Anglican church for the past three years, I am sad that I don’t have the opportunity to do that with my church family here. I tried to talk to someone about Lent a couple of weeks ago and got only blank stares. :-(

Clint – I heard that one about wearing an electric chair around my neck, too!

]]> By: Beaner http://preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter/comment-page-1#comment-10251 Beaner Tue, 11 Apr 2006 18:27:34 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/04/11/the-problem-of-marketing-easter#comment-10251 Some things I miss from my heritage: Receiving palm branches & folding them into a cross shape on Palm Sunday, getting ashes on Ash Wednesday (THAT is really looking like a fool for Christ!), doing the 'Stations of the Cross' in church before Easter, Christmas with a manger scene outside. Every tribe can bring something special to the table......I just wish we had a table where we could all share the best of what we have to offer on THIS side of Eternity. Some things I miss from my heritage: Receiving palm branches & folding them into a cross shape on Palm Sunday, getting ashes on Ash Wednesday (THAT is really looking like a fool for Christ!), doing the ‘Stations of the Cross’ in church before Easter, Christmas with a manger scene outside. Every tribe can bring something special to the table……I just wish we had a table where we could all share the best of what we have to offer on THIS side of Eternity.

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