Family Easter Traditions: Celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

Parenting Points

As Easter approaches, families prepare to celebrate the central event of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While Easter is often associated with bunnies, eggs, and chocolate, it’s essential to remember the true meaning of this important holiday. By incorporating meaningful traditions into your family celebrations, you can deepen your understanding of Christ’s resurrection and create lasting memories with your kids and family. Here are five family Easter tradition ideas.

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service. Start Easter Sunday with a sunrise service to commemorate the dawn of the resurrection. Gather as a family or join your church community for worship, prayer, and reflection as you witness the rising sun symbolizing the Son of God’s victory over the darkness of death.

Resurrection Egg Hunt. Instead of a traditional Easter egg hunt, consider organizing a Resurrection Egg Hunt. Each egg contains a symbol representing a part of the Easter story, such as a cross, a piece of linen, or a small stone. As children search for the eggs, they’ll also uncover the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, deepening their understanding of the significance of Easter.

Family Devotions and Scripture Readings. In the days leading up to Easter, gather as a family for daily devotions and Scripture readings focused on the events of Holy Week. Reflect on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, His crucifixion, and, ultimately, His resurrection. Engaging in devotional practices together as a family can foster spiritual growth and unity.

Easter Sunday Feast. Prepare a special Easter Sunday feast to celebrate the joy of Christ’s resurrection. Incorporate symbolic foods such as lamb (representing the sacrificial lamb of God), bread (symbolizing Jesus as the bread of life), and fish (recalling Jesus’ miraculous catch of fish after His resurrection). Share a meal as a family, giving thanks for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Easter Bonfire. On Easter Eve, consider hosting a bonfire in your backyard. Gather around the fire as a family, sing hymns of praise, and share stories of God’s faithfulness. The warmth and light of the fire serve as symbols of Christ’s victory over darkness and death, inspiring hope and joy in your hearts.

By incorporating these meaningful traditions into your family’s Easter celebrations, you can create a deeper connection to the resurrected Jesus. May your Easter be filled with joy, hope, and the love of our risen Savior.

-Dr. Ben Birdsong

Missions Minister at Christ Church Birmingham

Writer and Speaker

www.benbirdsong.com

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

Encouraging Word

In Psalm 32, David addresses the joy and necessity of forgiveness. He covers seven parts or steps to forgiveness.

1. Consequences. He begins by pointing out the consequences (result, benefit) of forgiveness. He says happy is the person whose transgression is forgiven and where the penalty of sin is removed.

2. Conviction. Next, David mentions conviction. Conviction is the awareness of wrongdoing and experiencing the guilt for misconduct. Once he became aware of sin, then he had to acknowledge his sin.

3. Confession. Following conviction comes confession. To confess is to admit wrongdoing and to take ownership of it (1 John 1:9). Confession and repentance go together.

4. Communication. The next step referred to is communication with God. David says to pray. Prayer is conscious contact with God which involves both speaking and listening.

5. Counsel. As you talk and walk with God, you will receive counsel. As you stay “in touch” with God, His Holy Spirit will give you counsel. This guidance and teaching will come through reading and studying the Bible, the written Word of God.

6. Comfort. In seeking and receiving counsel, comfort will come to ease and relieve the pain that suffering from sin has caused.

7. Celebration. The last step to experiencing the joy of forgiveness is celebration. Once the burden and weight of sin have been removed through forgiveness, then celebration will come. David says to be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

As born-again believers and Christ followers, we know that forgiveness of sin only comes through the Lord Jesus Christ (I John 1:7). Salvation can only come as the sin barrier is removed. One has to repent of sin and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Let me encourage you to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, have your sins forgiven, and experience the joy of forgiveness!

-Tony Cooper

Director Emeritus of Jimmie Hale Mission

www.jimmiehalemission.com

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

Music Notes

The first time 16-year-old Brier Hight stepped onto a stage, she knew it was where she was meant to be. “My journey in music started when I was eight years old and was cast as Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol at The Birmingham Children’s Theater,” Hight shares, adding, “Since then, I have performed on countless stages in the Birmingham area and have loved every second of it.”

Hight family — Singer songwriter Brier Hight is seen here with her parents, James and Heather, and brothers Aidan and Cullen.

In addition to performing covers of songs, the Gardendale High School sophomore writes her own songs and explains that much of her inspiration comes from her life experiences. “A lot of my songs are very personal and are something that I am feeling at that moment or a memory that had a profound impact on me.” Hight is set to perform throughout the Magnolia Festival in Gardendale on April 19-20, 2024. On Friday, Hight will perform at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage, and on Saturday she can be found on the smaller stage singing during the day. “I will definitely be playing some of my original songs as well as some songs from all-time favorites like Fleetwood Mac and other various country artists,” she says.

Brier Hight in pink pageant dress — Hear Brier Hight perform live at the Magnolia Festival on April 19-20, 2024.

Hight discovered a new passion recently- pageantry. “I am so incredibly grateful and honored to represent my hometown as Miss Gardendale Magnolia Festival Teen 2024,” she says. While she holds the title, her social initiative is The Firehouse Community Arts Center. “The Firehouse is located in Avondale and was created as a safe and creative learning space to perform music while under the guidance of experienced musicians,” Hight explains, adding that it is through donations that underserved youth can receive scholarships for music education programs. Hight is currently participating in the Miss Alabama Teen competition. “In just a few short months, I have gained some incredible friendships and explored some amazing opportunities that would not have been possible without the help of my director and this organization,” she says.

Whether Hight is focusing on academics, music, or pageantry, her faith in God guides her. “My faith and my relationship with God is one of the most important things to me. I pray about everything,” Hight shares, adding, “No matter how hard things get, I know that I have Him by my side and He will be my guiding light through every step of life.” Hight is a member of Church of the Highlands and attends the Fultondale campus.

In addition to live music, the Magnolia Festival will also host 170 vendor booths, a car show, pooch parade, petting zoo, free art classes and kid zone, unique food vendors, and more! For more details about the Magnolia Festival, visit www.magnoliafestival.org.

-Melissa Armstrong

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

The Family Pet

Have you ever met that special someone you simply cannot live without? Did you know dogs sometimes experience that same phenomenon? It is called a bonded pair when two dogs rely on each other so much that they simply cannot be separated. Two by Two Animal Rescue has taken in such a pair recently.

Their names are Cooper and Kianna and they are two of the sweetest huskies you will ever have the privilege of meeting. We rescued this couple out of the shelter just in the nick of time to get them off of death row.

Now they are on to their next great adventure: finding a permanent home! Like all huskies, they have a lot to say and share a love for the great outdoors. The ideal family for these two would be active with no other animals in the home. Despite the fact that Cooper and Kianna love each other, they have little patience for other dogs.

Two by Two is a faith based, no kill rescue whose mission is to give life to abandoned, abused, stray, and distressed animals. Saving animal lives for more than 20 years, Two by Two operates out of Birmingham, Alabama, and has coordinated the rescue and adoption of cats, dogs, horses, and even a few pot-bellied pigs. Two by Two has placed dogs in almost forty states and even a few abroad! To learn more about Two by Two visit www.twobytworescue.com. †

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Senior Couple Walking In Park 13909586

Special Feature

“I married you for life, but not for lunch” is a popular joke among some senior couples as they enter retirement. The quote is attributed to Lou Scott-Joynt from a talk made in 2008. Her speech weaves a tapestry of sad and whimsical stories from married couples in retirement. The captivating message crescendos to hope-filled anticipation as Lou reveals, “I’m more grateful than I could possibly express for what I have been given these past forty-three years since we married in 1965 for life, and mostly for lunch, too.” Lou and husband Michael loved each other, but they were also in like with each other? How strong is the friend bond with your spouse?

Scripture reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV). This passage describes the financial, physical, and emotional benefits of friendship.

The Bible uses companion to describe a wife (Malachi 2:14). It comes from a word that means close associate or partner. God designed marriage for conjugal enjoyment and communal interaction, providing Adam and Eve as the perfect example of wedded friends. Are you married to your best friend? Imagine aging with a spouse who “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), who lovingly tells you the truth even if it hurts (Proverbs 27:6), and who has your best interests at heart (Philippians 2:4).

Lou ends with a story of how Michael comforted her- a new bride- as she grieved the loss of her parents and a brother. “Michael was then- as he remains now- my totally committed, wonderfully faithful, husband, lover, friend, supporter, and encourager,” she reminisces. She concludes, “And now we look forward to lunching together in retirement even more frequently… to having more time to enjoy music, books and theatre, walking, gardening as well as continuing to use our experience and gifts in the service of God.”

How will you and your spouse spend your golden years? Wherever your imagination takes you, I pray you will enjoy the company of your two best friends- Jesus and your spouse.

-Alonza Jones

President and Co-Founder, Biblical Marriage Institute

Follow @biblicalmarriageinstitute

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

Are We There Yet?

Are you looking for opportunities to learn more about the history of the faith? Look no further than the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Ala. where you will find 125 intricate structures depicting the Ten Commandments, the crucifixion, the resurrection and much more. Roger Steele, Director of the Ave Maria Grotto, explains that Brother Joseph Zoettl is to thank for the beautiful structures visitors can view today.

“He was one of the first-generation monks that came here from southeastern Germany when he was 14 years old,” Steele explains, adding that Brother Joseph was unable to become a priest, so he eventually started shoveling coal in a steam plant. He suffered a back injury that left him hunched for most of his life. “Long story short, he started to make things with his hands,” Steele says, which eventually led him to make depictions of religious structures from around the world. He placed his creations out in the woods near the monastery and it became a tourist attraction. “Eventually, the visitors bothered the monks, so they moved Brother Joseph’s creations to where the Grotto is now in 1934,” Steele says, adding, “He created all of this starting in the early 1900s and the last one he created in 1958,” Steele says. Brother Joseph died in 1961.

Ave Maria Grotto structures — Visitors of Cullman’s Ave Maria Grotto are invited to browse the intricate creations of Brother Joseph Zoettl seven days a week. Learn more at www.avemariagrotto.com.

Ave Maria Grotto is located on the campus of St. Bernard Abby and visitors stroll through the grounds to see the intricate details of Brother Joseph’s 125 structures. “We have roughly 35,000 visitors a year,” Steele shares. The Grotto welcomes visitors seven days a week Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for self-guided tours. “If anyone wants a guided tour from a monk or me, they need to call us in advance,” Steele says. The standard rate of admission is $10 for adults, children four and under get in free. Group rates are also available.

Why visit the Grotto? “You come to the Grotto and get two things. You get natural peace – nature, hearing God speak through the creek at the bottom of the Grotto or the woodlands you are in. Also, the peace that you experience by looking at Brother Joseph’s work,” Steele explains. The Grotto also has a beautiful gift shop where you can purchase gifts, fresh bread and cookies made on the property, honey, pecans, and more. “It is Cullman’s oldest tourist attraction by far,” Steele says. Visit www.avemariagrotto.com to learn more.

-Melissa Armstrong

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

March Reader Giveaways

TO SAY THANK YOU for reading and supporting the businesses and organizations that advertise with Birmingham Christian Family(BCF) and make spreading Good News possible we have TWO Great Giveaways this month!

Enter to win a FAMILY FOUR PACK of TICKETS to a Birmingham Bulls Hockey Game at the Pelham Civic Complex, www.bullshockey.net.

To enter simply LIKE and COMMENT on the Giveaway Post on Birmingham Christian Family’s Instagram, @cfpbirmingham.

For EXTRA ENTRIES:

TAG a friend in the comments you would like to take with you
POST to your story on Instagram
SUBSCRIBE to receive your free digital issue of BCF at www.birminghamchristian.com.
FOLLOW US on Facebook @Birmingham Christian Family.

Offer ends Monday, 3/18/24. Winners announced 3/19/24 on the Instagram Giveaway Post. So be sure to FOLLOW our Instagram page, @cfpbirmingham.

Win 2 Tickets to the American Village National Day of Prayer Breakfast May 2, 2024 featuring author and speaker Sherri Burgess. Burgess wrote Bronner, A Journey to Understand, to help people see how God works through the hard things in life. Now, she shares the great hope we have in God not only to help us get through our pain but also to be better people because of it, www.AmericanVillage.org.

To enter simply LIKE and COMMENT on the Giveaway Post on Birmingham Christian Family’s Facebook @Birmingham Christian Family.

For EXTRA ENTRIES:

TAG a friend in the comments you would like to take with you.
SHARE the post on Facebook
FOLLOW US on Instagram @cfpbirmingham
SUBSCRIBE to receive your free digital issue of BCF at www.birminghamchristian.com.

Offer ends Sunday, 3/31/24. Winner announced 4/1/24 on the Facebook Giveaway Post. So be sure to FOLLOW our Facebook page @birminghamchristianfamily.

February 26, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

Publisher’s Note

High School Seniors in the five county Birmingham area have until Friday, March 15, 2024, to apply for the 6th Annual Birmingham Christian Family Scholarship Awards. This year we will have three scholarship recipients who will be able to use their award at the college or university of their choice- $2000 to winner, and $500 to the top 2 runner ups.

To enter, students simply submit online a short essay on the following prompt: “How has your Christian faith impacted your decision making in your high school career.”

Visit www.birminghamchristian.com/scholarship to apply.

A big thanks to our scholarship sponsors who help make this program possible each year- including Alabama Credit Union, The American Village, and Vulcan Termite & Pest Contro l.

-Laurie Franklin

Founder, The Christian Family Publication, Inc.

www.BirminghamChristian.com

Facebook: Birmingham Christian Family

Twitter: @cfpBirmingham

Instagram: @cfpbirmingham

Pinterest: @cfpbirmingham

LinkedIn: Birmingham Christian Family

Celebrating 24 Years of Good News!

February 23, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

Special Feature

Be inspired by author, speaker, adoptive mom and foster parent Natalie Brumfield at Sav-A-Life’s Annual Celebration of Life event on March 19, 2024, at The Club in Birmingham. The theme of the event, “place a stake in the ground” to help women and men facing unplanned pregnancies throughout metro Birmingham is inspired by Brumfield’s story.

At age seven, Brumfield’s father took her to abortion centers to pray for those seeking an abortion. It was at that young age she “put her stake in the ground and took a stand for the unborn.” At the age of 39, she continues to be an advocate for the unborn. Brumfield has a passion for empowering families by serving children and families in crisis. She is a pro-life initiatives writer who has written for Charisma News, Live Action News and Bound4LIFE International. Since 2008, Brumfield has led Bound4LIFE Birmingham, a grassroots prayer movement for the ending of abortion, an increase of adoption and revival in government. She has also served locally at Sav-A-Life as a volunteer counselor and as a donation drive coordinator for the last 14 years. In 2020, Brumfield published her first children’s book, The House That Love Built, which shares God’s heart for adoption from her own family’s story.

Hear Brumfield speak at either the lunch or dinner event on March 19 at The Club. The doors open for the lunch event at 11 a.m. with the program from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Doors open for the dinner event at 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m. RSVP with your event choice by March 12 to [email protected] or call 205-979-6329.

The Celebration of Life is the primary fundraising event for Sav-A-Life that serves women and men facing unplanned pregnancies at Alabama Pregnancy Test Centers in Vestavia and Crestwood as well as North Jefferson Women’s Center in Fultondale. The centers offer free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, prenatal assessment, STI/STD testing for men and women, childbirth education classes, parenting classes, and fatherhood programming. Learn more at www.savalife.org. †

February 13, 2024 by Laurie Stroud

Special Feature

The next opportunity for Alabama citizens to exercise their right to vote is Tuesday March 5, 2024. “I want to encourage all eligible Alabama citizens to register to vote and to exercise this constitutional right,” said Secretary of State Wes Allen. “Voter participation in safe, secure, and transparent elections is critical to the success of our state.”

Secretary of State Wes Allen urges Alabama citizens to be fully prepared to vote on March 5, 2024. Click here to view a March 5, 2024 sample ballot for your county of residence.

On election day, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters are required to present a valid form of photo identification before voting at their polling place or by absentee ballot. To learn more about photo voter ID requirements or get your free photo voter ID, visit www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/photo-voter-id.

“Before heading to the polls on March 5, I encourage Alabama voters to visit www.AlabamaVotes.gov where they can check or update the status of their voter registration, verify their polling location, and view their county’s sample ballots,” said Secretary Allen. “I want all Alabama voters to be fully prepared as they plan to exercise their constitutional right to vote on March 5.”

When visiting The Secretary of State’s website, just click on your county of residence to view a sample ballot before you go to the polls on March 5. The direct link to this page is www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/2024-primary-election-sample-ballots. †

Family Easter Traditions: Celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection

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