Easter Reflections
“And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.” -George Frideric Handel, The Messiah (1741)
I must admit that this is a very unusual Holy Week as a musician. I began Palm Sunday by playing a couple of hymns on the violin during our family church service at home. I did the same for Good Friday. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered the holiday from years past.
Growing up, Easter was always a special time for our family. On Easter Sunday, my four sisters and I would attend church in our fancy (often matching) dresses. Mom would sing with the choir or play in the pit orchestra for a festive cantata.
In the evening, our parents would lead us in a time of family worship. We would sing beautiful hymns like “Up From the Grave He Arose” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Afterwards, Dad would give a devotional on the importance of Christ’s death and Resurrection to our Christian faith.
“Although this year for Holy Week,
The holiday seems strange.
We’re staring at our screens and phones,
Not ready for such change.
We miss the faces of our friends,
Students, and family.
It’s not the same to congregate
Now only virtually.
But like the Grinch who thought that he
Could destroy Christmas cheer
We realize the holidays
Mean more to us this year.
It’s not about the egg hunts or
Our fancy Easter best,
Instead, our thoughts turn to the Lord
Who’s given us this rest.
We pray today you all may find
The peace our Savior gives.
Remember the best news of all,
Rejoice, because He Lives.”
Of course, as a child my favorite part of the day involved candy. What kid doesn't like to eat a giant, sugar-coated marshmallow peep? I remember waking up and hurrying downstairs to see if the Easter Bunny had filled my basket with goodies, piling it high with malted milk ball eggs, mouth-watering chocolate bunnies, and sticky yellow peeps. The Easter Bunny’s jellybean hunt was a favorite, although I ate the goodies so fast very few ended up in my basket!
Most normal years, the members of Uptown Violins play Good Friday and Easter morning services for several churches throughout the Midwest. I especially enjoy performing classics like “Stricken and Smitten” and "What Wondrous Love is This." I also love to accompany the choir on Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from The Messiah.
This year, we have found other creative outlets to celebrate the holiday. We’ve been busy baking bunny cakes and decorating Easter eggs, as well as recording music and performing festive hymns live on Facebook and Instagram. I even published a short story about a violinist performing The Messiah entitled “Get a Händel on It.”
I also wrote the inset poem to remind us of the true meaning of the holiday.
