Combined Churches of Olney The Origins of Easter ClaireWood,Rector of Olney t is unrealistic to assume that everyone knows the story of the first Easter. My Irecent enquiries have revealed that many people think the Easter story is about a rabbit, an egg and occasionally a fluffy chick . Yet after much research I can find none of these mentioned in the Gospels oftheNewTestament,wheretheoriginalstory of Jesus , his journey into Jerusalem , trial , death by crucifi xion and then resurrection, is recorded . However as if to support these interesting alternative associations with Easter our retailers have arranged to sell them as seasonal items in a similar way to presents at Christmas. Please do understand that I really love chocolate so chocolate eggs are not a problem , nor are cute rabbits and fluffy chicks , the more the merrier , but their immediate link with the story of Jesus and his fulfilment of God's promise to each of us that first Easter day, is somewhat lost. We need to have the association of Easter with eggs , rabbits and chickens explained because these delightful symbols have taken on a presence that now dwarfs the original reason for their existence . There are many theories about the origin of Easter eggs and Easter bunnies , among them Vicky Allen ( BSY A)Footcare W0/4 6/'/-.. ? • ?• NEAT FEET SpeclaHst J- TREATMENT OOOMS duro~dyTreabKelti:r: N ail care • Thick ened , difficult , ingrowing toenail s •Cornandcallusremoval•Verrucae•Footcarefortheelderly • Diab etic foot assessment • Sports injuries, paediatric foot problem s. ffom,.e, viritrbyPft>Ctl1.bKeltt Hilary Rimmer BSc (Hons) Podiatry,MC hS, BA (Hons) hcpc registered The Olney'Ireatment Rooms,15-17Osborns Court, OlneyMl<46 4LA t: 01234240444 www.footwellpodiatry.co.uk fHdyour butfootforw-ani HAVE YOUR FEET CARED FOR IN YOUR OWN HOME Need your toenails cut? Or fungal infectiontreated? Need corns removed?Athletes foot or verrucas treated? Need hard/callousor cracked skin removed? All finishedwith a relaxingfoot massage RingVICKYtodiscussyourtreatmentatcompetitiveprices. the delight of being able to eat eggs again after the Lenten fast (in medieval times the last eggs were eaten in the pancakes of Shrove Tuesday .) And whilst we now associate these symbols with Easter perhaps it is worth a revisit of the symbol that Christians associate with the first Easter and new life. Maybeasanalternativetochocolateeggsand bunnies we might offer a chocolate cross for Easter ? Many people already wear a cross on a chain , so how would it be if we were given a simple chocolate cross? A cross reminds us of the first Easter cross and of Christ 's death- defying , love-giving , eternal -life provision for all of us. This year , however, I know that we will have to make do with the chocolate eggs , fluffy chicks and rabbits, but as we exchange our Easter gifts let us connect with the miracle of that first Easter and celebrate in style . And next year - maybe we might just find or see our first chocolate cross . Happy Easter! The Christian Churches of Olney celebrate their common faith, and express their worship with refreshing diversity, from contemporary to traditional approaches , and thought provoking Bible teaching. Come along - we'd love to get to know you. 01908 519086 07988 458403 vallen776@gmall.com Welcome on our Sunday services : Olney Baptist Church (known as 'Sutcliff'): High St. (opposite the Market Place) Rev Ian Field 713880 10.30am Family Worship 6pm Evening service www.olneybaptist.org.uk Cowper Memorial URC: Sunday Morning at 10.45am Communion on first Sunday of month. Celia Dashfield, 01234 713468, contact @cowperurc .org.uk www.cowperurc.org.uk SS Peter & Paul: Sunday 10.00am (Weekyl ) 8.30am (2nd/ 4th Sunday of the month) 5.00pm (2nd/ 4th Sunday of the month) 6.00pm (1st/3rd Sunday of the month) Wednesday 9.30am (Weekyl ) Moreat www.olneyparish.org.uk. Reverend Claire Wood 713308 The Catholic Church of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Law rence: Saturday Mass at 6.30pm Sunday : Mass at 10.30am. Benediction 4 - 5 pm at the Convent Father Malcolm Bull and Church administrator, Sister Rita Scott 711212 Phonebox Magazine 45