iHOPE

A Date With Easter: Part. 2

  Yesterday, I  gave some information about how the date of Easter is determined.  I also mentioned that this information was only accurate for the Western Church (Catholic and Protestant).  The Eastern Orthodox churches have a different way to calculate Easter and some years (like this one), the dates are dramatically different (5 weeks!).

  The official time to celebrate Easter was determined at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. It is from this Council that we also received the Nicene Creed. Everything was fine for awhile because everyone used the same calendar (instituted by Julius Caesar and called, the Julian Calendar). About 1000 AD there was a split between the Eastern and Western churches. The Western Church centered in Rome and the Eastern Church centered in Constantinople. They didn't agree to much of anything after that.

  The Julian Calendar was not very accurate and kept falling behind the annual rotation of the earth around the sun (of course everyone thought the sun revolved around the earth back then).  A new calendar was needed and in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII instituted one. Appropriately, it was called, the Gregorian Calendar. Since Gregory was not recognized as 'Pope' in the Eastern Church, they called it, 'nonsense'.  From that time on, the two churches have used different calendars to determine the date of Easter.  If you would like to know more about how Easter is calculated, you can get some good information here: US Naval Observatory .  Those of you who have been in the Navy will appreciate the irony of referring you to their site to clear up something that doesn't make any sense.  All I can say is that it is a good thing that Jesus is omniscient, otherwise he would never be able to keep all this straight.

  Here are a few more facts about Easter (on the Western calendar):

• Even though it is possible to have Easter as early as March 22, it hasn't been that early since at least 1875 nor will it occur on that date until after 2124.
• In that same 250 year period, Easter has only been celebrated as early as March 23 twice: 1913 and this year. That means it will be more than 115 years before Easter is celebrated as early as it is this year. 
• The next  earliest Easter celebration will occur on March 25, in 2035.
• Three years later (2038), Easter will be celebrated on the latest possible date: April 25.
• Next year, Easter will be celebrated on the much more respectable date of April 12.

If this is too confusing, all you need to know is that Easter is celebrated at New Hope this Sunday at 6:00, 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00.

A Date With Easter

 

Why is Easter so early- and who decides these things?

  For the record:  The date of Easter is traditionally determined  by blindfolding the Pope and having him throw a dart at the calendar. Wherever it lands, that's the date of Easter.

  Not really.  It just seems that way.

  The date of Easter is actually determined by the lunar calendar (not looney, lunar!). Before there were calendars on our walls to tell us the exact date, people ordered their lives by the seasons and the phases of the moon.  The phases of the moon helped determine important stuff like, when to plant, when to harvest, when to hunt and when schedule the NCAA Basketball Playoffs.  Some almanacs will still label certain full moons as Harvest Moon, Planter's Moon and Hunter's Moon. (There is no official moon for the NCAA Basketball Playoffs, but the season is called March Madness- which is its own brand of lunacy)

  Easter is scheduled as the first Sunday after the first full moon of Spring.  Since Spring is takes place on  March 21, Easter can come as early as March 22 and as late  as April  25.  That's not so hard- is it?

  By the way, this is only true in the Western (Roman Catholic & Protestant) Church.  The Eastern Orthodox Church has a different way of calculating the date.  Easter for them this year is April 27 because they still computer the date from the old Julian Calendar.

  Maybe we should go back to the dart  method.

  Tomorrow I'll share some real Easter date trivia.

Communion

Why did we serve communion every Sunday this summer at the 8:00 service and why did we stop this fall?

  For too long some of us have felt that the 8:00 service was simply a shortened, mini-version of the 9:00 & 10:30.  Comments from some of the regular attenders of the early service seemed to confirm that. 

  We wanted to revamp that service so that it had its own identity. One thing that would do that is Communion.

  Communion is an important part of of our life with God and one another.  Currently we offer Communion on the first Sunday of every month as well as on special occasions like Maundy Thursday and Christmas Eve.  We could serve it every Sunday if we chose, but since it dominates the focus of the worship service when it is served (as it should), Session has chosen to keep it to once a month.

  The smaller and more intimate feel, as well as the simple liturgy made serving communion each week very appropriate for the 8:00 service. Session voted to allow it on a trial basis for the summer.  As you might expect, some people did not like it and some very much did.  We are back to our regular fall schedule and will evaluate whether this is something we should try again during special seasons (like Advent or Lent) or whether we keep all the services on the same schedule?

  Any thoughts? I'd love to get your comments. 

Elders & Deacons

What's the difference between Elders & Deacons in our church?

  As a Presbyterian Church, New Hope is governed and led by its officers- Elders and Deacons.

  We are governed by Elders.  In the Bible, they are called 'presbyters', which is where we get our name; a church governed by presbyters. We have 12 Elders who serve collectively as the 'Session'.  Each Elder is elected by the congregation for a three-year term.  Each year, one third (4) of the Elders are voted on to Session even as one third cycle off. Once a person is ordained as an Elder (or Deacon), they maintain that title for life, although there term on Session is limited to three years (with the option of serving two terms- 6 years, before cycling off).  Most everyone who serves on Session will tell you this is a good thing.

  The Session is responsible for every aspect of the congregation's life and health.  The role of the minister is actually quite limited in our church.  Other than having the final authority on things like sermon topics, scriptures and hymns, the minister in a Presbyterian Church doesn't get to decide much on his/her own.  They are part of the Session and get voice and vote like every other Elder.  Most ministers and Elders will tell you this too, is a very good thing!

  What we call Elders, some churches call Deacons.  The terminology is different, but many of the functions are similar.

  In or church, the Deacons lead the congregation in its ministries of compassion and mercy.  Their job is to direct our attention and resources to care for those who are in immediate need. Like Elders, Deacons are elected to three year terms.  The Board of Deacons consists of 15 Deacons.

I Get Questions: 'Is New Hope part of the Presbyterian Church USA?'

  New Hope is indeed part of the Presbyterian Church USA. There are several 'presbyterian' denominations in the United States.   The word 'presbyterian' refers to the type of church government we all use (governed by 'presbyters'-Elders). The decisions they make- and how they make them determine the differences. 

  The PCUSA is the oldest and largest of the presbyterian denominations in America. Through the years there have been several splits:

  In the 1920's, some churches broke off to form the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) because they felt the main body had departed from its historic theological roots.

  In the 1970's another group of churches broke of to form the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), primarily over the issue of the ordination of women (they weren't too crazy about the idea).

There are other presbyterian churches in America and throughout the world.  The ones mentioned above are the ones best known in our area. 

If you would like to know more about the PCUSA, their web page is www.pcusa.org.