Eight years ago I was swept into a huge Palm Sunday procession at the Basilica di San Marco, Venice. The reverent yet exuberant worship and the graceful homily breathed into me a new appreciation of this Sunday before Easter. That they used long palm branches, not small replicas, greatly affected my vision of that day long ago when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey through a jubilant crowd.

As I’ve grown in my faith the Easter season has grown dearer in my heart. I’ve had the privilege of serving at a variety of Easter events in churches and each year I try to make this time memorable to my family. My desire stems from my gratefulness to God who wanted to save humanity so much he used his perfect son to do it, and to the son who gladly volunteered even to a horrible, torturous death. I know I don’t deserve saving and I know I couldn’t save myself however hard I tried, so I want to purposely consider those events (Jesus giving up his own desires, his death, and (spoiler alert) resurrection). I don’t want to be complacent about it. I also want to commemorate it. I want to memorialise this as much as I do my wedding day or the birth of my children or graduation or another special event in my life. In past Easters I’ve written prayers for groups and prayers for congregations, I’ve written poems and scripts, I’ve helped organise services and activities to engage all ages. 2020 Easter can’t be that way. So I reflect on what to do instead. After Jesus’ loud entry to Jerusalem and after his gross trial marred with spin and deception, when the two Marys saw him miraculously alive again it was quiet and they were alone. Jesus initially appeared to people in their twos and threes. This year we have no church building to go to, no kids’ drama, no dawn beach service, no jubilant party, just us choosing to see Jesus as a saviour, a rescuer, the risen son of God.

I pray that this Easter stands out in my memory. Not because I was afraid or was mourning my comforts, I pray it stands out in my memory because this is the year we say, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)

I could never be accused of not being a planner, so I’m totally planning some stuff for my family next week