Happy Easter Indeed!

Happy Easter! Still! We're in the middle of 50 days of feasting to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. 

Keeping the feast going might be challenging when we're not feeling the Easter Joy, and while we're grappling with the daily difficulties of life in a fallen world. (Plus, in our time and place, feasting feels ironically foreign since we have access to rich foods and Uber Eats all the time!) 

This is a time to "practice resurrection"—so I'm just going to throw out some ideas, some things we're doing at church, some traditions, to help us consider how to enjoy and celebrate, how to continue walking in the light (ideas from Ashley Tumlin Wallace, Grace Notes and yours truly): 

• Flowers! Children in the Good Shepherd Atrium continue to arrange flowers and carry them to the altar table during Eastertide. You might make it a point to keep flowers on your dining table, prayer table, window sill above the kitchen sink during Eastertide, and/or task children with this (and joyfully accept the weeds/wildflowers they bring! I currently have a four-leaf clover on my window sill thanks to Jack.). 

  

• Stained glass: The children in the True Vine Atrium are working with stained glass (of sorts)—I don't know how you might incorporate this idea in your household, but please share with me if you do! Perhaps visit a beautiful church with stained glass for a time of prayer and reflection. Or use glass markers with the children to make your own stained glass windows at home.

For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 1 Corinthians 4:6

• Stories: Read the Gospel accounts of the appearances of the Risen Christ (some Bibles list these in the back among the scripture charts):

  • To Mary Magdalen Matthew 28: 8-10 Mark 16: 9-11 John 20:11-18

  • On the road to Emmaus Mark 16: 12-13 Luke 24: 13-35

  • To the disciples (Upper Room) John 20: 19-23

  • To the apostles (Upper Room) Mark 16: 14 Luke 24: 36-43 John 20:24-29

  • By the Sea of Tiberias John 21: 1-17

  • On a hill in Galilee Matthew 28: 16-20 Mark 16: 15-18

  • At Jerusalem Luke 24: 44-49

• Sing Alleluia! Here are two playlists for preschool and elementary ages. 

• Walks, picnics, bonfires: all these relate to traditional Easter celebrations and the stories of the Risen Christ, above. 

• Food: Continue to bake bread or special desserts, or make special meals. There might be certain dishes that only appear during Eastertide. Below I've added the Citrus Cookies that my daughters have made for Easter the past couple years, which are delicious and feel springy, zesty, and zingy!

• Sunrise: Head outside to get the sun on your face in the morning. 

  

  
  

I was so moved last week in my time with the elementary school children as we read the account of Jesus inviting his disciples to "Come and have breakfast." He performed the same miracle that he'd done before, and they recognized him! What miracles will Jesus do again, out of tender love for us, to help us recognize Him!? 

Alleluia, the Lord is risen.

He is risen indeed, alleluia!

love—Josie

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Citrus Butter Cookies

courtesy of Ree Drummond

Ingredients

• 2 cups (4 Sticks) Salted Butter, Softened

• 1 1/2 cups Sugar

• 2 whole Large Eggs, Separated

• 4 cups All-purpose Flour

• 3 Tbsp. Orange, Lemon, And Lime Zest (approx 1 Tablespoon Each)

• 2 Tbsp. Orange, Lemon, And/or Lime Juice (2 Tablespoons Total)

  
  

Icing

• 3 cups Powdered Sugar

• 2 Tbsp. Whole Milk

• 2 Tbsp. Orange, Lemon, And Lime Zest

• Juice Of 1/2 Lime

• Juice Of 1/2 Lemon

• Dash Of Salt

• Extra Zest, For Decorating

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until combined. Add egg yolks and mix until combined (set whites aside for the icing.) Add the zest and the flour and mix until just combined, then add juice and mix until combined.

Scoop out heaping teaspoons of dough, then roll them into balls between your hands. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 13 minutes. Remove from the oven and keep on the cookie sheet for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan with a spatula and allow to cool completely before icing.

To make the icing, combine 1 egg white with the rest of the icing ingredients. Whisk thoroughly until combined, adding either more powdered sugar or more juice until it reaches a pourable but still thick consistency.

Drizzle the icing across the cookies in several lines, then do it again in the other direction. Sprinkle with extra zest before the icing sets.

YIELDS: 36 servings

PREP TIME: 15 mins

COOK TIME: 15 mins

TOTAL TIME:30 mins