This morning Rebecca and I attended the lovely and very meaningful Easter Sunrise service of our English Speaking Church – the Heliopolis Community Church. This early morning Easter event has been held at the Commonwealth Graves Memorial gardens in Heliopolis for more than 30 years! After communion around the large cross in the middle of the garden we share a communal breakfast together.
We went there with our children in the 80s and today our daughter Leila and our grandson Alex joined us! It aways is a blessing celebrating Easter in that way and it brings to us a flood of good memories from years past….
After a short nap we dressed up and went to the Palm Sunday service of our Arabic Church, the Heliopolis Evangelical Church. (Eastern Christians have a different church calendar and this year the Easters are one week apart).
Egyptian Christians are all given the day off for Palm Sunday so this is one of the best attended church services of the year. Our church was packed and the large sanctuary reverberated with vibrant singing and praise to God!
Next week we celebrate Egyptian Easter and, as we have done for more than 30 years, we will attend the Saturday Evening Easter service at the St. Simon the Tanner Cave Church at the Garbage Village with yet another congregation we relate to because of Rebecca’s ministry there since 1982!
All this may seem a bit confusing to you – and I must admit, it is sometimes also for us. But we praise the Lord for the rich and alive church traditions we have in Egypt and the privilege we have as a couple to feel at home in each of these very varied church traditions, and to be deeply blessed by worshipping with the wonderful Christians we know in each one.
Great to hear about these rich traditions. Happy Easter!
The same to you, David. Becky and I are speaking at the MSC conference in early October I think in Guelph. Would love to see you!
The Lord is Risen! Alleluia! Whether in various traditions in Egypt, in Sydney Australia or here in Montreal, the truth of Jesus’ resurrection is the best news we celebrate all year!
When do you get back to Montreal? We will be there late June, would love to see you…
Great Point Uncle Ramez!
I did the same thing here in Toronto. I attended an Easter Sunrise Service, where Christ was risen, then crossed the street and went to a Palm Sunday service at an Orthodox Church, where He was just riding into Jerusalem. Then I went back to the first church, and low and behold, He was still risen! …One of the most confusing and enjoyable days 😀
God Bless.
What fun thinking back on our great memories in Cairo with the HCC family! We had great services here yesterday also, but there’s something special about being in Egypt for Easter. He is risen, indeed! John
In my mind I can see a lot of what you send – our one year in Egypt was life-changing – sunshine and more sunshine and lots more – so many good memories \ . I pray that God will continue to bless you all there and keep you in good health. God’s love never fails
97 and “holding”
Helen
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2015 10:05 AM Subject: [New post] When Easter comes BEFORE Palm Sunday!
rameza posted: ” This morning Rebecca and I attended the lovely and very meaningful Easter Sunrise service of our English Speaking Church – the Heliopolis Community Church. This early morning Easter event has been held at the Commonwealth Graves Memorial gardens in Hel”
Hi, this may be a long shot but im a 20 year old copt from England. Im in awe of the service you and your wife have been doing (read about it in mamma maggies biography) and I plan God willing to visit Egypt in the summer (im originally Egyptian, I understand arabic and speak it fluently albeit brokenly) I have a real deep longing to join you both even if only for a few days or a week (I have a short summer) and have that blessing in any way youll allow me. Thank you, God bless and hope youre having a blessed holy week.