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How to share the love at Easter? Here’s how (Picture: Getty)
Easter is here, and it’s time to share some festive flavour with your friends, family and followers.
The festival of springtime and renewal is all about having fun, getting together with loved ones and scoffing chocolate (while remembering Jesus Christ’s resurrection).
So how best to spread the Easter love?
Here are some pics, memes, quotes and messages to share with those nearest and dearest to you.
Our faith is born on Easter morning: Jesus is alive! This experience is at the heart of the Christian message. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 1, 2018
Chandler was the reluctant Easter Bunny in Friends (Picture: Giphy)
Best Easter quotes
‘There would be no Christmas if there was no Easter.’ – Gordon P. Hinckley
‘Easter is the only time of year when it is safe to put all your eggs in one basket.’ – Evan Esar
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‘A true friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg, even if you’re cracked.’ – Anon
If you can't share a few fabulous Fabergé eggs at Easter, when can you? Happy Easter, World! pic.twitter.com/QEnOBnJ3yR — CreativeHistories (@CreativeHists) April 1, 2018
Easter can also give one nightmares (Picture: WeKnowMemes)
‘You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.’ – Pablo Neruda
‘Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.’ – Pope John Paul II
‘There are always flowers for those who want to see them.’ – Henri Matisse
Today I'm sending my warmest wishes to all Londoners and those around the world marking this special time of year. From my family to yours – a very Happy Easter! #HappyEaster 🐣 pic.twitter.com/c3kPQnse33 — Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) April 1, 2018
‘April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.’ – William Shakespeare
‘The great gift of Easter is hope.’ – Basil Hume
‘It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.’ – Rainer Maria Rilke
‘The bright eyes of song sparrows sitting on spotted eggs / Peer restlessly through the light and shadow / Of all Springs.’ – Amy Lowell
[in heaven after crucifixion]
jesus: "they were horrible dad, im pleased im not going back there"
god: [rubbing his neck] "see the thing is" — k e i t h 🐤🥔 (@KeetPotato) January 15, 2015
Nephew just whispered something into a Cadbury Easter Bunny's ears then broke off its head.
I'm sleeping with the lights on. — Woody (@WoodyLuvsCoffee) March 26, 2015
Maybe it’s time to adopt a rabbit (Picture: Getty)
This year, teach your kids the true meaning of Easter by trapping them in a stone tomb for three days. — Serving Coffee to confused hipsters since 1999 (@Adrian___Jones) March 25, 2016
I keep waiting for my Cadbury Creme Eggs to hatch into Cadbury Creme Chickens, but no luck so far. And sitting on them certainly didn't help — Kyle Olsen (@BurroFuma) April 11, 2013
Being the Easter Bunny isn’t always easy (Picture: Giphy)
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President Donald Trump and Melania held hands as they arrived at a church service in Florida to celebrate Easter on Sunday morning.
After a week of shattering claims from playmates and pornstars claiming to have once had affairs with the president, the united show was eagerly anticipated.
Melania was dressed elegantly in a red and white patterned Azzedine Alaïa dress which she paired with some strappy white stilettos and her signature sunglasses.
The couple was joined by President Trump's 24-year-old daughter Tiffany who dressed in Easter pink.
Tiffany, who is studying law at Georgetown in Washington DC, matched her dress with a shocking pink Gucci handbag.
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President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for Easter services at the Bethesda-by-the-Sea episcopal church in Palm Beach on Sunday
The couple was joined by Trump's 24-year-old daughter Tiffany but none of his other children attended
United: The president and first lady share a laugh as they stop outside the church to speak to reporters before going inside
She too wore sunglasses and high heels as she teetered into Bethesda-by-the-Sea church in Palm Beach. None of the other Trump family members were seen at the service though many are staying at Mar-a-Lago.
Neither of the presidents' adult sons were present nor was his teenager Barron. His oldest daughter Ivanka, who converted to Judaism before her marriage to Jared Kushner, was not expected to attend.
Trump started the day by tweeting 'Happy Easter' to his tens of millions of followers.
By the time he had reached the church, however, his mind had turned to Mexico and its 'flowing' migrant population.
Before entering the church, he stopped to give some brief remarks on the matter.
Both Melania and Tiffany opted for colorful outfits. The first lady paired her red and white ensemble look with some white strappy stilettos
The First Lady wore a pair of signature sunglasses as she made her way into the church under the glare of the mid-morning sunshine
'Mexico has got to help us at the border. If they're not going to help us at the border, it's a very sad thing between two countries.'
'A lot of people are coming in because they want to take advantage of DACA and we're going to have to really see.
'They had a great chance. We'll have to take a look.
'They flow right through Mexico, they send them into the United States. It can't happen that way anymore. Thank you!' he said before heading inside.
Tiffany and Melania stood by his side as he gave the remarks. Earlier in the morning, Trump tweeted similar comments.
Tiffany accessorized her Easter pink bodycon dress with Cartier bangles, nude heels and a hot pink Gucci bag
Trump first wished reporters gathered outside the church a 'Happy Easter' as he made his way inside
He stopped again at the door to talk about the Mexican border where he said people were 'flowing' through, into the US
Melania lost her smile after her husband's Mexico remarks. She led him into the church afterwards as Tiffany followed behind
Trump's tweets went from Easter wishes to his thoughts on DACA and the Mexican border
'Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. “Caravans” coming.
'Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL' he wrote in one tweet.
In a second, he said: 'Mexico is doing very little, if not NOTHING, at stopping people from flowing into Mexico through their Southern Border, and then into the U.S.
'They laugh at our dumb immigration laws.
'They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA. NEED WALL!'
The third, which he fired off moments before he arrived the church, read: 'These big flows of people are all trying to take advantage of DACA.
'They want in on the act!'
His attendance was not the only slice of drama.
During the service, one church goer fainted and had to be removed by paramedics.
The elderly gentleman was pictured being escorted out of the building by EMTS.
Fortunately, he did not need the stretcher which had been brought for him.
People had been waiting at the church since 6am to be able to attend the service with the president and his family.
Melania Trump tweeted this photograph of the Mar-a-Lago Easter celebrations later in the day
An elderly member of the congregation was escorted out of the church after fainting inside during the service. The gentleman was among crowds who had waited since early in the morning to be able to attend the service
Cardi B attends the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on Jan. 27, 2018 in New York City.
Happy Easter!
Music stars and celebrities like Cardi B, Paul McCartney, Gucci Mane, and Kim Kardashian took to social media Sunday (April 1) to celebrate the holiday.
"Have a glorious Easter!" McCartney tweeted.
See more Easter tweets and Instagram posts from Pearl Jam, Blink-182, Paris Hilton, and more below.
Happy Easter pic.twitter.com/JClHV4NBGF — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) April 1, 2018
Wishing you all the April Fool's laughs and Easter memories today. pic.twitter.com/7NLJS6lbqC — Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) April 1, 2018
HAPPY EASTER!
Photo: @MarkWeissguy
If you would like to be entered for a chance to win a FREE print of this photo sign up at https://t.co/odPiVR9NmI pic.twitter.com/aHwSVbDuyJ — Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) April 1, 2018
Happy Easter! iiii]; )' A post shared by Slash (@slash) on Apr 1, 2018 at 8:14am PDT
Happy Easter!! -- Tour Recap: University Of Florida.. love to all of my fans!!!.. new music otw!… https://t.co/Hgy2hmthS2 — SEAN KINGSTON © (@SeanKingston) April 1, 2018
For many religions this is a holy weekend. And all religions somehow promote mercy and compassion and respect for life: "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" Hosea 6:6. "Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful" the holy Q'uran. "You need to show compassi… pic.twitter.com/qQlPpkdqPG — moby XⓋX (@thelittleidiot) April 1, 2018
Happy Easter Bih!!!!!!!! — Plies (@plies) April 1, 2018
Happy Easter Everybunny! -- — Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) April 1, 2018
Happy Easter! Don’t eat the little brown candies. ------ pic.twitter.com/5t06dIsJyv — blink-182 (@blink182) April 1, 2018
It’s Guwop Happy Easter pic.twitter.com/06dd4wf4Iu — Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) April 1, 2018
Starting Easter Off Some Type of Way............-------------------------------------- pic.twitter.com/LGsvPEFcKl — Madonna (@Madonna) April 1, 2018
Happy Easter! I’m going to eat 300 peeps marshmallows now. — Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) April 1, 2018
Happy Easter Everyone! A post shared by thompson square (@thompsonsquare) on Apr 1, 2018 at 9:18am PDT
Happy easter A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Apr 1, 2018 at 12:05pm PDT
Happy Easter! I hope everyone is having an amazing Sunday with their family and friends-- pic.twitter.com/ZH3IYX9Xrw — Thomas Rhett (@ThomasRhett) April 1, 2018
I love Jesus! Happy Easter everyone! — ChrisYoungMusic (@ChrisYoungMusic) April 1, 2018
HAPPY EASTER ❤️❤️-------- — iamcardib (@iamcardib) April 1, 2018
-------------- — Mavis Staples (@mavisstaples) April 1, 2018
Happy Easter!!! ------ — Rita Ora (@RitaOra) April 1, 2018
When Easter and April Fool's land on the same day... #HappyEaster everyone! pic.twitter.com/nJ6YxyyXc3 — backstreetboys (@backstreetboys) April 1, 2018
pre-feast sweat. happy Easter everyone!! A post shared by Kelsea Ballerini (@kelseaballerini) on Apr 1, 2018 at 9:27am PDT
He is risen! Every Easter, it never fails to impact me. The beauty of the cross. The significance. Thank You, Jesus, for Your unfathomable love! God bless and Happy Easter everyone! ✝️ pic.twitter.com/98jIMg59jF — Ally Brooke (@AllyBrooke) April 1, 2018
Easter Sunday can be summed up with one word: hope. Today is a day of remembering the hope that Jesus of Nazareth bestowed upon humanity when he walked out of that tomb nearly 2,000 years ago.
Hope in restoration. Hope in reconciliation. Hope in healing. And hope that no matter your circumstances, the empty tomb stands as a reminder that God has a plan to redeem your life and bring you back into right relationship with Him.
It’s hope that the world will once again exist in shalom — wholeness, peace, abundance, harmony.
‘Tetelestai’
“Tetelestai” is the Greek rendering of Jesus’ dying words on the cross. It’s translated to English as “It is finished” in the Gospel of John.
The word comes from the Greek root “telos,” which means the “end” or “ultimate” fulfillment of something full of meaning and purpose. It’s the perfect word to describe Jesus’ death on the cross and his entire ministry, which had been the build-up to the Passion Week.
And while it was difficult to see at the time, Jesus’ last words had more meaning than his disciples could have ever imagined.
For centuries, the Israelite people were enslaved under the thumb of enemy empires. They made a covenant with the God who had redeemed them out of slavery in Egypt. In return, they vowed to be a “kingdom of priests.” But at every turn, the Israelites were compromised by corruption and sin. Still, God remained faithful and promised to bring a new Moses and a new David — a messiah — who would restore their relationship with God, and therefore, God’s relationship with all the nations.
Jesus — His life, ministry, death and resurrection — was the ultimate fulfillment of those promises. He was the “wounded victor” prophesied about in Genesis 3 and the “suffering servant” previewed in Isaiah 53.
With His death and resurrection three days later, Jesus had finally “telos-ed” what had been building up for all of human history.
Hope, not optimism.
But don’t think for a second that an optimistic outlook is what sustained the Israelite people for centuries of slavery and brutal occupation. For those serious about God, it was hope that sustained them and hope that defined their faith — a hope that Jesus embodied, literally.
And for Christians today, hope — not optimism — should continue to be our heart posture. Life isn’t easy, but we hope for new creation, where Jesus reconciles humanity and deals with our sin and evil once and for all.
Cornel West once said:
Hope and optimism are different. Optimism tends to be based on the notion that there’s enough evidence out there to believe things are gonna be better, much more rational, deeply secular, whereas hope looks at the evidence and says, “It doesn’t look good at all. Doesn’t look good at all. Gonna go beyond the evidence to create new possibilities based on visions that become contagious to allow people to engage in heroic actions always against the odds, no guarantee whatsoever.” That’s hope. I’m a prisoner of hope, though.
West’s view of hope versus optimism hits the nail on the head. Christians hope. We know things aren’t as they ought to be, yet we know that God, through the work of Jesus, is working to restore humanity back to those blissful Genesis 2 days. That’s where we place our faith.
Now to you
Jesus is alive and his spirit is abound, working in and through the church to advance the Gospel — the good news about Him — and make disciples at the ends of the Earth.
This Easter, if you’re a Christian, reflect on the Gospel and what it truly meant for Jesus to do what he did: The power of His sacrifice, but the hope of the empty tomb.
That hope translates to your life. Jesus did what He did, not only to fulfill the Scriptures, but for you — because He loves you and desires your relationship with Him to be as it ought to be. There’s so much hope in what happened 2,000 years ago — A DEAD MAN WALKED OUT OF AN EMPTY TOMB ALIVE!
And that’s what we remember today: that a life following Jesus is one marked by hope.
