Easter marks joyful end to eventful week at St. Peter’s

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Easter is the pinnacle of the church year, a celebration of the Resurrection that is at the heart of Christinity. Believers prepare themselves during the 40 days of Lent, a contemplative and solemn time, followed by Holy Week, which, for clergy and faithful churchgoers, can be a bit of a holy marathon.

Here in pictures is the story of the journey from Palm Sunday through Easter 2013 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown.

A donkey led the Palm Sunday procession around and through St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Sharon Sheridan photo

 

Aspen, the donkey who led the procession. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
After the Palm Sunday service, the church school gathered for a meal of Middle Eastern-style snacks. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
On the afternoon of Maundy Thursday, volunteers filled more than 700 plastic eggs with candy. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
Then it was time for a parishwide Middle Eastern feast. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
Parishioners and visitors of all ages had an opportunity to walk the prayer labyrinth church members created earlier in Lent. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
A service with foot washing followed, re-enacting part of the Last Supper. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
At the end of the Maundy Thursday service, the altar was stripped of all adornment, and the crosses were draped in black cloth. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
A garden area, recalling the Garden of Gethsemane, was set aside where people could pray and sit vigil during the night. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
Good Friday services at St. Peter's included a children's Stations of the Cross. Children read the lessons and acted out the events of the last hours of Jesus' life. Here, Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
With help from Assistant Rector Melissa Hall, Toby Gaynor snuffs out the Pascal, or Easter, Candle, symbolizing Jesus' death. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
 

Rector Janet Broderick, center, chants the "Exsultet" after the holy fire is kindled and the Pascal Candle is lit during the Easter Vigil service on Saturday night. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
The Rev. Janet Broderick celebrates the first Eucharist of Easter during the Vigil service. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
Easter morning brought music from the Newark Academy band. Sharon Sheridan photo
A trunk was brought out of hiding. Inside was hidden a banner decorated by St. Peter's children with the word Alleluia on it. The celebratory word isn't said during Lent, so the banner was "buried" until Easter morning. Sharon Sheridan photo

 

The Alleluia banner is revealed. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
MG Kids Correspondent Carl Hausman helped to hang the Alleluia banner. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
The Alleluia banner is hung on the front of the St. Peter's rectory. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
Finally, it was time for hunting Easter eggs on the rectory lawn and in the graveyard. Sharon Sheridan photo
 
Wearing her finest Easter bonnet and dress, Hazel Spencer displays the bounty from her Easter egg hunting. Sharon Sheridan photo

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