THE LORD IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED

Easter morning sunrise east of Estevan

Moon setting west of Estevan

Our Sunrise Service at Trinity, Torquay takes place after sunrise.  I was up in time to witness the sunrise east of Estevan this morning.  The dreary clouds of the past few days were gone and it was a lovely, clear morning - so perfect for Easter morning.  I grabbed my camera and took pictures of the sunrise in the east and the almost full moon setting in the west.

Then I was off to Torquay with Verna and Ray for our Sunrise Service at 8:00.  The communion service was followed by our traditional Easter Sunday breakfast with boiled eggs, cinnamon rolls, muffins, juice and coffee or tea.

Now I am back in Estevan, my last Sunday here as I will be moving back to the farm this week.  I seem to have collected lots of "stuff" in my months here so it will take me a couple trips to get everything moved out and back in its place at the farm.

Today is also Kirk and Shauna's 12th anniversary.  They were married at Salem Lutheran Church, just two miles north of our farm.  It would be chilly in that church today.  Although the sun is shining, the temperature is only plus 5 and feels like zero with the wind chill.  It was breezy twelve years ago too, but temperatures were warmer and a couple heaters run by a generator helped take the chill off. Two days later we had a big snowfall and there wouldn't have been a Salem wedding if the timing had been different.   We look forward to seeing Kirk's family tomorrow afternoon.

Laurel and Ashley (and the boys?) are also planning to come to Estevan tomorrow for the LCBI choir concert at Trinity, Estevan at 7:30.  I'm keeping four of the choir members overnight so we will have a houseful.  Lots of fun!

Todd and Kristy are spending Easter in New York City and will fly back to Kristiansund tomorrow.  They have made good use of their days in NYC- have been to a Mets ball game, took the train to a New Jersey/Ottawa hockey game, went on three bus tours, and have been to "Phantom of the Opera" and "Jesus Christ, Super Star".  Today they were planning to attend morning worship at an Anglican church near their hotel and watch some of the Easter parade.  Sounds like a great time!

Clare, Jodi and Abbey flew from Bismarck to Phoenix yesterday afternoon so they are enjoying some very warm weather there.  They'll be back on Friday.

I'll spend the afternoon with Howard.  We'll make some phone calls and look back on past Easters.  Two years ago we were in Lillehammer, Norway on Easter Sunday, along with Todd and Kristy.  I'll never forget the pipe organ and trumpet playing "Easter Morrow Stills our Sorrow", or " Påske Morgen" in Norsk.  It was my mother's favourite Easter hymn.  I'll have to go and play it on Susie's organ before the day is over.

I hope you are enjoying this special weekend with family, friends or perhaps some of both.  God's blessings to you and your family from the Howard Johnson family.