Easter in Exmouth

Easter was a fantastic celebration of what God has graciously done for us through the death and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ. We had some friends visiting over the Easter Long weekend and Ruth Highman wrote this report on Easter in Exmouth:

Easter was eggspecially blessed for me this year - this came in the form of sharing in the celebrations with the Exmouth Anglican church.

Having relied on locum ministers for the past 12mths or so, Exmouth Anglican Church embraced their new permanent minister - Lachlan Edwards - & his wife (Rebecca) & family (Tim & Emily) into their congregation in January this year. A new celebration that Lachlan initiated this Easter was a Messianic Passover Meal. He brought this service back from the Messianic Jews he met whilst on his travels in Israel last July. So on Friday evening, the Exmouth Anglican church came together to share a Passover meal together - complete with bitter herbs, boiled eggs, saltwater, unleavened bread, lamb & wine. Each part of the Passover was explored, & being a messianic Passover, the significance of Christ as our Messiah was incorporated. A wonderful evening - remembering the Old testament teachings, Christ's last supper & the sacrifice he made for us - but also a chance for fellowship too. And, as a visitor to the town, a chance to meet & experience the warm hospitality of the Exmouth Anglican Church.

The Crowd at the Lighthouse Son-Rise service

On Sunday, "the tables were turned", & the Exmouth Anglican Church introduced Lachlan to the ecumenical Exmouth Son-rise Service. And what a poignant service it was. I awoke at 5am in the cold dark hrs of Easter morning & made my way up to the lighthouse hill, which overlooks the gulf (however nothing could be seen in the darkness). Gradually "the crowds gathered", having surrendered there doonas to brave the dark chilly morning. The service kicked off at 5:45 & a number of "eye witness" accounts were given by Judas, Pontius Pilate, the Centurion, "the criminal", & Mary - aptly played by various members of the congregation. Right on cue, as "Mary" witnessed that she had seen Jesus, & that he was no longer dead but in fact was risen - the sun breached the ocean horizon. There was no subtlety about it - God ensured that we knew that he was indeed RISEN!!

Following the Son-rise service, a shared breakfast was had back at the "church" (Exmouth Anglican Church building is yet to be built, so the Senior Citizens Centre serves as their place of worship), before celebrating a communion service.

All in all, a wonderful Easter period, & well worth the journey to Exmouth. A lady had travelled from Perth to Exmouth specifically to attend the Son-rise service - & I can understand why - I would highly recommend it. As for me, I think an annual Easter pilgrimage to Exmouth could be on the cards..........

Ruth Highman - Geraldton