As we approach Good Friday and Easter this year, we are in a place that none of us anticipated even a month ago. Under normal circumstances, celebrating Jesus’ victory over sin and death would culminate in a physical worship gathering of God’s people on Easter morning. But this year is different. Though we will worship on Easter morning, we won’t physically be with one another. 

And if we’re honest, that’s an incredibly odd way to celebrate the resurrection. 

God in the flesh

Jesus came to be our Emmanuel — our God with us. He didn’t show up as some sort of ethereal spirit. He had a body. And when He rose from death, He rose with a new, resurrected body. To celebrate Jesus’ bodily resurrection in a way that doesn’t give priority to the physical feels, well, wrong.

The pastors of Coram Deo have been wrestling with how we plan to celebrate Easter in light of our physical separation. This week we asked the question: why would we give gifts at Christmas but not Easter? 

Particularly in light of our current separation, we want to invite you to add a new kind of Easter celebration this year: giving gifts to our neighbors.‍

Consider giving gifts that are handmade and unique to you. The point is not to break the bank but to give tangibly as a testament to Christ’s resurrection in a time when physical presence is hard to come by.

How to participate:

1. Identify which neighbors to give gifts to.
2. Decide what kind of gifts you would like to give. 
3. Package your gifts up with a note wishing your neighbor a happy Easter and deliver them!
4. Tell us about it! When you are ready to deliver your gifts, share a photo on social media using the hashtag #coramdeogifts. 
   

Need some gift ideas? 

Here are a few to get you started:

• Homemade bread or treats
• Kid art projects
• A coupon for one hour of yardwork
• A roll of toilet paper. (Just kidding...sort of…)
• Get creative!
  

Don’t want to make something? 

If you’d prefer to purchase gifts instead, consider purchasing a box from Keep Your City Smiling. Keep Your City Smiling is a new venture from Coram Deo member, Sam Eitzen, founder of The SnapBar. Learn more about how their company is helping small businesses who are being hit hard in the wake of COVID-19.

Worship with us on Easter morning

You are invited to join us on Facebook Live this Sunday at 10 am when we will celebrate Jesus' resurrection from death by worshipping as God's people.