Though Lake County more closely resembled a winter wonderland than spring this past Easter weekend, it didn’t dissuade Lake County residents from participating in beloved Easter traditions both sacred and secular.
The week before Holy Week, young people in both Silver Bay and Two Harbors held “Easter Praises”, informal spring recitals, where students shared music with friends and family.
First Baptist Church of Two Harbors held Repentance Weekend on March 31st and April 1st in preparation for Holy Week. Led by Greg Hull and assisted by Pastor Scott Nelson, Repentance Weekend was a time of “teaching and prayer, guided by the penitential Psalms,” said Pastor Scott Nelson.
April 2nd marked Palm Sunday, and area churches held special services remembering the triumphal beginning to Holy Week. An Ecumenical Palm Sunday Service was held at Sychar Lutheran Church and sponsored by Baptism River Community Church, Beaver Bay Community Church, Sychar Lutheran Church, United Protestant Church, and the Bay Area Vineyard Church.
Throughout the week, services were held; and by Thursday, the triumphal mood had turned more solemn as churches held Maundy Thursday services, remembering the Last Supper. The word “Maundy” derives from the Latin mandatum, meaning command; referring to Christ’s commandment to love one another, according to John 13:34 in the Bible. The following day, churches held Good Friday services commemorating Christ’s death.
On Saturday, April 8th, Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Two Harbors held their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Lakeview Park. The park was still covered in a foot or more of snow, and Pastor Brendan Johnston wore snowshoes as he and church members hid brightly colored eggs amid the snow. Approximately forty children came to the egg hunt, a years-long tradition that has been hosted by various downtown churches, including the United Church and Bethlehem Lutheran. “It’s for all the families of town to have some fun the Saturday of Easter weekend, ahead of the next day’s Easter worship service,” Pastor Brendan Johnston says. Next year’s egg hunt will be held on March 30th, 2024.
After the egg hunt, families could head over to Seagren’s and meet the Easter Bunny at the second annual Easter Bunny Meet and Greet. Over fifty children enjoyed meeting the Easter Bunny.
On Easter Sunday, Living Waters Fellowship and First Baptist Church had a joint sunrise service at Lighthouse Point. The a capella singing of those at the service accompanied the still lake and rising sun.
The AmericInn of Silver Bay had a “Breakfast with the Easter Bunny” event Sunday morning, continuing a decade-long tradition. Free to hotel guests, the breakfast was open to the public for $6.50 a person. The breakfast featured a coloring contest, an egg hunt, candy, and photos with the Easter Bunny. Previous years have seen an attendance range from twenty to forty people.
Bay Area Vineyard also hosted a brunch and an egg hunt obstacle course in the Mary MacDonald Center gym. This was followed by an Easter worship service.
Easter Sunday found churches throuhout Lake County celebrating resurrection and new life through songs and traditional readings.
The Beaver Bay Community Church celebrated the baptism of a local teen, and also celebrated that friends in India had received a well, providing clean water to an entire village. This well was provided for by the members of the Beaver Bay Community Church.
After morning church services and egg hunts, Northwoods Family Grille in Silver Bay hosted their annual Community Potluck. They provided ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and dinner rolls.
“My family is one that always gathers for the holidays,” says Northwoods Family Grille owner Everette Haselow. “As most of us are adults now and most have started their own branches of our tree, we have grown. That being said, my parents have always had Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinner at their house,” Everette shares. “We have always had an open door policy for family meals. If you do not have a place to go, you are welcome to join us, bring something or someone, and come and eat.” Some years ago, Everette and his wife, Annie, offered to take on Easter dinner.
“So we started having Easter at our home,” Everette says. “Everyone is still invited…the last Easter at our house, I think it was twelve [or] thirteen years ago, we had over forty people in my tiny little house. At the time we worked for Our Place in Finland. We asked the owner if we could start hosting Easter there, as they were closed on Easter.” Several years later, Everette and Annie purchased Northwoods, and “it only made sense to host Easter there.”
Beginning in 2015, Easter dinner has expanded beyond Everette and Annie’s family to become a Community Potluck. Northwoods doesn’t charge anything, but they do have a jar for donations. The most people Northwoods has ever hosted for the Community Potluck? “Over 100,” according to Everette. Numbers have been lower the last few years, but Everette reminds that “Numbers do not really matter as long as everyone has a place to go be with ‘family’. We will continue to do an Easter potluck as long as we are able, and everyone is always welcome.”
Whether you are young or old, long time community member or new to the area, plan ahead for next year’s Easter celebrations in Lake County!
