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Friday, December 13, 2024
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Easter Celebrations in Lake County

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!

Haley Searls
Haley Searls
Hello! My name is Haley Searls. I’ve loved writing from an early age, though my nonfiction writing at five years old consisted mainly of weather and gardening reports. I still have some of those early articles: “It’s sunny.” “It’s still sunny.” “It’s raining.” I’m glad to say my writing has improved since then. I wrote a guest post for the Silver Bay Public Library blog, and was the writer/editor of the newsletter for my American Heritage Girls troop. I have been writing for the North Shore Journal since June 2022. Besides writing, I love reading, drawing, photography, music, and spending time with family and friends. Two books that have really influenced my writing are Reforming Journalism by Marvin Olasky and Writer to Writer by Bodie and Brock Thoene. As a journalist, I want to share positive community interactions and inspire people to make lasting connections. Article topics that interest me are ones which show community activities and involvement. Such articles include community events, youth accomplishments, library programming, small businesses, local history, local artists and authors, art programs, and cultural events such as theater and dance. If you have an article idea, email the North Shore Journal with my name in the subject line! I look forward to hearing from you!
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