Easter, the holy festival celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, was celebrated with much fanfare and merriment throughout the length and breath of Barbados.
Two South Coast hotels, Hilton Barbados and Radisson Aquatica Resort Barbados, marked the most sacred weekend of the year with special feasts for scores of locals and tourists.
Hilton had a lavish treat for its large number of patrons, while at the nearby Radisson, more than 100 guests, 75 of them local, were treated to a buffet lunch, a visit from the Easter bunny and live entertainment.
Radisson’s director of sales, Cheryl Blackman, told the DAILY?NATION the lunch was geared towards families and was the first celebration of its kind since the hotel was rebranded last May.
She said this was Radisson’s way of embracing Barbadians and visitors during this special time of the year.
“We wanted to show our appreciation to all and sundry. This was a huge success and we are obviously pleased,” she said, adding that Radisson would have another special treat in store for Barbadians on Mother’s Day (May 11).
Radisson was not only the place for dining but for christening, the naming ceremony for infants.
“I came to Radisson for the christening of my grandson. I like the atmosphere here and it is a good place to spend Easter Sunday,” said one middle-aged man.
There was no visit from the Easter bunny at Sharon Moravian Church in St Thomas, but rector Rev. Ezra Parris reminded his congregation of the significance of Easter and the sacrifice made by Jesus of Nazareth for mankind.
“Jesus is alive. Jesus is the Lord. You are ambassadors for Christ, and it is important you understand that and the message you take away,” he said.
Parris, 48, a product of nearby Shop Hill, said he would like more young people from in and around St Thomas to attend Sunday services.
“It’s a challenge for the church. There are so many other things they feel they have to connect with and so the church finds itself competing with that.
“In my time growing up, we used to go to youth fellowship and Friday night was a time when we socialised, and now these days there is social media. A guy has to choose between coming here on Friday or going on his computer and doing all kind of fancy things,” he said.
Meanwhile, a spirit of rejoicing engulfed the Emmanuel Baptist Church as the congregation joined millions worldwide in a glorious celebration of Easter Day.
The day brought to a close the 40 days and 40 nights of Lent starting on Ash Wednesday, March 5 – a period of abstinence and restraint for some based on Jesus Christ’s example.
In a celebratory service, members and visitors at the church on President Kennedy Drive, St Michael, sang both old and new choruses and hymns proclaiming the resurrection and the saving powers of Jesus, took communion and admitted one new convert.
Speaking on the topic Juggling With Two Words, Seeking Supremacy For One, Pastor Vincent Wood told those on hand that the resurrection filled the world with hope. He said in a world where the words “if” and “is” must be used, Jesus gave prominence to the word “is”.
“If Christ had not arisen we all would be lost . . . . When you are sick, lost your job, regardless of your problem, go to Jesus . . . . The resurrection is the foundation of the Christian’s faith,” he said.
During the three-hour service, special prayers were also said for students taking the Common Entrance Examination next month. The service was followed later in the evening by an Easter presentation. (MK/AC)
