2023 Easter Worship Tab

The Significance of Holy Week

The story of the Resurrection as told in the Gospels

Explaining the Stations of the Cross

Why is Easter Sunday such an important Christian

Easter Sunday is an especially significant date on the Christian calendar.

Each Easter, Christians celebrate the miracle of Christ’s defeat over death through his resurrection and ascension to his father’s side in heaven. However aweinspiring, Easter is much more than this event and its retelling. Easter actually is the core of the Christian religion as it has come to be known, including inspiring the rituals and teachings that have been shared for nearly 2,000 years. Without the events that unfolded during Holy Week, the Christian faith would not exist as it was prophesied. Christ’s selfless sacrifice on the cross for others’ sins, as well as his miraculous resurrection, are the anchors upon which all of Christianity has been built.

wrote, “Jesus would be a failed religious leader… he would then remain purely human, and his authority would extend only so far as his message is of interest to us.”

According to Christianity.com, Easter is part of the redemptive plan of mankind. It is worthy of celebration because it proved to people that Jesus is the Son of God. This gives Christians confidence that there is life after death, and they will have the same power working in them that raised Jesus from the dead.

Christians around the world fill church pews on Easter Sunday to participate in one of the most holy and important

celebrations of the liturgical year. Although every Sunday presents opportunities to share in the word of God,

In 1 Corinthians 15:17, St. Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” Pope Benedict VVI similarly summarized St. Paul’s words, indicating that if the resurrection were taken away, it may be possible to piece together ideas about God and men, but the Christian faith would be “dead.” In his book, Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict further

Out of Holy Week and Easter also came the start of Christian masses. On Holy Thursday, Jesus introduced his disciples to the bread that they ate at the Last Supper as “his body” and the wine as “his blood.” This would serve as the basis for the Christian celebration of Holy Communion, which remains a vital component of the faith and religious services.

Easter is a significant date on the Christian calendar that inspires Christians across the globe to celebrate their faith.

Local pastor talks about Holy Week

By Alex Ross Roswell DAily RecoRD

Like so many, Daniel Tisdel remembers growing up with the brunches, egg hunts and church services that have become synonymous with Easter Sunday, but for him, it was the entire week leading up to that day that held significance.

That period known as Holy Week marking the arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central part of Christian scripture. For Tisdel, the pastor of St. Marks Lutheran Church in Roswell, those days leading up to the holiest day of the year have always held just as much significance as Easter Sunday itself.

“For me growing up, that was important too because it felt like to just jump right into Easter, it seems like you were missing something,” said Tisdel.

According to a survey from the middle of 2022 from the Gordon Cromwell Theological Seminary, there are 2.56 billion Christians worldwide, and for them, Easter is a day of resurrection and hope. That Christ’s teaching, philosophy and spirit are timeless and everlasting, but it is the days and sacrifice, the questioning and the persecution of Christ that give it context.

The eight-day Holy Week consists of Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. How different churches and denominations observe each of those days leading up to Easter Sunday vary, but Tisdel said at St. Marks, he and many of the 80 members of his flock observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

In Scripture, it is on Maunday

Thursday when Jesus and his apostles gathered for the Passover Meal, an event known widely as the Last Super, followed by Jesus’ arrest. Maunday Thursday is overlooked by some denominations, but Tisdel feels it is nonetheless important.

“I really like Maundy Thursday because it’s sort of an opportunity to talk about why we believe the things we believe,” he said.

Members of St. Mark’s can attend a church service that day but one that has some differences from others including ceremonial foot washing. The altar is also stripped of many of its adornments, including candles and candlestick holders, the cloths that cover the altar and Bible.

“It’s the only time of the whole year — between the time of the end of the service Thursday and the Service Easter Sunday — that all the pretty stuff in the

church is taken away,” Tisdel explains. For some, that can be hard to witness, but while Tisdel does not seek to make church attendees depressed, it offers a break in the celebratory feel that most church services take, while allowing them to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice but also their own individual faith.

“It’s good to go through these highs and lows. It’s good to go through these times of struggle,” he said.

Another feature of the Maundy Thursday service is the ceremonial foot washing for attendees, though for those uncomfortable with exposing their feet they can have their hands washed.

Maundy Thursday, Tisdel said, is a time to assess one’s faith and confront difficult questions about it. Because the feet are a part of the body people are most embarrassed by, he explains that makes the foot washing an appropriate metaphor for that spiritual self-reflection.

“Part of the joy of lent and Holy Week is being open and willing enough to let these parts of us that we aren’t always

proud of to kind of show,” he said. Good Friday, according to scripture, is when Christ was put on trial and crucified. At St. Mark’s, the altar remains stripped

during the year when communion is not offered. There are fewer hymns sung, giving the service a more somber feel.

But on Sunday the atmosphere is much different. Those who forgo church during much of the rest of the year are more likely to attend, and the adornments that had been removed are returned to the church altar along with bright Easter lilies. The church is filled with music. From Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday, Tisdel said he and his church members refrain from using the word “hallelujah” during their service.

In fact, Tisdel said, the church has a banner with the word “Hallelujah” that is hidden during Lent. It is a tradition he calls “burying the hallelujah.” Tisdel said during the service he and the children then go out and find the banner, bringing it back into the church and Hallelujah is reintroduced into the vernacular of the

“That is a silly little tradition, but I think there is a good reason behind it. It is about bringing back the celebration of new birth and new life in the church,” he said.

Easter is a holy day on the Christian calendar that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is described in the Gospels of the New Testament, which millions of Christians read every year, especially during the Lenten season, a 40-day period that directly precedes Easter Sunday.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John comprise the canonical Gospels. Each book can help Christians understand and connect with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The following are passages from each of the canonical Gospels that help to tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus.

Stories of the Resurrection as told in the Gospels

Matthew 28: 1-10

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and

there they will see me.”

Mark 16: 2-7

And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, “Be not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”

Luke 24: 1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the

spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

John 20: 1-10

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

The days of Holy Week

Easter Sunday is often described as the holiest day on the Christian calendar. A day when Christians across the globe commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter Sunday is the culmination of the Lenten season of sacrifice. Easter Sunday comes on the heels of Holy Week, which is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. Holy Week consists of various days that have their own special significance in the minds and hearts of Christians.

How did Easter get its name?

Holy Week is a significant period for Christians across the globe that commemorates many of the events that preceded the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Trinity College at the University of Melbourne notes that Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, where he was greeted with crowds that enthusiastically waved palm branches. In commemoration of that entry and greeting, Christians receive palm branches or palm crosses during Palm Sunday Mass.

Holy Wednesday

Once known as “Spy Wednesday,” Holy Wednesday focuses on the

darkness of Holy Week and is meant to symbolize the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples. The religious service of Tenebrae, which is a Latin word meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” is typically observed during Holy Wednesday services.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Washing of the Feet (Maundy) and the Last Supper. The Last Supper is the final meal Jesus shared with his apostles prior to his crucifixion. Christian scriptures indicate that, during the Last Supper, Jesus predicted his betrayal by one of the apostles present at the meal. It was also during the Last Supper when Jesus foretells that Peter will deny knowing him three times before the next morning.

Trinity College notes that Maundy Thursday reminds Christians of the new commandment that Jesus gave his disciples. That commandment was to love others as Jesus has loved them.

Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the trial of Jesus, his subsequent sentence of death, his torture, his crucifixion, and burial. NonChristians may wonder why a day commemorating such events would be characterized as “good,” but Trinity College notes that, in this sense, the word “good” is meant to connote something “holy” or “pious.”

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday marks the conclusion of Holy Week. Celebrations of Holy Saturday typically include a late-night Easter Vigil service that involves a liturgy and ultimately the celebration of the Eucharist. The two-part celebration is designed to commemorate the emergence from darkness into the light that is the Eucharist.

C hristians and even many non-Christians likely know that Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Less widely known may be the origins of the name of this significant holiday. Historians are not certain about the precise origins of the name “Easter.” Some believe the name can be traced to the English monk Bede, often referred to as “St. Bede the Venerable” or “The Venerable Bede.” According to History. com, in his most famous work, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Bede asserts that the English word “Easter” can be traced to “Eostre” or “Eostrae,” which is the pagan Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. Many historians past and present echo this sentiment and believe Eostre is the namesake of Easter. However, others believe “Easter” comes from the Latin phrase “in albis,” which is plural for “alba” (dawn). That phrase became “eostarum” in Old High German, a language that historians have connected to Old English. Though which camp is correct may never be resolved, there’s no denying that the word “Easter” represents the same spirit of rebirth that Christians celebrate each spring.

Explaining the Stations of the Cross

Tradition features prominently in Holy Week celebrations. The week leading up to Easter Sunday, Holy Week is a sacred time for faithful Christians. The Stations of the Cross are one of the traditions that many Christians feel bolsters their faith and brings them closer to God.

The Blessing

What are the Stations of the Cross?

According to Catholic Online, the Stations of the Cross are a 14-step devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. Each of the 14 stations focus on a specific event of Jesus’s last day as a man.

Where can the Stations of the Cross be found?

Stations of the Cross are typically found in churches. Many times the Stations adorn the interior wall of a church, and Catholic Online notes they’re often depicted using small icons or images. Some churches with sizable exterior grounds may arrange larger Stations along footpaths in yards or gardens on the premises.

When do people most commonly pray the Stations of the Cross?

Lent is the most common time to pray the Stations of the Cross, and some churches hold weekly prayer sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays during this time of year.

What are the 14 Stations?

Catholic Online notes the 14 Stations of the Cross are:

1. Jesus is condemned to death

2. Jesus carries the cross

3. Jesus falls for the first time

4. Jesus meets with His Mother

5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7. Jesus falls a second time

8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

9. Jesus falls a third time

10. Jesus’s clothes are taken away

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross

12. Jesus dies on the cross

13. The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

The Stations of the Cross are an important Easter tradition that shed light on Jesus’s resurrection. Individuals interested in praying the Stations of the Cross are urged to contact a local church so they can engage in this moving Christian tradition.

The Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. May His favor be upon you and a thousand generations and your family and your children and their children, and their children.

May His presence go before you and behind you, and beside you all around you, and within you He is with you, He is with you.

In the morning, in the evening in your coming, and your going in your weeping, and rejoicing He is for you, He is for you. Amen

YOLO LOL, JK BRB

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Zia Guns Roswell

JOIN US FOR HOLY WEEK

VISIT EACH HOST

THIS WEEK FOR A NOON LUNCHEON

MONDAY, APR. 3, 12:00 PM

ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

SPEAKER: NATE BIENHOFF

2911 NORTH MAIN

TUESDAY, APR. 4, 12:00 PM

ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

SPEAKER: DAN TISDEL

505 NORTH PENNSYLVANIA

WEDNESDAY, APR. 5, 12:00 PM

FIRST METHODIST CHURCH

SPEAKER: RANDY NOLEN

200 NORTH PENNSYLVANIA

THURSDAY, APR. 6, 12:00 PM

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

SPEAKER: MAURICE GELDERT

400 WEST THIRD

FRIDAY, APR. 7, 12:00 PM

FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

SPEAKER: TINA CROSS

501 NORTH SYCAMORE

THIS WEEK AT

PALM SUNDAY

Sunday, April 2 10:00 a.m.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Thursday, April 6, 5:30 p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY

Friday, April 7, 5:30 p.m.

EASTER SUNDAY

Sunday, April 9, 10:00 a.m.

JOIN US IN PERSON OR ONLINE

Hop to local events for bunnies, eggs and more

Roswell DAily RecoRD

Easter, like Christmas, has become a major secular holiday in most parts of the world, as well as a Christian religious celebration. Also as with Christmas, many of the common symbols of the commemoration come from pagan traditions.

For example, according to various online encyclopedias and history sites, eggs were used to represent new life during pagan festivals celebrating the start of spring. In Africa and ancient Egypt, painted eggs were left in tombs. By the 13th century, Christians were boiling and decorating eggs because church traditions did not allow the eating of eggs during that time, prompting people to find another use for the eggs their hens were laying.

Over time, an Easter “nest” filled with decorated eggs evolved into baskets filled with other candies and gifts as well. The first official “egg roll” in the United States occurred in 1878 on the White House lawn. This year, 81% of U.S. residents are expected to celebrate Easter in some way, according to the National Retail Federation. A 2023 survey commissioned by the NRF found that about 56% of respondents plan to enjoy a holiday meal this year. Half plan to spend time with family and friends. Church activities will be a part of 43% of people’s plans, while 34% expect to participate in egg hunts.

Many churches in Chaves County are planning celebrations intended for their congregations or those attending their Easter services, and some local businesses are holding Easter-related activities for

those who come to their stores or business sites. As of press time, the Roswell area also has a few community events planned as well.

• Blacklight Egg Hunt, Friday, March 31, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 203 S. Ohio Ave. This free event in the backyard of a local home is expected to include photos with the Easter Bunny, candy and snacks, karaoke and a Blacklight egg hunt.

• Good Friday Family Night, Friday, April 7, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Church on the Move main parking lot, 901 W. Brasher Road. This free event for youth and their families will include food trucks, games and the handing out of plastic eggs containing tickets for prizes. “Our goal is to reach the lost, and we do that

by inviting all the community to come and just take part in all that we are doing here,” said Administrative Assistant April Guilez. She said the church typically holds a community Easter event every year, and she added that the church also will have an Easter Sunday service that people are invited to intend.

• Easter in the Courtyard, Saturday, April 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 1413 S. Union Ave. An egg hunt for youth 6 to 12 will occur a couple of times during the free community event. Hotdogs and hamburgers, as well as cotton-candy and other treats, also will be offered, with bounce houses, raffles and other activities planned for the day.

Daily Record File Photo

A couple of churches and a local family are planning Easter activities this year for the community and youth. This photo is from a 2019 church event at Cielo Grande Recreation Area.

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6 Easter egg coloring tips

1. Prevent cracked eggs. Most colored eggs are hard-boiled. To prevent cracking during the boiling process, add a teaspoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water. Additional anti-cracking measures include rubbing half a lemon on each shell before boiling.

2. Boil eggs and cool completely. It takes roughly 10 minutes to hard-boil an egg. Fill a pot with enough water to submerge the eggs, then bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the water with a slotted spoon. Cover, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Drain the eggs and cool in a bowl of water or run under cold tap water.

4. Stick to white eggs. Stores sell both brown and white eggs. The species of chicken determines whether the eggs will be white or brown. When coloring eggs, it might be better to purchase white eggs, as the dyes will show up more vividly on the white shells.

5. Create distinctive designs. By covering portions of the bare eggs before dipping into color, people can create unique designs. Things like masking tape, rubber bands, wax (or crayons), and even twine can be used. The dye will only take on the uncovered areas, leaving white behind.

Coloring Easter eggs is a time-honored tradition dating back more than 2,500 years. There is evidence that people living in the ancient settlement of Trypillia dyed eggs. Ancient Persians also were believed to paint eggs for Nowruz (Persian New Year).

Christians adopted similar traditions to symbolize aspects of the Easter story. Originally Christians dyed eggs red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross, according to Chase

Oaks Church. Good Housekeeping reports early Christian missionaries adapted the dying tradition to include more egg colors to represent different aspects of the Easter story. Yellow represented the resurrection, blue represented love and red remained a symbol of Christ’s blood.

Whether families dye eggs to symbolize the Easter miracle or simply for fun, the following are some coloring tips to enhance the process.

3. Don’t forget the vinegar. Whether you use colored dye tablets or drops of food coloring from the pantry, use a mix of water and vinegar in the coloring solution. According to Education.com, food coloring is an acid dye and bonds using hydrogen. This chemical process only works in an acidic environment. Vinegar is added to water to make it more acidic and help the dyes adhere more strongly to the eggs and produce brighter colors.

6. Dyes are not the only way to color eggs. Everything from watercolor paint to acrylics to decoupage can be used to cover eggs in vivid colors. Egg decorators also can use colored yarns, fabric or stickers. Search for creative materials to set Easter eggs apart this year.

Coloring eggs is a popular Easter tradition, and there are many ways to ensure this beloved activity produces beautiful results.

Plan ahead for an ‘eggceptional’ Easter egg hunt

store the dyed eggs in the refrigerator until ready for use. Color around six to 12 eggs per participant.

• Designate a search area. Aim for a relatively private spot for the egg hunt. A park may seem like a good idea, but people who were not included in the egg count could wander in. If you use a public space, rope off an area where the eggs will be hidden. In addition, have a backup plan if the weather will not cooperate. School gymnasiums, libraries or church recreational centers are some potential indoor options.

• Have pails at the ready. Some children will forget to bring a basket. Therefore, have extra, inexpensive pails or buckets on hand. Sturdy gift bags also work in a pinch.

later on. Next, identify hiding spots that will work for various ages. For example, toddlers will need conspicuous spots and older children more challenging nooks and crannies. A map of where every egg is hidden can help as well. Real eggs may not matter outdoors since wildlife could simply dine on any undiscovered eggs. However, plastic eggs are not good for the environment and every attempt should be made to collect them all.

• Send children out in stages. Let the youngest kids go first, and then group each search team by ascending age. This helps make sure the older kids won’t simply snatch up the more easily found eggs.

Easter is steeped in both religious and secular traditions. Each year on Easter Sunday, many families feast on ham or lamb. Hot cross buns may be served as morning treats. And faithful Christians may dress up in their Sunday best to attend religious services.

Easter egg hunts are another timehonored component of this festive occasion. According to History.com, the Easter bunny and his eggs may initially have been derived from stories about an egg-laying hare introduced to Americans by German settlers during the 1700s. Children would make nests and the hare would leave behind colored eggs.

Children often relish in the idea of scouring their homes and yards in search of brightly-hued plastic or hard-boiled

eggs. A little planning on the part of Easter egg hunt organizers can make this festive tradition even more fun.

• Set the date: If Easter egg hunts are more than just family affairs and involve neighborhood searches or hunts with a close knit group of friends, it may be smart to schedule in the days before Easter. This helps ensure that a good crowd will be available. Hunts on Easter itself may not get as many participants because celebrants could be at church or celebrating privately.

• Gather supplies early. Easter decorations and plastic eggs sell out rather quickly, so it’s wise to stock up on items as soon as they reach store shelves. If you’ll be using real eggs, consider boiling and coloring the eggs a week before the egg hunt so you won’t feel a time crunch. Simply

• Keep ages in mind when hiding eggs. Avoid choosing hiding spots that can be dangerous or prove too difficult for kids to find the eggs. Prior to hiding eggs, count how many you have, which will help to ensure all eggs were actually collected

• Reward with prizes. Be sure each child has some sort of takeaway prize. However, it’s fine to reward the best egg hunter with a more substantial prize.

• Gather and celebrate. Encourage guests to bring a small dish to contribute. After the hunt, everyone can gather to enjoy some refreshments.

Celebrations of Easter Sunday Mass are known for their joyous nature regardless of where Christians happen to be. But few, if any, celebrations of Mass can match the scope of the celebration in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the public celebration to be canceled in 2020 and 2021, but it returned in 2022.

A sizable number of celebrants returned along with it, as estimates suggested around 50,000 people were on hand to celebrate Easter Sunday Mass on the plaza directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica on April 17, 2022.

Pope Francis led the Mass, which was concelebrated with 280 priests, 25 bishops and 23 cardinals. But the crowd attending Mass was just the beginning, as Pope Francis later delivered his Urbi et Orbi benediction, a papal address and apostolic blessing the pope delivers on solemn occasions, from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica before an estimated crowd of 100,000.

Roasted lamb is an Easter Sunday classic

Easter is a religious holiday that occurs each spring. Easter commemorates and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is full of symbolism, but it’s also steeped in traditions, including family meals.

Lamb is a popular Easter Sunday meal, and this recipe for “Roasted Lamb with Roasted Asparagus” from “Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn Italian’s Recipes Celebrating Food & Family” (Powerhouse Books) by Daniel Paterna can make for the perfect Easter entrée. Lamb is most tender in spring and mild in flavor, and it pairs well with the earthiness of asparagus.

Roasted Lamb with Roasted Asparagus – Serves 8 to 10

Lamb:

1 leg of lamb or loin of lamb, about 4 to 5 pounds

5 garlic cloves, sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups dry white wine

1 fresh bay leaf

4 sprigs fresh rosemary

4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme

Cut small slits in the meat of the lamb with a sharp paring knife. Insert a slice of the garlic into each slit. Place the lamb in a large sealable plastic bag and add the olive oil, 2 cups white wine, bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag tightly and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 12 hours.

Remove the lamb from the fridge the next day, at least 4 hours before roasting. Keep the lamb sealed in the marinade bag and allow it to come to room temperature.

Heat the oven to 400 F. Remove the lamb from the bag with marinade. Place it on a rack in a roasting pan. Add 2 cups of wine. Roast for 11⁄2 hours or until the thermometer reads 150 to 160 F. Baste with drippings while roasting. Serve warm.

Asparagus:

4 pounds of asparagus, remove woody ends

2 cups coarse bread crumbs

1 cup grated Romano cheese

2 tablespoons garlic powder

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 large eggs

Sea salt, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Place the bread crumbs, cheese, garlic powder, and black pepper in a dish or bowl wide enough to hold the asparagus. Mix well to combine thoroughly.

Put the eggs in another dish or bowl of similar size and beat well. Working in batches, dip the spears into the egg, making sure they are coated well. Immediately place them in the bread crumb mixture and toss until each spear is fully coated. Transfer the breaded asparagus to a large baking sheet. Place the asparagus in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the breading is browned and crispy. Serve with wedges of fresh lemon.