Easter’s song: Life renewed

On Easter Sunday, Christians joyfully celebrate the core of their faith – Jesus’ resurrection from the dead 2,000 years ago – and the hopeful message that death is not the end of our stories, either.

The most important day on the Christian calendar, Easter is a time when churches are brimming with lilies and members sing “Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day. Alleluia!”

It’s a day of renewal, when Christians believe God asks them to let their old selves die so that their new lives can begin.

At Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood, members entered the church carrying a cross festooned with flowers.

At the end of the service, the church’s children released butterflies as a brass band played.

Tim Funk

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 9:48 PM with the headline "Easter’s song: Life renewed."