We were up early this morning - in fact, at 4.30 a.m., we were up so early that we beat the snow which has been falling for several hours now! The reason for our early start was to take part in the dawn service at one of our local churches.
I (Bris) took my new friend Giovanni along. Giovanni will be introduced properly in due course, but he has just moved from the Hillfield Franciscan friary in Dorset to be with us and he was keen to find out how we celebrate Easter in Norfolk.
We wish our camera time stamped our pictures so you could see that we really were waiting outside the church for people to arrive at 5.00 a.m. It was very cold and very dark, although our flash makes it look lighter than it was.
Before long though we had an Easter fire burning to dispel the darkness and provide light and warmth - powerful metaphors that sum up why we were there.
We lit the special Paschal candle from this fire and then, from the Paschal candle lit candles for ourselves and moved into the church taking the light with us. Giovanni thought the service was great and we both especially liked the bit when we had to make a loud joyful noise: we both clanged the gong which George & Yorkie had brought back from an adventure in Thailand.
After the service, when it had become light, I showed Giovanni round the church and pointed out the design on the altar front which depicts the rising sun.
We both agreed it was a fantastic Easter symbol, and incidentally, a fitting theme for this year's Greenbelt festival.
By this time we were rather hungry and how lucky were we, that some very nice people made us all a lovely breakfast of bacon and egg sandwiches. They were simply delicious. Giovanni got so enthusiastic about his that he fell onto the buttered bread and got a very buttery nose. Can you see it?
Then it was home to another wonderful Easter treat. We shared round some scrummy Easter eggs (Fairtrade Dubble eggs no less). We'll be cracking these open very shortly before going out to make a snow bear.
If it keeps snowing as it is, there should be enough for a snow bear. The only question is, will it be Yorkie or Blue Bear sized?
We agree with our friend Naughty Bear that Easter is an amazing time of year and better than Christmas when you get to the heart of it.
Lots of love Bris, Giovanni & all at Bears Unlimited xxx
3 comments:
Happy Easter boys! Did you go back to bed for a bear nap after your early start or were you too excited? We had enough snow for a Blue Bear if you were quick, but the thaw quickly set in. There's been snow on Easter Sunday 12 times in the past 45 years, the most recent was at Easter 1998 apparently! We're off for a traditional - not! -Easter curry - may be have a lamb one as it's Easter! Looking forward to the bear gathering for our minders' birthdays soon!
Happy Easter and well done boys. Your Norfolk celebrations make ours here in the Midlands seem very unimaginative, but we did enoy our service led by our Interim Moderator.
We look forward to seeing you all for birthday celebratons later in the week.
We only had enough snow for a Blue Bear sized snowbear in this area by the way.
Bye for now - Aunty Grandma
Makes our church service look quite tame! Although we were warm and it was very cheerful. Have you seen the bunny slippers at www.pixyknits.blogspot.com The blogger lives in the same house as Tadley Bear and has just begun blogging.
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