“The belief of all Christians is dependent on the Resurrection. If there was no Resurrection, there would be no Christianity,” said Raja Hebel of Raja Faith Ministries, Hyderabad, on Sunday.
The message and the purpose of the Resurrection of Jesus (Easter), the actor-turned-pastor said quoting from the New Testament of the Bible, is to believe fully what Jesus said: “I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
Mr. Raja’s sermon as the guest pastor was not unique to the Church of South India (CSI) at Mettuguda, but common to all churches and Christians on Sunday.
Churchgoers, dressed up for ‘the most important day in the Christian calendar’, thronged houses of worship in the city, starting 5 a.m.
Amid songs of rejoice, meditating in prayers and the Easter message, the pre-dawn services at several churches were houseful with families in full attendance.
For churches under the CSI, such as Holy Trinity Church, Bollarum, CSI Wesley Church, Clock Tower and St. Thomas SPG Telugu Pastorate, Secunderabad, the sunrise services began around 4.30 a.m. At the CSI Garrison Wesley Church, Bishop Emeritus Rev. P. Surya Prakash delivered the Resurrection message.
According to Navin Solomon, a lead pastor at Methodist Church in Shankerpally mandal, about 150-200 members of the church went around the place of worship around 5.15 a.m. singing songs of praise. A special guest was invited to share the day’s message.
Several churches conducted the second round of Easter service, which started around 9.30 a.m. Celebrations were also visual, such as through special skits, song and dance, and clothing, as well as gastronomical such as indulging in elaborate breakfasts dominated by eggs and bread, and feasts shared among church members, families and local communities.
