Before the sun rose Easter morning, a fire was lit at the campfire site beside the chapel. Students and staff arrived in the chilly predawn hours for the Easter vigil. After a welcoming prayer, the Paschal candle was lit from the fire and others lit their own candles while readings of Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, and Zephaniah were read by various students. The crowd then followed the cross and candle to the outdoor altar where Easter alleluias and bells rang out the good news that Christ is risen! The Gospel reading and homily were followed by Eucharist that began just as the sun rose. Afterwards, a celebratory breakfast in the dining hall warmed everyone up. After breakfast, an Easter egg hunt found the students running excitedly around campus searching for eggs with candy and golden dollars. Tug of war, three legged races, egg on a spoon, and egg toss games followed the egg hunt. 

 

On Monday, April 29, the first chapel service of the Easter season featured stations of the resurrection. Each cottage was given a passage of Scripture about one of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances. After 15 minutes of preparing, everyone went outside and proceeded around the campus to watch each cottage act out their scene. In one particularly memorable scene performed by Greene cottage, senior student James played Jesus coming through the locked door to the disciples by doing a flip into the scene. Whitehead Cottage used a canoe to portray disciples out fishing. The final scene was Jesus on the mountain in Galilee commanding the disciples to go out. Student Braydon was on top of the slide speaking Jesus' powerful words. The students will remember the places and ways Jesus appeared and will be on the lookout for the Holy Spirit showing up in their everyday lives!