Lent isn't the only Christian festival at this time of year
Lent is widely celebrated with even some secular versions, but this other Christian festival is the necessary counterpoint.
The early church didn't just celebrate lent. They also celebrated Eastertide: 40 days of celebrating the resurrection of Christ ending on accession.
While lent is a time of abstinence and reflecting on the need for a saviour, Eastertide is a time of celebrating that we do have a savour. It's no accident they come straight after each other.
While lent continues to be practiced by more traditional churches, with even some secular forms too, eastertide seems to have been lost.
If you've been practicing lent, don't forget to practice Eastertide. We need both an awareness of our sin and an awareness of our saviour who has taken away that sin.
