County Christians celebrate Easter
Matt DeLorenzo of Butler said he brought his family to attend services at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Butler to celebrate Christianity’s most important holiday — the resurrection of Christ.
“It is the fulfillment of what God said he would do,” DeLorenzo said. “He proved that he’s capable of delivering us from the sins we all live in.“
Ava DeLorenzo, 12, said she and her siblings received Easter baskets to mark the occasion. Hers included a game, a personalized water bottle and candy. Despite the novelty aspects of the holiday, Ava said she too understood the meaning behind the celebration.
“Jesus rose again from the cross to prove that he was the Messiah, and he would take our sins away,” she said.
Westminster Presbyterian Pastor Dan Ledford spoke to his congregation Sunday morning about God’s plan, which at times is so grand it is unbelievable.
“Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told,” said Ledford, citing Habakkuk 1:5.
Ledford said part of God’s plan was sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for humanity’s sins.
“Jesus is alive,” Ledford said. “He is mercy.”
Carly Thompson of Butler said Ledford’s emphasis on God’s plan overruling our own individual plans carried great meaning to her.
“I’m a planner. I make plans, and I have things in my mind that’s going to happen,” Thompson said. “But the Lord continues to surprise us in his plans. Even when it’s hard, he continues to reveal his glory to us.”
With a later start farther north, Pastor Brandon Moore led his congregation at West Liberty United Methodist Church in Slippery Rock. In his message, he encouraged people to truly embrace forgiveness.
“The sacrifice has been made,” Moore said. “We can weep tears of joy for that.”
Betty McConnell of Slippery Rock has attended many Easter services at the church since 2015. She said this was the first Easter service she’s attended since her husband, Donald, died in 2020.
“It’s just this past year has been hard, but now to me, it’s like an awakening. Everything is new, and spring has sprung, if the weather gets a little warmer,” said McConnell, a laughing about the weather.
The light dusting of snow Sunday morning brought a moment of levity in both congregation as they focused on the celebration of Christ’s rising.
Bob Lanning of Slippery Rock said Easter is unmistakably the biggest event in Christianity, surpassing even Christmas. He said it carries the greatest message, “Christ has risen.”
“He said whoever believes in me shall never perish but have life everlasting,” Lanning said. “For the Christian, that’s an important thing, that the grave is not the end.”
