The Easter Vigil Mass and Easter Day Activities w/ Lots of Photos

Over the past two days, I have had three separate church experiences. Last night, I attended the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood, where I read two of the nine readings and then participated in the Mass. This was a marathon event of two hours followed by a dessert potluck and time for visiting. I arrived at 6:45 pm and returned home at 11 pm.

This morning, Ray and I headed to St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood at 8:15 and then served as the official Easter Bunnies for the egg hunt. We hid 150 – 200 eggs in the garden of the rectory and then awaited the arrival of the 20 or so children with their parents. Sarah brought Nico and Lyla from South Pasadena; Liz, Ron, Ethan, and Ron’s mom, Cindy, came from Hollywood. After the egg hunt and much visiting with old friends, we headed to South Pasadena to St. James Episcopal Church where Luna sang with the children’s choir for Easter. We met the two priests there plus several parents with their small kids. Ray and I also saw a former parishioner from St. Thomas, who has chosen St. James because of its strong children’s program for her daughter. The kids participated in a second Easter Egg hunt there.

We then headed to Sarah and Gregorio’s for Easter lunch and a joint birthday party for Luna and Lyla. We ate, talked, opened presents, ate dessert, and generally enjoyed one another until five pm when Ray, Cindy, and I headed back to the Hollywood/West Hollywood area. Ray and I are ready for a quiet evening after an eventful two days.

He has risen indeed. Hallelujah.