Easter: Celebration of rebirth

Stacy J. Willis

Friday, March 29, 2002 | 8:52 a.m.

Hopping down the trail this Easter in Henderson is the Easter Bull -- an affable if capitalistic symbol of Christ's resurrection.

Central Christian Church, the Las Vegas Valley's largest non-denominational church, will feature a six-part Easter series of sermons called,"Getting Bullish on the Bear Markets of Life."

"We try to be relevant to people's lives," the Rev. Mike Bodine of Central Christian said. "We're not only celebrating the hope that comes from the empty tomb, but the hope of recovery for Las Vegans."

The 4,000-member church sent out fliers with pictures of a bear, a bull, and stock market quotes to advertise their Easter sermon.

On Sunday, Christians will celebrate Easter, the holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's resurrection. Churches valleywide will hold special services and some hotels will host special productions, such as the annual Passion Play at the Riviera, which depicts the story of the persecution of Jesus.

According to Biblical history, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified by the Romans and three days later rose from the dead.

His resurrection is regarded as authentication of his role as the Son of God and revealer of the kingdom of God, as well as a call to spread his spiritual teachings.

If Central Christian's stock market Easter imagery seems like a creative stretch from Christ rising from the tomb, remember that this is the Christian holiday widely associated with a pagan rabbit, says the Rev. Hilda Pecoraro of Green Valley Presbyterian Church.

"From a Christian perspective, we've had a hard time coming up with anything that explains the bunny. It does give us a little trouble," Pecoraro said.

"It seems to be more from a pagan fertility rite than from Christianity," she said. "But we do have a church picnic and the Easter Bunny will be a part of it. It's fun."

Pecoraro speculated that the bunny may be a symbol of rebirth because of its "prolific fertility."

Easter eggs are generally viewed as a symbol of new life. They also were a part of spring spiritual festivities in ancient civilizations. Farmers buried roasted eggs in their fields believing that the symbolism of fertility would bring plentiful crops. Children often sneaked into the fields and dug them up, creating the ritual of the Easter egg hunt.

"At Easter, we celebrate a lot of things to do with spring and new birth and new life," Pecoraro said.

Even if it's the rebirth of the stock market.