Back to life: HPUMC celebrates Easter in person for first time in two years

April 06, 2021

It’s not too late to give to the Easter Offering!

Will you partner with us to fight poverty in our community and around the world? HPUMC directs 100% of the offering collected at Easter right back into the community. Click below to give online today see how your gift makes an impact.

On April 4, 2021, more than 5,500 people celebrated Easter in person and thousands worshiped online with Highland Park United Methodist Church at one of two services—because He lives!

The day began at our Sunrise Service in Arden Forest. This outdoor worship service included contemporary music, four baptisms, and a message from HPUMC’s Executive Minister, Rev. Matt Tuggle. He spoke about how we’re each grieving over lost relationships and difficulties of the past year, but that we have hope in Christ.

“The hope of the Christian faith is rooted in the belief that what we long for most is alive,” Rev. Tuggle said. “That what we long for most can’t be taken away.”

“Jesus is calling your name to usher you into a new kind of life filled with hope and joy, on the heels of a year that has been tremendously difficult,” he continued. “To set you free and send you out to a life of hope.”

This Easter was a truly one-of-a-kind experience for everyone in person or online, and it culminated with an all-church Easter Service at SMU’s Ford Stadium.

HPUMC’s Senior Minister, Rev. Paul Rasmussen, was overjoyed to be able to worship in person, especially after a completely virtual Easter in 2020 due to the pandemic. He spoke about how different this year was in comparison to last year and all the challenges that we’ve come through to where we are right now.

“Whenever God shows up to a desperate situation, it doesn’t matter how dead it seems. There’s always life. We call that resurrection. And we are the people of the resurrection. ”

Rev Paul Rasmussen

Rev. Rasmussen’s message also pointed to Easter and the resurrection as the very foundation of our faith.

“Easter is an invitation to experience the resurrection,” he said. “To allow it to penetrate deep into our own heart, soul, and mind and come alive again.”

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