Next to the birth of Jesus in a stable, Easter has long been considered one of the most important Christian holidays of faith.

&uot;The celebration of Easter is the very core of our faith as Christians,&uot; said the Rev. Curtis Moffett, pastor of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church. &uot;It cannot be scientifically proven and it must be accepted on faith.

&uot;Easter Sunday is the culmination of the Lenten season. Holy week is the last week of the Lenten season. It begins on Palm Sunday. Then Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and his disciples. It is from this meal that have the symbols we use during our communion; the bread symbolizes the body of Christ and the wine is the blood of Christ.

&uot;From there you have Good Friday when the actual crucifixion took place, to Sunday morning when Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found the angel waiting for them. Easter Sunday is a celebration of our belief that Jesus arose from the dead and his followers will also.&uot;

Going through life on faith is common to all Christians, they know that there are things that they believe that others do not, Moffett said.

They know there are things that science says are not possible. Easter is the opportunity to celebrate that faith, it is a time to celebrate spring and the new life that the season holds, Moffett said.

&uot;The season of Easter is symbolic of new life for Christians,&uot; said the Rev. Al Camp, pastor at St. Mary Minor Basilica. &uot;It is proof of the fact that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.

&uot;As I get older, the reassurance of the life that never ends means even more. This is definitely the season of the presence and peace of Christ.&uot;

In talking with the third and fourth grades at Holy Family Catholic School it became clear that these children will celebrate Easter in many ways. There will egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and baskets of candy. But while they enjoy the fun side of Easter, it was clear that they had learned that there was a more serious side to Easter.

&uot;Easter means joy and happiness. Easter is when we give thanks to the Lord our God,&uot; said Chad Smoot, a fourth grader at Holy Family School. &uot;My family celebrates Easter by loving, caring, giving, praying, sharing, being respectful and by working hard for the kingdom of God.&uot;

&uot;Easter means my Jesus died for me and others. It means loving, caring, forgiving and praying. To me Easter is a loving time. It is not only when the Easter bunny comes, it is when you pray,&uot; said Hilton Crumb, a third grader at Holy Family School.

&uot;Easter means sharing when my family gets together. Easter means being kind,&uot; said Antonio Singleton, a third grader at Holy Family School. &uot;Easter is not about the candy. It is about praying together, giving people flowers, having fun and about obeying the Law of Love.&uot;

&uot;Easter means a lot to me becuse it helps me to be a better Christian. I know what Jesus did for us all,&uot; said Darius Montgomery, fourth grade, Holy Family School. &uot;Jesus suffered and died for us on the cross, because He loves us all. Easter is also a time to go on egg hunts.&uot;

Their comments reflect that they understand that with faith there is truth in the scriptures; &uot;Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.&uot; (John 11: 25 – 26)