Resurrection Sunday is celebrated by SNU students and faculty in varying ways. All classes are canceled on Good Friday to give students the opportunity to reflect on Christ’s death and celebrate His resurrection the following Sunday.
Jim Fitzgerald, Ph.D., spoke in chapel on Tuesday of Holy Week. With an awareness of where the church is in the Christian calendar and the 2025-2026 verse of the year, he shared from John 8:31-41, 58-59 and Mark 14:1-10. The former pastor was excited to preach on Holy Tuesday for the first time in his career. He placed an emphasis on the days in between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday and on the suffering Jesus endured because of His great love.
The chair of the Department of Theology and Ministry shared, “The resurrection is foundational for the Christian faith, and celebrating that is the highlight of the Christian year.” He expressed that believers can glorify God through the celebration of the resurrection every Sunday by gathering for worship, acknowledging the work that God has done, and believing what is still to come. He conveyed, “Although Easter is foundational, that is not the whole story. This is a picture of hope, so we should live hope-filled lives.” For Fitzgerald, Resurrection Sunday is a time, even in the midst of tragedies that have happened over the course of the year, to celebrate the belief that God can do new things.
Sophomore Alec Danley expressed that Resurrection Day matters to him because of the increased focus on the details of the week of Christ’s death and resurrection. He also loves how the day draws in many who are not avid churchgoers to come to hear the gospel. The commercial music production major is a part of a “Living Last Supper” production at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. The production is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting. The SNU Choir member shared, “I am playing a part, but I feel like I am at the table with Christ. As He is breaking the bread and sharing it, I feel I am in close communication with Him.” The equestrian team member is celebrating Resurrection Day by attending his home church with his family and having Christ-centered conversations over lunch.
Freshman Charlotte McGee conveyed, “[Easter] is a time to spend time with family.” The graphic design major is taking advantage of Good Friday as an off day to rest and reflect. The clarinet player’s favorite Easter tradition is painting eggs with her family. She attended and enjoyed Fitzgerald’s Holy Tuesday chapel service.
Fitzgerald noted how celebrating Easter goes beyond candy, egg hunts, and one day, but is meant to be an everyday and weekly celebration of Christ rising from the dead to free humanity from being enslaved to sin.
Photo credits: Trynitie Krout