Easter service delivers message of hope

By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mark Johnston, 171st Infantry BrigadeApril 12, 2012

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – More than 5,000 Soldiers and civilians filled the Solomon Center Sunday
to celebrate Easter. The Easter Sunday service featured performances
by the Daniel Circle Mass Choir. In addition, those in attendance witnessed the second act of the Simon Peter... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- There are only a few times each year when Soldiers and families can really celebrate faith and hope. One of those times is during the Easter season, the annual event earmarking the Christian belief that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, buried and physically arose from the grave to conquer death and provide eternal life to all who believe.

That story has been repeated through the centuries since the very first eyewitness accounts were given about Jesus' Resurrection. It was repeated this past Good Friday evening and Easter Sunday morning by the presentation of Chaplain (Col.) Bart Physioc who portrayed Simon Peter, the apostle and follower of Jesus. In this two-act play, Peter reports the events of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection as told through the Gospel stories found in the Bible.

More than 1,500 Soldiers attended the Friday evening presentation, which ended with the Crucifixion. They were invited back for the Sunday morning continuation detailing the Resurrection of Jesus. More than 5,000 Soldiers and guests were in attendance to witness the "rest of the story."

Also in attendance was Richard Glickstein, the president of the National Bible Association, headquartered in New York. His organization donated 10,000 copies of the Military Bible and Spiritual Fitness Manual for Soldiers serving our Nation. These specialty Bibles are the only Bibles containing the Manual for Spiritual Fitness, an increasingly important and recognized dimension for Soldier resiliency. The Military Bible also has the unique status of being the only Bible within the military utilizing the multi-cam design, which is the design pattern for the uniforms worn by Soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Providing praise and worship was the renowned Daniel Circle Mass Choir, who led the event with hymns reflecting the celebration of the morning. Their inspiring rendition of Ron Kenoly's song, "He's Alive!" reminded attendees that while Easter comes only once a year, faith, hope and love can be experienced daily: "Hallelujah! Jesus is alive! Death has lost its victory, and the grave has been denied! Jesus is alive! He's alive! He's alive!"