FRIDAY JURY

But how many of those enjoying the Spring break will be heading to church during this most important time in the holy calendar rather than heading for the shops or the tourist attractions? Today we ask, has the true meaning of Easter been lost?

YES:

Many shops are increasingly opening their doors on every day of the week and for longer hours, including during traditional holiday times such as bank holidays and religious festivals like Christmas and Easter.

Many feel that not only is the increasing commercialism threatening to detract from the "special day" feeling associated with such public holidays, but that people are being tempted away from going to church at religious times in favour of trips to the garden centre or DIY store.

In Blackburn, like many other towns and cities across the UK, many major stores are open throughout the Easter weekend, including even Easter Sunday.

One of those who feels the true Easter message may have been lost is the Rev Lawrence Laycock of St John's, Worsthorne.

Mr Laycock said: "I do think the message of Easter is being lost and it is something that needs to be addressed. People seem to forget that the word holiday comes from holy day, though sadly religion plays little part in our holidays today.

"Even those we may normally see in the pews are quite likely to be away at this time of year because of the holidays. Spiritual life is being lost in a big way because of the over-commercialism of times like Easter and Christmas, which if anything is even more exploited than the Easter festival.

"Ever since I became a priest there has always been a fringe of people who may come to church for a special occasion or at Christmas or Easter, but who do not come any more.

"They are the fringe that are being lost to the church because of alternative attractions like shops.

"However, the important thing to remember whatever may be the state of our spiritual life is that God's love is there for us whatever we offer Him."

Mr Laycock illustrates his point about the religious significance of festivals like Easter disappearing by telling the story of a teacher who asks some of the youngsters in his class to go out and find signs of life and to put whatever they find into plastic eggs in order to represent the fact that life is renewed at Easter time and in the spring.

The youngsters venture out to start their search and when they return to class the teacher finds the eggs contain a butterfly, flowers, twigs and grass.

But one of the eggs turns out to have nothing in it. That belonged to a boy with Down's Syndrome and some of the other children laugh at him.

When the teacher asks the boy why he had not put anything in the egg he replys: "Because the tomb was empty.''

Mr Laycock said: "That lad knew a profound truth. Easter is much more than a celebration of nature's lifecycle.

"The tomb was empty because Jesus had risen from the dead. It's a miracle far more wonderful than the return of life in the springtime.''

NO:

Despite the increase in attractions vying for people's attention during holiday periods and shops staying open later and later and on days when in the past the doors would have remained closed, hundreds of regular churchgoers will flock to Easter services this weekend with many more who do not usually go to church making a special effort to attend at this time of year.

The healthy turnouts are a sign that people do still appreciate the true message that Easter, and other religious festivals, hold.

One who feels there is reason for optimism is the Methodist Superintendent for Darwen, Terry Young, who says the church should stop bothering people who aren't interested in religion and concentrate on those who are.

Mr Young said: "It is sad if people do not want to take the time or make the effort to pray at this time of year, but the church should stop harassing the people who aren't interested in religion and should start working with those who are.

"The congregations at my churches have remained pretty constant over the last few years and new people come to church every week so I think we should concentrate on making them welcome, not twisting arms."

Mr Young said that many Christians expected the world to revolve around them, a point which was proved on a trip to Israel three years ago.

He said: "A group of us were walking along the Via Dolorosa, the route that Jesus took on his way to crucifixion, and were stopping along the way at shrines to pray.

"What bothered a lot of people was that there were donkeys and people bustling around while they were trying to pray, but what they forgot is that it was just like that when Jesus made that journey. Who says the world should stop for the church because it certainly never stopped for Jesus."

Bishop of Burnley the Rt Rev John Goddard also sees signs of new life and change for the church in his Easter letter to the See of Blackburn.

He said that life was changing for the church forever, but in way that could see it developing new opportunities to work with schools, councils and community groups to build its strength.

He writes: "Our church would seem to be at a point of development and change in its life. However, if our relationship with God is of depth and value then we should expect change as we journey forward both as a church and as individuals.

"One of my joys over the past year has been the way priests and people have shared their hopes and vision for what lies ahead."

He adds: "Of course we will rightly look back and draw strength and wisdom from our long tradition and experiences, but we are called to journey forward.

"Life is changed and it is never going to be the same again. Thank God for that opportunity in Christ."

Last week we asked: Should the council cut down daffodils to keep roadside verges tidy?

YES: 14.3%

NO: 85.7%