The Art of Easter
Holy Hospitality for the Resurrection Feast — Preparing Hearts and Homes to Honor the Cross and the Empty Tomb
R. A. Calkins
Easter is not merely a festive meal — it is the Christian year’s central act of remembrance. In The Art of Easter, Russell A. Calkins offers a clear, scripture-centered guide that helps hosts make the day what it must be: worship first, then hospitality. Rooted in the King James text and shaped by practical experience, this book teaches you how to plan, prepare, and serve a Resurrection feast that points every heart to the cross and the empty tomb.
Inside you will find a balanced mixture of theology and do-able practice. This is a handbook for families, church homes, and those who open their doors to neighbors — for hosts who want the meal to serve the gospel rather than overshadow it.
What you’ll get:
A faithful foundation: why Easter must be kept with reverence, scriptural readings (KJV) to place on the table, and a simple order of worship that precedes the meal.
Clear aims for holy hospitality: worship first, gentle order, service without pride, and memory-forming practices that teach the next generation.
Formats for every gathering: plans and priorities for intimate family feasts (6–12), extended family and friend gatherings (12–30), open-house receptions (dozens), and small church-home meetings.
A step-by-step timeline: what to do four weeks, two weeks, one week, three days, and the morning of — a household schedule that removes last-minute chaos and preserves spiritual focus.
Practical facts & figures: conservative, reliable portion guides, beverage calculations, and an example calculator so you’ll know exactly how much to buy and prepare.
A sample full-day schedule (with times) that keeps the day ordered and worshipful, not frantic.
Tone and table guidance: simple centerpiece ideas (cross or open Bible), liturgical color suggestions, music guidance, place cards/programs, and how to keep decorations from competing with the gospel.
Children’s reverent activities: short KJV story time, age-appropriate crafts that teach the resurrection, and small service tasks that form a habit of helpfulness and worship.
Recipes and menus: dependable, straightforward recipes and menu options so the food is reliable and the host is free to minister.
Short liturgies, suggested hymns, and brief family devotions suitable for the opening of the meal.
Whether you host a family of six or an open-house reception, The Art of Easter will help you arrange a feast that is orderly, graceful, and unmistakably Christian — a day where the table and the meal serve the proclamation that Christ died and rose again. Practical, devotional, and grounded in Scripture, this book equips you to make Easter a formation-shaping feast for every generation.
Prepare hearts and homes to honor the cross and the empty tomb. Make your next Easter an offering of worship and holy hospitality.
