A community celebration

For Easter Sunday, Ballantine Hall room 013 was transformed into a church, complete with gospel songs and a sermon.

Although many IU students went home for the holiday, some students stayed in Bloomington for Easter.

Each Sunday, worshippers gather in Ballantine Hall for a service through the Anointed Harvest Fellowship Church. There are usually between 200 and 300 people, the majority being students, who attend services weekly, but not as many were in attendance because many went home for Easter Sunday, said William L. McCoy, bishop of the Anointed Harvest Fellowship Church.

McCoy said because the church is composed largely of students, many aspects of the church’s operation are student-run, including media programming, singing and planning an Easter egg hunt for children.

Choir members sang “Praise is What I Do” by Shekinah Glory Ministries.

“It’s wonderful to see young people love the Lord,” McCoy said.

Easter is a Christian holiday during which believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Some IU students could not go home to celebrate Easter with their families because of transportation conflicts.

Freshman Shakira Bell did not have a ride to her home in Merrillville, but she said she enjoys the tight-knit environment at the Anointed Harvest Fellowship Church service.

“Everyone is so welcoming, and I love that type of atmosphere,” Bell said.

Sophomore Rafael Ishman, from Gary, said even though students will always miss home, being at the service nearly filled that void.

“It is a home away from home, and it is very family-oriented,” Ishman said.

Freshman Kim Brown, from St. Louis, said she  decided not to go home for Easter because the church is her “family away from home.”

“I feel comfortable hearing the word of God here,” Brown said.

At St. Paul Catholic Center, IU students took part in many Easter events including the Student Life Team’s showing of “The Passion of the Christ.”

Students also reenacted Jesus’ last supper Thursday and had an Easter vigil Saturday and Easter mass Sunday.

Many IU students were baptized or confirmed on Saturday’s Easter vigil.

“We had 20 people enter the church last night, and 11 of them were also baptized,” Jillian Vandermarks, director of religious education at St. Paul Catholic Center, said in an e-mail. “Of the 20, 15 were IU students, some freshmen, most undergrads. Two others were spouses of grad students. They had been working toward entering the church since September.”

Father Robert Keller said students attend the Easter vigil to “go back to the beginning” and gain a “sense of groundedness and centering.”

Sophomore Morgan Beatty, a member of the Student Life Team, said the month leading up to Easter was a special time of reflection and understanding.

“It is the season of getting better for Easter,” Beatty said.