Rev. David M. Phillips of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, right, gives Communion at Easter Sunday mass on April 9. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23

St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church had a full congregation on Sunday, April 9, for its morning Easter mass.

Parishioners celebrated the holiday at church before returning home for family gatherings and meals, and many children left the service with Easter eggs as an additional treat.

The church, at 201 W. Jefferson St. in Butler, had Masses throughout Lent that commemorated particular dates including for Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday.

St. Mark’s pastor, the Rev. David M. Phillips, said preparation for Easter began immediately after the end of the Maundy Thursday worship service. The altar guild stripped off the purple paraments, or the liturgical hangings, on and around the altar, pulpit and lectern and draped a black cloth over the altar cross.

Parishioners at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church pray on Easter Sunday. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23

Rev. David M. Phillips of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church blesses Communion during Easter Sunday mass on April 9. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23

Parishioners receive Communion during Easter Sunday Mass April 9 at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23

Rev. David M. Phillips of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church leads the parishioners in prayer at mass on Easter Sunday, April 9. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23

Seyi Titunyemi, 4, of Butler, walks away from the children's sermon with an Easter egg at mass on Sunday, April 9 at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23

Rev. David M. Phillips of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church prepares the communion wine during Easter Sunday mass. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23

Rev. David M. Phillips of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church sits with the children of the congregation and delivers a sermon to them on Easter Sunday. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/9/23