Celebrate Easter with the Salvos
Join with us this Easter
Experience love and abundant life this Easter
Easter is a celebration of love and life. God loves us so he sent his son Jesus into the world because he wants us to become truly alive in his love.
When the world offers us stress about the cost of living and interest rate rises, Jesus offers us peace. When the world seems full of hate and devastation, Jesus extends love and wholeness.
Jesus says, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]” (John 10:10b, AMP). This is the essence of Easter. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are all for our sake, so that we can have life in all its fullness – both now and for the future.
This Easter, whether you explore the below resources or connect with your local Salvos community, our prayer is that you discover what it means to become truly alive in and through God’s love.
An Easter message from The Salvation Army Australia's leader
Watch a message from Commissioner Miriam Gluyas about sacrifice, life, joy and connection.
Connect with your local Salvos this Easter
Good Friday (7 April 2023) and Easter Sunday (9 April 2023) church services are held in communities around Australia. Just as Jesus welcomed people from all walks of life to spend time with him, everyone is welcome to celebrate Easter at their local Salvation Army.
Whether you’re looking to build connections in your community, learn more about Easter or start a spiritual journey, we encourage you to get in touch.
Find an event near you
Learn more about Easter and faith
What does Easter mean?
Learn more about the real story of Easter and what it means for you.
Find out moreCelebrate Easter with kids
Find colouring-in sheets, Easter crafts and other free Easter activities for children.
Find out moreEaster celebrations and the Salvos
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is a lead up to Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday is a day when the crowd recognised Jesus had come as their King and Saviour. They waved palm branches in praise and excitement – much like the way we might wave flags today when royalty passes by.
After Palm Sunday, Christians recognise some of the other events that occurred before Jesus was placed on trial and put to death on a cross. These include the Last Supper, Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and Jesus’ betrayal.
Good Friday refers to the day on which Jesus, the Son of God, died on a cross. Good Friday is significant because it was the first step in reconciling the world and humanity to its creator – God, having been separated from him through their sinful nature.
Jesus’ death was a sacrifice for everyone who would ever live so that they can have a close relationship with God. It’s an overwhelmingly great act of love!
After Jesus died, his body was placed in a tomb, but he didn’t stay there. He rose back to life – which is what we celebrate on Easter Sunday.
Lent is a time of preparation and reflection in the lead up to Easter: Jesus’ death on the cross on what is referred to as Good Friday, and then him coming back to life on what is called Easter Sunday.
Lent starts six-and-a-half weeks before Easter, on a day called Ash Wednesday.
Some Christians recognise Lent through fasting, which means going without food for set periods of time. Others may choose to abstain or avoid certain foods or behaviours, for example not eating red meat, drinking coffee or watching television. The idea of fasting or abstaining is to use a physical behaviour to centre a person's thoughts on God – when someone might normally engage in that behaviour such as a meal, they instead devote that time to prayer and focusing on God.
Lent is a practice people may choose to engage in so that they can more deeply connect with the message of Easter, which is Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Easter is a very significant event on the Christian calendar, so, as a Christian church, The Salvation Army will host faith gatherings across the weekend. Each gathering will be different, as it responds to the needs of the community in which it is based.
On Good Friday – to reflect on the death of Jesus – some Salvos will host contemplative church services, decorate their halls with candles and crosses for quiet prayer services, host hot cross bun morning teas or march through the street with a cross.
On Easter Sunday – to celebrate Jesus coming back to life – churches will host upbeat, celebratory services, dawn services in outdoor settings, or Easter egg hunts.
In some locations, there may be meals or other events on the Thursday before Good Friday – called Maundy Thursday, events on Easter Saturday and Easter bonnet or hat parades across the week.
Use our search tool to discover what your local Salvos are doing to commemorate and celebrate Easter this year.
Absolutely! The Salvation Army welcomes people from all backgrounds to come and celebrate Easter with us. Whether you grew up in a religious or Christian environment, or have never heard of Jesus, your local Salvos would love to see you at Easter or throughout the year.
Our local Salvation Army locations also host various informal gatherings such as playgroups, women’s outings, seniors’ groups, small group spiritual chats and more, if you’re looking for a place to connect with your community.