A wooden cross with a crown of thorns representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is pictured in front of Wesley United Methodist Church, 1322 W. Broadway Blvd. on a rainy Good Friday. Easter Sunday marks the culmination of the season of Lent, the 40 days in which some Christians and members of the Jewish faith fast and are in prayer and penance. The Holy Week before Easter is represented by Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper; Good Friday, marking the date of Christ’s Crucifixion; and Easter Sunday, the day of Christ’s Resurrection. One legend claims that if it rains on Easter Sunday it will rain for the next seven Sundays.
The blooms of a dogwood are dampened by a gentle rain early Friday morning. According to some, the tree and its flowers represent the Crucifixion of Christ on the Cross. The legend states that the cross on which Christ was crucified was made of dogwood. The four petals of the tree represent the four corners of the cross. The rusty stains at the end of each petal are said to be a symbol of the four nails used in the crucifixion. In the fall, the red clusters of berries are believed to signify the blood of Jesus.
A pink dogwood blooms on the east side of the First Baptist Church, 200 E. Sixth St., on Good Friday. Although Easter is a movable holiday, dogwoods typically bloom near Holy Week of Easter each spring.
A white dogwood is in full bloom outside the front entrance of Wesley United Methodist Church, 1322 W. Broadway Blvd. According to the Missouri State Archives, the dogwood was adopted as the Missouri state tree June 20, 1955. Dogwoods are small in size, typically not growing over 40-feet in height.
![]()
A wooden cross with a crown of thorns representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is pictured in front of Wesley United Methodist Church, 1322 W. Broadway Blvd. on a rainy Good Friday. Easter Sunday marks the culmination of the season of Lent, the 40 days in which some Christians and members of the Jewish faith fast and are in prayer and penance. The Holy Week before Easter is represented by Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper; Good Friday, marking the date of Christ’s Crucifixion; and Easter Sunday, the day of Christ’s Resurrection. One legend claims that if it rains on Easter Sunday it will rain for the next seven Sundays.
![]()
The blooms of a dogwood are dampened by a gentle rain early Friday morning. According to some, the tree and its flowers represent the Crucifixion of Christ on the Cross. The legend states that the cross on which Christ was crucified was made of dogwood. The four petals of the tree represent the four corners of the cross. The rusty stains at the end of each petal are said to be a symbol of the four nails used in the crucifixion. In the fall, the red clusters of berries are believed to signify the blood of Jesus.
![]()
A pink dogwood blooms on the east side of the First Baptist Church, 200 E. Sixth St., on Good Friday. Although Easter is a movable holiday, dogwoods typically bloom near Holy Week of Easter each spring.
![]()
A white dogwood is in full bloom outside the front entrance of Wesley United Methodist Church, 1322 W. Broadway Blvd. According to the Missouri State Archives, the dogwood was adopted as the Missouri state tree June 20, 1955. Dogwoods are small in size, typically not growing over 40-feet in height.
