The Griffin’s 10th favorite duo takes on Rochester for Easter

By: Madison Howard and Javohir Aminov

Before the recent Easter break, I (Madison) had been talking with friends about what they planned to do; many planned on going home but many of my friends, including Javohir, decided to not go home because the break was short. Canisius only gave students a two day Easter break, which made traveling difficult for those who live farther away. Since I knew I would be going home to Rochester, I decided to invite a couple of my friends to come with me so they could celebrate the holiday and get a day away from Canisius. When I suggested inviting my friends, my family welcomed the idea with open arms; always wanting to meet the people I know.

I grew up attending First Genesis Baptist Church in Rochester, a church where worship is deeply rooted in music, community and expression. The service is full of energy, shaped by music. Music is not just background but the foundation of the service, helping set the tone for worship and connection. My friends had all been to religious services before, but none of them had been to a Baptist church. I was curious to see how they would react, especially during Easter Sunday, which is one of the most meaningful services of the year. Easter Sunday has always been one of my favorite days; it is not only about celebrating the holiday but also about seeing familiar faces. People I grew up with often return, even if they have not been in church since the previous Easter; most of us are now in college, so it becomes one of the only times everyone comes back together.

Easter morning, we drove to Rochester and headed straight to church. As soon as we walked in, I was greeted by people I have known for years who were excited to meet my friends. We decided to sit on the balcony since the sanctuary was expected to be full. The atmosphere felt familiar to me but new and engaging for them; throughout the service, I found myself noticing the differences through their reactions, especially during the music and the way the congregation participated together. After the service, we went to my family’s Easter dinner; my family always cooks more than enough food, so there is never a shortage at the table. The dinner turned into a full table of food and conversation, blending two worlds that do not always overlap: my college life and my family traditions. Looking back, what stood out most was not just the service or the meal, but the experience of sharing something personal with people from different backgrounds.

In my (Javohir) previous visits to churches, I’ve always been enamored by the sacred art on the ceilings or the stained glass windows that made the church glow up on the inside. First Genesis Baptist Church was no different when it came to the classic decoration that was installed ages ago. Even the wide range of space amazed me, with a stage for the choir, a separate section for a live band performance, and a balcony for those who want to watch from an aerial view. Once we were seated, the choir started to sing and the band started playing their tunes. 

Then, after minutes of playing different songs, Pastor Fredrick Johnson started speaking about how people should accept Jesus into their lives and know that He has risen. As the only Muslim in the church, it was eye-opening to gain an understanding of how other people practice their religions during holidays like Easter. I also respected the fact that even though our religious beliefs differed, we still held that mutual respect for each other and didn’t push our agendas on each other or insult the other. After the service was over, we made our way to the main area where they were giving out bags of assorted pastries and sandwiches, like turkey, bagel, cinnamon rolls and more. We then conversed with Madison’s friends and family, where we talked about the overall service and what we appreciated about it. 

After the church visit, we went to Madison's grandparents house where we ate phenomenal food like chicken wings, corn bread, mac and cheese and yellow rice. At that moment, it was clear that her family knew how to cook – and I savored every bite of my two plates. We were also watching “Kitchen Nightmares,” so that just made me grateful for the actual good food I had in front of me.

 Overall, this was an amazing experience of learning about different cultures and having lunch right after, I would also enjoy going next Easter with my friends and their families.