"Easter is something that has multiple facets to it," said Daniel Luther, a member of the children's ministry team at Grace Baptist Church in Saugus. "It's a time when people can reflect, and also a time of celebration and renewal between themselves and God and their walk with him."

The holiday also offers individuals a chance to look at the wrongs they have committed while celebrating the "great and wonderful things God has done," Luther said.

For the Rev. Rachel Allen of Santa Clarita United Methodist Church in Saugus, Easter serves as a reminder that "God can transform the worst of situations into something new."

The act of resurrection itself demonstrates this, she said.

But ultimately, Easter and its accompanying celebrations are meant to send a message.

"I would hope that (churchgoers) learn an appreciation for what God has done for (them)," Luther said, adding that a personal relationship with God can also be created.

Allen sees the predominant message that "God is good" and "God is love," but that even during the most troubling times, God can signal a transformation that goes beyond any sort of expectations.