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The pews and parking lots of every Christian church in town will be filled with CEOs today - that's "Christmas and Easter Only" attendees.

It's a phenomenon so ubiquitous that there are even nicknames for these occasional worshipers. Johnny Hart, creator of B.C. comics, said his mom and dad were "C&E" Christians. The Chicago Sun-Times called them "Cheasters." Others dub them "Easter Lilies."

Whatever the name, these folks come out in swarms on Easter, the holiest day in the Christian calendar. They pack the sanctuaries and chapels, often doubling and tripling the average attendance. They dress up in their finest hats and frills. They sometimes stumble through elements of the service, not sure when to kneel or sing or shake hands with the person sitting next to them. They may have forgotten words of the hymns. They may not be aware of changes in the church.

Three years ago, the Rev. David Henry of Wasatch Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City had gastric bypass surgery and subsequently lost 130 lbs. Several cheasters wondered if the congregation had hired a new pastor.

Regular church-goers all have a theory about such occasional Christians: They are on the fringe or they are non-Christian spouses or relatives who come out of respect for their families. They still consider themselves Christian but are too lazy or unmotivated for weekly or monthly attendance. They don't want to be tied down often but on these occasions are drawn back by the power of memory.

"They're raised thinking this is the time of year they should be in church," says Clare Valles of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Salt Lake City. "And so they come - to reconnect with their childhood.

Maybe it's guilt, says Ronda Brennan, also of St. Ambrose. "They come back to be forgiven."

Or maybe they are attracted to the day's grandeur. On one level, Easter services provide a kind of religious entertainment with the clergy's vivid vestments, the church bedecked in lilies and aglow with candles, the blazing lights and blaring trumpets, the eloquent sermons and searing scriptures.

"Even if people have tended to drift from their faith, the celebration of Christ's resurrection is so central, they don't want to miss it," says the Rev. James Thompson of the Catholic Church's Newman Center near the University of Utah campus.

Whatever the pull, most people feel better after an Easter service. It's not the time to lecture them about sloth or to lay on guilt.

"It is dangerous to judge their motives. Who knows the circumstances of their heart?" says Monsignor Terrence Fitzgerald, interim leader of Utah's 200,000 Catholics. "The important thing is to have the door open, to welcome everyone whether they come all the time or some of the time. We are always enriched by their presence."

The Rev. Dave Hiester takes the same approach.

"I look forward to it as an opportunity more than anything else," says Hiester, pastor at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Brigham City. "I tell them that there's an absolutely amazing God who loves them every much and wants to see them redeemed and whole - not a god they have to fear."

To ensure that the attendance-challenged have a positive experience today, Hiester has added extra people to serve as greeters, graciously welcoming the unfamiliar into his church. Everyone wears nametags to avoid the embarrassment of forgetfulness or newness. He asked the regulars to park far away, leaving nearby slots for the irregulars.

"God wants us to be transformed so others can see God through us," Hiester says.

Those not involved are missing out on the enrichment of community, so many pastors use their Easter sermon to try to lure people back to the pews.

"Quite frankly, our goal is to help people become more active in the life of the congregation and in their own spiritual growth," says Henry of Wasatch Presbyterian. "I see this as a great opportunity to tease them into thinking more deeply about that."

He has seen faith journeys ebb and flow, he says, and is willing to be patient.

"I have seen the spirit work so many times in the lives of the people," Henry says. "Maybe the husband only comes on those days, for example, but sometime that prompts them to come a little more. Soon they're more involved and their faith is deepening."

That's how the Holy Spirit works, he says, and it starts with Easter.

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