How do you celebrate Easter?

[Guest man]

What are the ages of your children?

[redwing]

my wife has the grandkids over to color eggs. she makes hugh easter baskets for them.if i'm not working we go to the sun rise service (easter morning) at churchill downs.

[ladypeartree]

I have never done the egg hunt thing ...the weather is far too unpredictable here. We do give chocolate eggs but one thing that my children ( and the ones I used to teach ) used to love to do is make an Easter garden.

You can use a large plate but plastic trays can be bought very cheaply and are much better.

Cover the tray/plate with kitchen paper floded to about 4 thicknesses and make it very damp but not flooded. Scatter cress seeds all over the paper and allow to grow.

Make a "cave" by covering an inflated balloon with paper mache and then cutting it when it has hardened...place in the "garden" and then use a chocolate egg as the stone in front of the cave.

The rest of the garden can be decorated with marzipan boulders and sweety flowers etc .

When the children were not around I used to place something special inside the "cave" ...a little booklet about Christ, a cross on a chain, booklets or pencils with a Christian message on them whatever you can fit inside that you think they would like

It is a good way of focusing attention when you talk about the reason we celebrate Easter

[Guest LadyC]

from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6...o_tell_the.html

Resurrection Eggs #1

Cotton Ball dipped in perfume.

This item represents Mary washing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume.

John 12:3

Resurrection Eggs #2

Coins. 3 dimes would work well or play coins.

This item represents the betrayal money paid to Judas.

Matthew 26:14

Resurrection Eggs #3

Purple cloth.

This item represents the robe put on Jesus to mock him for being King of the Jews.

Matthew 27:28

Resurrection Eggs #4

Thorns. You can break them off of a rose stem.

This item represents the crown of thorns put on Jesus head.

John 19:2

Resurrection Eggs #5

A strap. A tiny piece of rope or narrow piece of leather.

This item represents the strap used to whip Jesus.

Mark 15:15

Resurrection Eggs #6

A cross. Use a cheap cross charm or make a tiny cross with 2 sticks and tie or glue them together.

This item represents what Jesus carried and later died upon,

John 19:17

Resurrection Eggs #7

Nail

This item represents Jesus being nailed to the cross.

John 19:18,37

Resurrection Eggs #8

dice

This item represents the gambling that took place to decide who would get Jesus' clothes.

John 19:24

Resurrection Eggs #9

Sponge

This item represents the water that was given to Jesus to drink.

Matthew 27:34

Resurrection Eggs #10

Spear (or tooth pick)

This item represents the spear that the soldiers used to pierce Jesus' side.

John 19:33-34

Resurrection Eggs #11

Rock

This item represents the rock that was placed in front of Jeus' tomb and rolled away by an angel.

Matthew 28:2

Resurrection Eggs #12

Empty

The emptiness represents Jesus being gone from the tomb! The resurrection.

Matthew 28:5-6

Once you make these resurrection eggs, your children will ask to hear the story over and over. They are also great to take places with you once your children have memorized the story themselves. What is more meaningful than hearing the resurrection story out of the mouth of babes?

[~pearl]

I have never done the egg hunt thing ...the weather is far too unpredictable here. We do give chocolate eggs but one thing that my children ( and the ones I used to teach ) used to love to do is make an Easter garden.

You can use a large plate but plastic trays can be bought very cheaply and are much better.

Cover the tray/plate with kitchen paper floded to about 4 thicknesses and make it very damp but not flooded. Scatter cress seeds all over the paper and allow to grow.

Make a "cave" by covering an inflated balloon with paper mache and then cutting it when it has hardened...place in the "garden" and then use a chocolate egg as the stone in front of the cave.

The rest of the garden can be decorated with marzipan boulders and sweety flowers etc .

When the children were not around I used to place something special inside the "cave" ...a little booklet about Christ, a cross on a chain, booklets or pencils with a Christian message on them whatever you can fit inside that you think they would like

It is a good way of focusing attention when you talk about the reason we celebrate Easter

This is such an awesome idea. I can't wait to do it! But what are cress seeds and where would I get them?

[Lost in Sin]

from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6...o_tell_the.html

Resurrection Eggs #1

Cotton Ball dipped in perfume.

This item represents Mary washing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume.

John 12:3

Resurrection Eggs #2

Coins. 3 dimes would work well or play coins.

This item represents the betrayal money paid to Judas.

Matthew 26:14

Resurrection Eggs #3

Purple cloth.

This item represents the robe put on Jesus to mock him for being King of the Jews.

Matthew 27:28

Resurrection Eggs #4

Thorns. You can break them off of a rose stem.

This item represents the crown of thorns put on Jesus head.

John 19:2

Resurrection Eggs #5

A strap. A tiny piece of rope or narrow piece of leather.

This item represents the strap used to whip Jesus.

Mark 15:15

Resurrection Eggs #6

A cross. Use a cheap cross charm or make a tiny cross with 2 sticks and tie or glue them together.

This item represents what Jesus carried and later died upon,

John 19:17

Resurrection Eggs #7

Nail

This item represents Jesus being nailed to the cross.

John 19:18,37

Resurrection Eggs #8

dice

This item represents the gambling that took place to decide who would get Jesus' clothes.

John 19:24

Resurrection Eggs #9

Sponge

This item represents the water that was given to Jesus to drink.

Matthew 27:34

Resurrection Eggs #10

Spear (or tooth pick)

This item represents the spear that the soldiers used to pierce Jesus' side.

John 19:33-34

Resurrection Eggs #11

Rock

This item represents the rock that was placed in front of Jeus' tomb and rolled away by an angel.

Matthew 28:2

Resurrection Eggs #12

Empty

The emptiness represents Jesus being gone from the tomb! The resurrection.

Matthew 28:5-6

Once you make these resurrection eggs, your children will ask to hear the story over and over. They are also great to take places with you once your children have memorized the story themselves. What is more meaningful than hearing the resurrection story out of the mouth of babes?

I must say this is very well designed something i would have never though of, but great none the less.

[Mamato3]

What are the ages of your children?

They are two, ten and twelve.

[Guest LadyC]

i found an instructional video on youtube also, that gives a slightly different version, using different items to represent the resurrection. if you want to use more than 12 eggs, look up the video so you can get additional ideas

[kittyjo]

Easter Story Cookies

http://easter.freerecipecollection.com/resurrection.html

(to be made the night before Easter)

1 cup whole pecans

1 teaspoon vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch of salt

1 cup sugar

zipper baggie

wooden spoon or wooden rolling pin

tape

Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait until you're done with the recipe!)

2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

3. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl, and let children smell how unpleasant it is. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Explain that eggs represent new life, and Jesus gave His life to give us life Read John 10:10-11

5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

6. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that so far the ingredients are not very appetizing, but the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died

because H loves us. He wants us to know Him, love Him, and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60

9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and TURN THE OVEN OFF!

10. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66

11. Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22

12. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9

................................................................................

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Resurrection Rolls

http://blessingsforlife.com/recipes/holida...ectionrolls.htm

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:

Crescent rolls

Melted butter

Large marshmallows

Cinnamon

Sugar

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Read Matthew 27:57-61

1. Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.

2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.

3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.

4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.) This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.

5. Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. (The oven represents the tomb - pretend like it was three days!)

6. Let the rolls cool slightly. The children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN!!!! (The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)

Now read Matthew 28:5-8

Explain: At the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw an angel, who told them not to be afraid. No one had taken Jesus' body, but He Had risen from the dead! The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples what they had seen, that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were so excited, they ran all the way home to tell the disciples the good news! He is risen from the dead! Alleluia!

After that Jesus appeared in person to Peter, then to the 12 disciples and after that, to more than 500 people. Jesus' appearance to eyewitnesses, those who saw Him with their own eyes, would give support and prove that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

By rising from the dead, Jesus proved once and for all that He was the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Chosen One, and the Lamb of God. By dying on the cross and rising from the dead, Jesus did what no other had ever done before. As both God and man, He overcame sin, death, and hell. And now because of what Jesus has done, these things no longer have any power over those who believe in Jesus and allow His Spirit to lead and direct them. Rather than being slaves to sin and death, Christians ( those who love and believe in Jesus) are free to obey God and do good ( Romans 6:17-18). The Bible says in John 8:36, "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

However, we will only obey God if we listen to the Holy Spirit our helper. He enables believers in Jesus to do the right thing. It is important that we read the Bible (God's Word) because one of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us obey God is by reminding us of what He says to us in His Word. God's Spirit will never go against his Word. In fact, when we read God's Word, we are listening to the Holy Spirit. Of course, you won't always do the right thing; the Bible says this ) 1 John 1:5-10). But that is why we need to continue to confess our sins knowing that God forgives us, based on what Jesus did on the cross. This is also a reason we need to spend time with other believers in Christ so they can encourage us in our faith.

[Guest man]

What are the ages of your children?

They are two, ten and twelve.

Why not just do an easter egg hunt for the 2 year old and take the 10 and 12 year old to a sunrise service?

Nothing wrong with keeping it simple.