Category Archives: Easter Sunday

Easter or Resurrection Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Easter C

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Day: Easter C

Lectionary Passage: Luke 24:1-12

Scripture Focus: Luke 24:6

Object: Basket with several plastic eggs, jelly beans, and a rubber band

Preparation: Fill the basket with several plastic eggs with jelly beans inside, you may want to have enough for each child to take one home. Place one empty plastic egg in the basket – be sure you can easily identify this egg. Fill a small plastic egg with jelly beans and attach it to a rubber band. It is very important that this egg fit up your sleeve and is fully concealed. The key to the trick is simple: when you shake the empty egg with one hand, it will sound like it’s full of jelly beans because you have the egg up your sleeve. But when you shake it with the other hand, it will not make any sound, which allows you to reveal the empty egg.

Good morning everyone! Well, as you can see I’ve got a basket full of Easter eggs. I love Easter eggs, especially the surprise inside. (Pick up an egg with jelly beans inside and shake it) It sounds like this one is full of jelly beans. (Open the egg to reveal the jelly beans to everyone before putting it aside). 

(Pick up your empty egg) Of course, Easter isn’t really about eggs and and jelly beans (shake with the appropriate hand to make the jelly beans rattle). It’s about Jesus. It’s about the amazing truth that God became human just like me and you in order to save us (rattle the egg). On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross and was buried in a tomb (rattle the egg). Some people probably thought that was the end of the story, but it wasn’t. (Transfer the egg to your other hand) On Easter morning, some of Jesus’ friends went to the tomb and discovered (shake the empty egg) it was empty. The stone was rolled away and Jesus was not there (open the empty egg). 

Jesus wasn’t there because God had raised him from the dead! On Easter we celebrate God’s amazing power and love. The empty tomb proves God wins!

Let’s pray together: Thank you God for sending Jesus Christ to love us. We are so glad the tomb was empty on Easter because that means your love wins! Amen.

Easter B

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Day: Easter B

Lectionary Passage: Mark 16:1-8

Scripture Focus: Mark 16:5-7

Object: Real Easter Eggs (if you’re feeling less ambitious, plastic eggs will work)

Preparation: For this lesson, you will need to hallow egg shells and then fill the shells with strips of paper. To hallow eggs: (1) piercing a hole in each end of the egg, (2) reach through one hole with a needle to gently break up the yolk, (3) blowing air into one hole to force the egg contents to flow out the other end, (4) run cold water into the intact eggshell to clean, and finally (5) dry the shells in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Once the eggs are ready, cover one hole using white tissue paper and a clear glue stick. Then, write phrases such as “Jesus loves you” and “Jesus died for you” and “Jesus lives” on 1/4-inch strips of paper and gently slide the rolled paper strips through the second hole. Finally, cover the second hole.

You know what, There are a lot of things that remind us of Easter.  There are flowers, chocolate bunnies, and pretty baskets. And there are eggs! Just like this one (hold up the egg for the kids to see). But, this isn’t an ordinary egg. This is a REAL (emphasize the word) Easter Egg. Let me show you why: (smash the egg in your hands or on the altar rail)

I bet you were expecting something else! But, this is a Real Easter Egg and inside are special messages about Easter (read the messages).

You see, Easter isn’t really about bunnies and baskets. It’s about Jesus. On Easter, the disciples went to the tomb and discovered that Jesus was alive! Jesus died a few days earlier but because God is more powerful than any of the bad stuff in the world, God raised Jesus from the dead. That’s the real message of Easter. As followers of Jesus, we need to remember to share the real message of Easter: Jesus is alive! And that’s very good news.

Let’s pray: God, we are so excited to celebrate that Jesus is alive! It proves that you are greater than any of the bad stuff in the world. Help us to always remember that Easter is about Jesus.

Easter Sunday A

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Day: Easter Sunday

Lectionary Passage: John 20:1-18

Scripture Focus: John 20:1-10

Object: Cascarone and a raw egg

Preparation: This lesson takes more prep time than most, but it’s worth it! You will need two eggs per worship service and two to practice with and a bowl. You need to make a cascarone, which is a hollow egg filled with confetti. First, you “blow out” raw eggs. This is done by (1) piercing a hole in each end of the egg, (2) reach through one hole with a needle to gently break up the yolk, (3) blow air into one hole to force the egg contents to flow out the other end, (4) run cold water into the intact eggshell to clean, and finally (5) dry the shells in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Next, cover one hole using white tissue paper and a clear glue stick, gently pour confetti into the shell; then,  cover the second hole.

Special Thanks: I owe a special thanks to a wonderful children’s pastor in Little Rock who taught me how to make cascarones. Thank you Pam!

Today is Easter! It’s when we remember that Jesus is alive! But, you know, that whole thing came as a big surprise, even to Jesus’ closest friends. No one expected Jesus to live again.

It’s like this egg (show the raw egg). When I crack it (crack it in to the bowl) it’s full of yucky slimy stuff. It’s what we expect to find in an egg.

But what if I told you this egg here was different (show the confetti filled egg–be careful to hide the holes!). What if I told you it didn’t have that yucky slimy stuff inside? Would you believe me?

….Well, let’s find out! (quickly, crack the egg over the children or perhaps the senior pastor!) See, I was telling the truth. But it’s not what you expected.

The same thing happened to the disciples. Everyone was totally surprised that Jesus was alive. That had never happened before. It was totally unexpected. But, it was a wonderful surprise!

Jesus is alive! And on Easter we celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead and lives again. And that’s a pretty awesome thing.

Let’s pray: God thank you for sending Jesus who was willing to die for all the bad stuff we have done. But what an amazing thing that he lives again!!! Help us to remember that the real reason for Easter is to celebrate that Jesus is alive. Amen.