SmellingCoffee

My plea for help was answered by a great idea from Kristen from Over The Backyard Fence.  Here is what she shared with me, and I’m delighted to pass it on to you!

Jennifer,

I read your blog post and although I don’t have teenagers (or kids for that matter) I always host our annual Easter celebration for your family. My nieces & nephews are all old enough that last year was our last egg hunt. 🙁 However this year I am giving each family one of these crosses: It’s called The Resurrection Cross (I have attached a picture). Many Christian Bookstores carry them and they are about $10 ea (I think).  (Here is the link she sent me for the cross.)

Our Easter meal is typical, but we really focus on what the day means for us as Christians.


Anyway, perhaps these crosses can be shared and then you journey through scripture w/ your kids from the garden, to the cross, to the tomb… to the empty tomb!
 
Thank you SO much, Kristen, for sharing this with me/us! 

I’m thinking that our children are old enough this year to watch The Passion of the Christ with them.  I like the idea of watching it with a Bible handy, and stopping and discussing different parts of the movie.
 
Kristen’s Cross idea sparked another thought that is still rolling around in my mind.  I need to talk more with Jesus and James about it.  But if its something we can flesh out, I’ll share that with you next week.

In my files, I had another idea that might be enjoyed by families with older children.  We haven’t tried these yet, but I’m planning on making them next week.

Easter Cookie Story

To be made the evening before Easter, or whenever you want to give this lesson.
You will need:

1c. whole pecans

1 tsp. vinegar

3 egg whites

a pinch salt

1c. sugar

zipper baggie

wooden spoon

tape

Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300

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, that the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3.

3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. 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. Eggs represent life. Explain that 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. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know 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 teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.

10. 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.

11. 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.

I’ll continue my search…If you have other ideas, please let me know.   Thanks, friends. 

Now, on to my braggy moment:  This is Abigail and several of the 4th-6th graders who participated in our church’s Bible Drill.  Everyone did a GREAT job!  They all made it to the next competition level – which is this Sunday.  They had to learn 25 verses and references (some were long!); know how to quote the veres when given only a few begining words; know the reference for, and be able to locate 10 key passages in the Bible, and of course, locate each book of the Bible, while naming the books before and after it.

We were proud and grateful parents tonight!  What a Treasure these children are storing in their hearts and lives!

Hi friends~  Hope you’re off to a great week!  I have a question for you.

I’ve been thinking a lot about preparing for Easter, and how differently we treat this Holy Day than we treat Christmas. 

In some cases, it is more of a Holy day… less gifts and shopping and merry-making and decorating…and in other ways, it’s something we quickly acknowledge, then move on to Spring. 

I’m pondering this right now. 

We do not go to a church that observes Lent.  Every year, I tell myself that I’m going to research and participate in this special observance, and every year it sneaks up on me and I miss it.

When our children were little, we did fun activities with them like: Resurrection Eggs, Jelly Bean Bag Prayers, and dress-up-and-act-out the Easter Story.  We read story books and watched videos about Easter, and spent lots of our time at home centered around the truth of Easter.

But now that our children are older and not home as much, we don’t do the crafts and stories and songs we used to.  Somehow I don’t think acting out the Easter Story and opening Resurrection Eggs are going to cut it.  😉

I’m seriously curious.  I’ve searched for ideas online, and have come up empty.  If you have some ideas, please leave a comment and share with all of us!  (If you’ve already posted about this, please leave the link in the comment. I’d love to read what you have to say.)

In the next days, I’ll be sharing some of the things we did when our children were younger.  We still observe a few of those family Easter traditions, and I’ll share those too. 

Blessings to each of you, dear friends.  I’m so thankful for you, and I do pray that the Lord will teach each of us to make the most of and celebrate every day we are given…especially the day we rejoice in His death-defeating-sin-conquering-LIFE-giving resurrection!

Can’t wait to hear from you… Please HELP!!! 🙂