Easter Sunday Activities

11 ways to make the holiday special all day long

Sunrise Service
Plan an outdoor sunrise worship service, if weather permits. Re-create the scene outside the tomb as a backdrop, using papier mache and paint to make the stone. Ask several teens from the church to dress as the guards, the women and the angel to re-enact the scene.

Pancake Breakfast
Cook up a pancake breakfast immediately following your sunrise service or preceding your morning service, feeding your visitors free of charge and creating a welcoming, family atmosphere where new friendships can bloom over pancakes and coffee.

The Testimonial Cross
Build or buy a large wooden cross and place it at the front of the sanctuary—either lying across the platform steps or leaning against the wall. Early in your Easter service, explain its significance as a reminder that the God we serve is no longer on His cross; He is alive.

Sunday School Eggs
Plan and prepare with baskets and eggs to have an egg hunt for the children during Sunday school. Among the candy-filled eggs, prepare 12 plastic eggs that will aid teachers in telling the story of Jesus. Place each of the following items in an egg: leaf (palm branches at triumphal entry); bread crumb (bread at Last Supper); communion cup (wine at Last Supper); dimes (Judas’ silver); stem with thorns (crown of thorns); wood (cross); three nails (nails in the cross); piece of a sponge (vinegar given to Jesus); piece of red cloth (Jesus’ garment); piece of white cloth (burial garment); rock (the stone); and cotton ball (clouds at the ascension).

Forget-Me-Nots
Since your church is likely to have more visitors on this special Sunday than a usual weekend, be sure they don’t leave empty-handed. Buy plenty of books or small gifts to pass out at the door as they leave. Don’t overlook gifts for visiting children too. Give each child something small, age-appropriate and relevant to the Easter celebration.

The Worth of a Child
Never dismiss the power of a children’s musical or drama. Not only are children remarkably capable of presenting the Gospel in a compelling way, but parents, grandparents and friends who might otherwise never set foot in a church will come with cameras and flowers for a beloved child on stage.

Easter Service to Go
Organize a team from church to bring an Easter service to a convalescent hospital or local mission, complete with worship and a speaker. Consult management in advance to establish details like sound equipment and service length.

Easter Lily Delivery
Weeks before Easter, give church members the opportunity to “sponsor” an Easter lily by paying for the cost of one and signing a pre-printed Easter card for each. Purchase the lilies from a local garden center or florist the day before your Easter service, and then use them to decorate your facility. Sunday afternoon, have volunteers transport the flowers to residents at a convalescent hospital or assisted-living facility.

Baskets of Love
In the weeks leading up to Easter, invite your congregation to donate canned goods and necessary toiletries for the less fortunate in your community, then organize a team of volunteers to place the donated items in Easter baskets and promptly deliver them to the families in need.

Easter Feasts
Create a list of the necessary ingredients for several delicious Easter lunches, like ham and potatoes or roast chicken. Ask families in the congregation to sign up to buy particular items or cook the food, and then bring the meal to the church kitchen Easter morning. Volunteers can organize the food, place completed meals in baskets and deliver them to a few needy families in your community.

Concert at the Park
If weather permits, hold a family-oriented concert in a local park during the afternoon or evening on Easter. If you don’t have the resources or talent for entertainment, advertise thoroughly, charge a small fee and hire a band. Be sure to obtain the proper permits and attempt to get the blessing of the surrounding neighbors.

 
These ideas first appeared in "Your Guide to Passion Week Evangelism," Outreach magazine, March/April 2004. Post a comment below to share what your church is doing. Each issue of Outreach is designed to bring you the ideas, innovations and resources that will help you reach your community and change the world. Click here to subscribe »