Kids love Easter egg hunting, but does that mean we should have one at church? This is an issue our pastoral staff has been working through over the past several years. My first year at the church, I carried forward their existing program called Easter EGGstravaganza.
Check our special page featuring Easter Ideas for Children’s Ministry.
It was a Saturday morning Easter egg hunt that doubled as a massive outreach effort. We did the works – door prizes, crafts, resurrection eggs, and more tubs of stuffed plastic eggs than I care to remember. The event took weeks of planning and a full roster of volunteers to make it happen. We mailed postcards to 500 households with children. The publicity budget for the event was close to the VBS level.
Turnout was great and everyone had a wonderful time. There was only one problem – the event did not meet its goals. No prospects from that group visited our church for Easter. None of the children were enrolled in our Wednesday nightclub program. None of the follow up efforts showed any promise. Six months later all I could show was a mailing list for future ministry events.
That was the end for EGGstravaganza. In fact, we haven’t had any Easter egg hunt since then. For me, it wasn’t a theological decision as much as a programming choice. Our resources are better directed toward events that advance the church’s disciple making mission.
What do you think about Easter egg hunts at church?
Do you see it as a helpful outreach tool? Are you concerned about detracting from the real meaning of Easter? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
Update: We’ve developed several resources to help you with Easter Egg events and keeping them Christ-centered. To begin, you can watch this video on making Resurrection Eggs. Nicole has written about hosting a “Backward Easter Egg Hunt.” Jen Rhine has developed a Gospel booklet for families to use alongside the traditional event. Or you may enjoy the alternative Easter Poem using M&M’s.
The way our Lord reacted to the merchants at the temple, will give you an idea of how Jesus would react to His church His bride having easter egg hunts. The Churches that do so are practicing adulterous idolatry. Please pray about this and He will show you how the evil one has used this as a great deception. Be hot or cold do not be lukewarm.
I don’t understand how hunting plastic eggs with candy in them is a deceptive trick that the Devil uses. It’s a fun activity that gets younger children involved in the church. If you can name one way that Easter Egg hunting can spiral into a whole church practicing Adulterous Idolatry, you let me know.
I am part of a small church. We have an egg hunt, cake walk, hot dogs and some jumpies. It’s all in fun for are kids.Before we start though are childrens pastor has everybody who shows up into the sanctuary for prayer. He gives a very brief and simple message about Christ resurrection. We’re just trying to plant a seed. For some, it’s the only message they’ll ever hear.
Easter Egg hunt has roots from ancient fertility god practice. It’s a pagan practice. Christians believers should stop the practice.
I believe that Easter is a time of reflection and spiritual growth within yourself not of Easter egg hunts. I feel that this is something that a parent needs to teach to their children. Jesus died on the cross not in vain but for a purpose and he wants us to remember him. I really believe all these traditions that Hallmark and retail stores try to make is wrong. This is why I teach my kids the truth that Christmas and Easter is about “Jesus’, God’s son not of Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.
I feel it’s wrong to have Easter egg hunting at church because it’s something the world do, and it clearly states we as Christians suppose to be not like the world, and different. How can we be different, and not of the world when we are doing the exact same thing the world is doing? What’s setting us apart from the world? Easter is a pagan holiday, and based on senseless theories. I know a lot of churches celebrate this holiday for kids, but why not have it at their home? Are we attending church services to do the will of God from his words or please people? Everything a church does they should have authority from God’s word to do, and the last time I checked there were no authority to hide eggs and do a Easter hunt…..God created the world, and us people and I am pretty sure he was well aware of all the holidays if he wanted us to make this part of the church he would have added it. So sad this has become a part of workshop service at a lot of churches when their no authority from God to do it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism
As a Children’s Leader for over 1o years, I’ve never used eggs in any manner for teaching the children about the resurrection. We only have the children for an hour or two the entire week, and I want to be sure they get the truth without the distraction of secular symbols. At Christmas, they put their gifts at the manger, not a tree. The “churched” kids know the difference. I’m also concerned that those who only go to church occasionally will get a confused message and grow into adults who mix beliefs together according to what feels good.
Since I was unaware of the history of Easter eggs, I went to my source of all information….wikipedia. :) I found the info interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg
I’m sure these same people go on and on about how cartoons aren’t real. And they probably have Christmas Trees also but say “that’s different”! I learned about the easter early on and new it was about Jesus. Jesus cracked the grave and we are going to crack open eggs full of sweet goodness. “Oh just taste and see that the Lord is good” and to the pure all things are pure.
I don’t care for Easter egg hunts as a church project either.
I am thinking about presenting a family night sometime in March. A quick brainstorm…a “March Madness” theme. Take advantage of a national event rather than a monumental Christian event. I’d like to invite a well-known bball camp leader who always has a Christian message for the kids, show the movie Pistol Pete, and have some bball activities. While whole families can attend; this would be a great father son event. (as well as community)