EASTER

Here is the "snack" that I did for my preschool Sunday School class, this last Sunday! I filled eggs with the jelly beans!! And then printed the poem (and laminated it)for each child to take home! Jelly Bean Prayer (Jelly Bean Poem) Red is for the blood He gave. Green is for the grass He made. Yellow is for the sun so bright. Orange is for the edge of night. Black is for the sins we made. White is for the grace He gave. Purple is for His hour of sorrow. Pink is for our new tomorrow. An egg full of jellybeans, colorful and sweetIs a prayer, a promise, a loved one’s treat! Written by Charlene Dickensen 1997 I put this recipe on the back of their "Take Home Sheets", and the older kids and SWAT made them. Easter Story Cookies To be made the evening before Easter 1cup whole pecans 1tsp vinegar 3 egg whites pinch salt 1 cup sugar zipper baggie wooden spoon tape Bible Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!) 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. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. 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. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup 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 Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16. 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. 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 Matthew 27:57-60. 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 Matthew 27:65-66. 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. 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. Then we made these really SUPER COOL mobiles!

Took my camera but of course the batteries were dead...... Here is the link: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/meastermobile.html It was really fun. We learned about Jesus dieing on the cross and since that is such a sad story to have to tell I really wanted to let the kids have some good fun! This week we get to learn that Jesus is Alive! And WE are going to try to make this: He's Alive Buns Refrigerator Biscuits-1 roll (Pillsbury or similar) Large Marshmallows-1 per biscuit Melted butter Sugar & Cinnamon mixture - Use just enough to cover the buns. Wrap one biscuit around 1 marshmallow. Dip in butter and roll in cinnamon/sugar. Bake as directed on the refrigerator biscuit package. The Marshmallow will melt and the bun will be hollow inside. Note: You could use your favorite scratch bun dough instead of the refrigerator biscuits, but it's so nice, quick and easy for the kids to help with this way. Share a passage like John 20 6:7 with your children When Mary told the disciples the stone had been removed from the entrance, the disciples ran to the tomb. John was the first to arrive and look inside. Peter entered and saw the linen that had been wrapped around Jesus lying flat as if the body evaporated. The tomb was empty! (just like the He's Alive Buns are empty) So I will let you know how I did along with my 6 preschool kids!!