Easter Ideas for the Kids

Hey there! Here are the promised Easter "recipes" from Jenn. The first is to make resurrection eggs out of plastic eggs. The second is for resurrection buns, yummy treats that bake up hollow signifying the empty tomb. Let's remind the kids that Easter is about more than chocolate for breakfast and fluffy bunnies!

Resurrection Eggs

1. Palm leaf

Mark 11:7-9  When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.  Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.  Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!”  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

2. Dimes

Matthew 26:14-16  Then one of the Twelve-the one called Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”  So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.  From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

3. Communion cup

Matthew 26:26-28  While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying “Take and eat; this is my body.”  Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

4. Praying hands

Mark 14:32-42  They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit Here while I pray.”  He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them.  “Stay here and keep watch.” 

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you.  Take this cup from me.  Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.  “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep?  Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.  When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.  They did not know what to say to him.

Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?  Enough!  The hour has come.  Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise!  Let us go!  Here comes my betrayer!”

5. Leather strip

Mark 15:15  Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.  He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

6. Crown & Purple cloth

John 19:1-5  Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.  The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head.  They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 

7. Nail

Luke 23:32-33  Two other men, both criminal, were also led out with him to be executed.  When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals-one on his right, the other on his left.

8. Black cloth

Luke 23:44-46  It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  When he had said this, he breathed his last.

9. Spear

John 19:33-34  But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.  Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

10. Linen cloth

Matthew 27:57-60  As evening approached; there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

11. Stone

Matthew 28:1-2  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

12. Empty

Matthew 28:5-8  The angel said to the women, “do not be afraid , for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples:  ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.’  How I have told you.”  So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Resurrection Buns

Frozen bread dough

Butter

24 large marshmallows

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Let the frozen dough thaw.

Melt the butter.

In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon together.

Divide dough into 24 uniform balls.  Roll each ball out until flat.  Wrap each flattened ball around a marshmallow, making sure to seal all openings.  Dip the ball in melted butter, then in the sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Place in a large, greased baking pan.  Cover and let rise until double (about 35 minutes).  Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes.