Easter Joy

The excitement and apprehension of the disciples on Easter day can be re-created among the children. One of the cardinal rules of most sanctuaries/churches is NO RUNNING. Imagine people running up to join the church or running up to take Communion! Begin the Easter story with Mary running to tell Simon Peter and the other disciple that the stone had been removed. Then Peter and the other disciple were running to the tomb, but the other disciple outran Peter.

Pair the children off and let them run a race from the back of the sanctuary to the front. Take all the children who lost their heats and identify them with Peter. While reminding them of the empty tomb, allow them to go somewhere special in the sanctuary, where you have placed an empty white sheet rolled up in a place by itself. Then invite the winners to join you as you continue the discussion of the empty tomb. Depending upon the size of the group and the abundance of Easter dresses, you may want to use some of the girls to play the part of Mary Magdalene, running to tell the others ( a starting gun) and the subsequent weeping.