Preparing for Easter (Part 1)

Preparing for Easter (Part 1): Keeping the Season Focused on Jesus
by Sherri Bergmann

We all know how fast Easter sneaks up on us. Here are a few practical ideas of things we can do during the Easter season so we don’t lose sight of its true meaning in the midst of our busy lives. It takes intentionality to build the Easter season around Jesus, so I encourage you to pick 1 or 2 things, whether it’s from this list or something you think of on your own, to immerse yourself and your family in the season’s true meaning. Let’s remember the real meaning of Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday.

1. Color those eggs!

You don’t have to be an artist. Stick figures are perfect for drawing on an egg! Illustrate a part of the story of Easter on each egg, you choose how many you want to do.

Examples:
• Egg #1 – a palm leaf for Palm Sunday
• Egg #2 – Jesus praying in the garden (you can draw pretty flowers around him)
• Egg #3 – draw 3 crosses on a hill (Calvary)
• Egg #4 – the empty tomb with Jesus alive in bright light above
• Egg #5 – Jesus in you now (a big heart in you).

You can pick other of favorite parts from the Easter story! For King Jesus, you can draw a crown on his head.

2. Think about the acronym E.A.S.T.E.R:*

E – Everlasting Life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

A – Assurance.
“Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19)

S – Salvation.
“You shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

T – The Gift.
“The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

E – Enemies.
“…when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” (Romans 5:10)

R – Resurrection.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25,26)

3. Pick up a free He is Risen bookmark from the church library!

They will be available by Easter.

4. READ YOUR BIBLE // Participate in the Foothills Dive Deeper Reading Plan

In this plan, we look at all the Gospels to study the entire Easter story. This plan began last week (3/21/22), BUT it is a 4-week plan, which means it’s not a lot of reading each day. So it’s not too late to join and catch up. Access the printable plan at the button below, and keep an eye out for the Dive Deeper Blog on Friday of each week that correlates with that weeks reading. And hey, grab that bookmark from the library and use to bookmark the Gospels in your Bible!

5. Include a scripture verse relating to Easter inside the plastic eggs with the candy.

6. Add decoration elements that relate to the real meaning of Easter at your dinner table.

Example: This stunning table runner displaying Calvary crafted by Linda Chandler, one of our many talented members of Foothills Church’s Dorcas Quilters

7. Tape a scripture under dinner table chairs relating to Easter and have each person read one before eating.

8. Sing, or listen to, songs about His resurrection (there are many!), but here are a half dozen popular favorites (click the song titles to read lyrics):

9. Follow us on Social Media @foothillscp, where we will be posting Easter content that you can engage with and share!