9 minute read
But what if it rains? Last-minute considerations for Holy Week events
from The Contact 3-20-24
by okumc
Beyond the obvious - that Easter is about Jesus and not a rabbit or plastic eggs - there are many concerns about holding an Easter egg hunt that go beyond simply throwing some eggs in the grass and releasing a gaggle of sweet-toothed, pastelclad children to hunt them in a quick, momentary frenzy of candy craving.
There’s the weather, of course.
Picture it: You’ve planned your Easter event for months. The eggs are filled, the baskets are prepared. Games and volunteers are set; the lawn is mowed.
But it’s spring.
In Oklahoma.
You’ve done all you can to prepare - you might even have set a rain date. But what if it rains on that rain date? What if it rains and rains and muddies your playground, floods your church lawn, and makes it impossible to have a traditional Easter egg hunt this year?
In Oklahoma - especially in spring - this is not a farfetched possibility. In fact, it’s likely one you’ve encountered in the past.
So what do churches do when it’s raining or storming or flooding outside on Easter? Do you give up on the egg hunt? Do you toss the eggs around the sanctuary and let the kids go wild and pick them up, an air of disappointment hovering over the whole affair?
Likely, you’re searching for something that can still be fun - still give the kids that sense of Easter excitement - without having to completely reinvent the wheel.
McFarlin UMC offers super fun activities like a bubble dance party, face painting, balloon twisters, animals, and more.
“Our activities are typically hosted outside, but we’re always sure to have spaces inside that can host those activities, just in case,” explained Katie Lanier, associate director of children and family ministries at McFarlin UMC in Norman. “Sometimes it’s helpful to have classrooms or other spaces reserved and set aside, just in case.”
An indoor event can be just as fun!
When the weather threatens - or worse - respond with creativity. Different age and ability groups can be given access to the same space at different times. Rooms can be assigned to different groups based on the number and accessibility of hiding places.
If open spaces are not available or suitable for egg hunts in your building, an alternative is a scavenger hunt. Kids or family groups can move from place to place with clues or riddles. When all the clues are found, each child receives an Easter basked filled with goodies that would have been on offer at a more traditional egg hunt. This can be made more interesting by staggering the clues so everyone isn’t moving as a whole group.
“To protect against potential weather issues - too hot for candy, too cold for people, or rain! -, we host all of the [egg] hunting inside with designated age-specific areas throughout the church in an effort to keep our littlest ones safe and give them an opportunity to actually find eggs before the big kids get there,” explained Lanier.
Be inclusive.
While holidays like Easter and Halloween are super fun candyfests for most kids and their families, it can really stress others.
Consider a child with a nut allergy, or a child with diabetes. These children might have a difficult time when they continually open treats they’re not allowed to eat.
Other children might find candy that just isn’t suitable for themlike a toddler with a choking-hazard Atomic Fireball, for instance.
An innovative solution to this problem is to create a candy exchange. Parents can bring toddlers and children with dietary restrictions to a candy exchange table to hand in their candy for small prizes - the type found in many treasure boxes. Younger children can trade their hard candy for softer chocolate, cookies, or even fruit.
Last year’s Easter egg hunt at Checotah UMC had blue skies and lots of young ones excited for the hunt. Submitted photos.
After those with health concerns have had a chance to make exchanges, consider inviting others to come and choose from candy that has been handed in - or to trade in candy for something less likely to cause cavities.
“It has been valuable to our ministry to consider non-candy options in our Easter egg hunt,” said Amber Staehle, Christian education and family life director at Bartlesville First UMC. “This prevents an overwhelming amount of candy or sweets, especially for those that do not consume a lot of sugar.” She added that their children’s ministry had several children who fit the low-sugar category.
“Because this is such a wellattended community event, we make sure we have a variety of items to stuff in eggs, such as bracelets, small toys, tattoos, stickers, and stamps to name a few,” added Lanier. “We do have candy, but we are sure to have a wide variety of options so that we have a little something for everyone.”
Ceili Community in Mustang and Southern Hills UMC in Oklahoma City are partnering this year for an adaptive egg hunt.
Rev. Levi Duggan, pastor at Ceili Community, said, “It’s important to remember people of all abilities in any Easter activities.” He explained, “Some ways to do this are by ensuring egg hunts are wheelchair accessible, placing eggs at varying heights for access, considering an indoor egg hunt for increased accessibility and sensory friendliness, and offering alternative activities for those who do not prefer the noise and chaos of hunts. This could include family arts and crafts or an Easter experience with Empty Tomb Rolls.”
Beyond The Hunt
Reach out!
Is Easter an outreach opportunity for your church? Do you hope to get more families involved in your programming by luring them with Easter candy?
It’s OK to say yes to that question! Many families need an event like an Easter egg hunt to ease the anxiety of visiting a new church. But be ready to reach out.
When people are visiting your church, they should neither be ignored nor fauned over. It’s very likely that you have people whose personalities are perfect for the role of ambassador.
“An introduction and a simple conversation goes a long way,” suggested Rev. Derrek Belase, Connectional Ministry executive director at the Oklahoma conference. “Enact the ‘circle of ten’ rule, that says members should greet anyone, member or guest, who comes within ten feet of them.”
Empower members to give tours of your church facilities. Give them talking points and a list of frequently-asked questions.
Make sure your upcoming events are printed or visible online so members can invite visitors to return.
“Kick off the next sermon series and offer people a reason to come back,” advised Derrek Belase, Connectional Ministry executive director at the Oklahoma conference. “There is the temptation to take a few weeks off following Easter, but if people are there and looking to get involved, invite them to do just that. Have a new class ready to launch or maybe a new small group. Maybe it’s a ‘Next Words from Christ’ focusing on the postresurrection stories.
Another way to encourage return attendance is to focus on the next special Sunday, Mother’s Day. “This is another time when church attendance can see a spike,” added Belase. “Think intentionally about what you will do during the next six weeks to keep people engaged.”
Click here for 50 Ways to Welcome New People by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Love the prodigals
New faces are common on special holidays, but so are longlost ones. It may be tempting to point out those who have been absent for a while. Belase advises against that.
“There is no shame in coming to church,” intoned Belase. “Don’t use the announcement, greeting or welcome time as a moment to shame, but as a moment to make everyone feel like they are part of the community.
Examples of shaming include saying things like, “Good to see some of you we haven’t seen since Christmas.” While this sort of comment might feel strangely satisfying in the moment, it runs counter to Jesus’ lesson in the story of the prodigal son. Celebrate returns! Love the prodigal sons and daughters who have come home!
“Sometimes we might be flippant about those “Christmas and Easter” Christians, but it can take a lot of courage to come back,” said Rev. Dr. Sam Powers, Crossroads district superintendent. “We can be agents of God’s prevenient grace and try to welcome people in, or we can not be,” added Powers. “I think I know which one God wants us to do.”
Capture the moment
Churches like Piedmont UMC and Lindsay UMC do all-church photos on Easter Sunday to capture the whole “family.”
Others offer Easter family portraits, sometimes with the Easter Bunny.
One easy way to ensure families an opportunity to remember their Easter events is to offer a backdrop. “A balloon arch is a good, simple idea,” said Kathryn Witzel, member at New Hope UMC. She also suggests getting the church’s name into the photo backdrop in a subtle way. Even if it’s not an “advertisement” for the church itself, a reminder of the location can help remind the subjects of their church home. Another inexpensive option is a tinsel curtain, available where you buy party supplies.
Going all out is definitely an option, adding flowers, watering cans, giant Easter eggs, rocking chairs, and more.
If your church has a way to capture contact information, whether from a church raffle, a special Easter pew card, or even a guest book, Powers said it’s important to reach out.
After capturing information, be sure to follow through and reach out to visitors after the event.
Don’t forget the Easter story!
Many children know all about the Easter bunny, but how many know the Easter story? Many resources are available for churches to buy or create an Easter story time.
A captive audience indeed is one with Easter baskets, ready and listening for the starting bell.
It’s important to share the Easter story with children every chance we get. Coloring and activity books are great ways for children to remember the Easter story as they go into the spring season.
“Bartlesville First UMC will be hosting an egg hunt that takes children through God’s great creation,” explained Staehle. “As they walk on our beautiful trail and around the lake, they will not only find great rewards within their eggs, but in their scenic journey, as well.” She added that they begin the event with a reading of the Easter story and praise music, and they conclude with a family reception featuring refreshments.
