St Mary’s, Rushden had wanted to find a way to highlight and share the Easter story with local schools for some time, and after learning about ‘Experience Easter’ during the Simply Easter Training and seeing it set up at another church, they decided to give it a go themselves.
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Six story stations were placed around St Mary’s, each covering a different part of the Easter story. Children from local primary schools were able to book on to the experience, which lasted for approximately one hour. The children worked their way around the activity stations starting with the story of Palm Sunday where they had a go at palm leaf rubbing, and concluding with the resurrection where they had a go at empty tomb biscut decorating. There were plenty of other craft activities and worksheets to complete along the way and of course, the opportunity for questions.
On the Saturday, the experience was open to families and, in additional to the story stations and crafts, there were songs, games and finally an easter egg hunt with refreshments.
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The main objectives of running Experience Easter were to build relationships with local schools and share the Easter story with children, teachers, and local families, and this was most definitely achieved. Helen Smedley, Children and Youth worker at St Mary’s said ‘We shared the good news of Jesus with 360 children plus teachers and parents over the week and a bit we had it running, which is so incredibly exciting. Not to mention we all had the best fun getting to know everyone and sharing in the joy of Easter!’
Aimed at a slightly older age group Bishop Stopford School held 'Easter Unlocked' over three days during the run-up to Easter, exploring the question, 'Who unlocked the tomb?'
Children aged 10 to 14 worked through a variety of interactive zones with support given by volunteers from local churches. Starting in the ‘cinema zone’ the children watched a Bible Project film on Luke 24 then had to work out an anagram to enable them to move on to the ‘activity zone’. Here they worked their way round 5 activity stations with each station asking a question with interactive elements. The Voice Of The Crowd station was based on the game, 'would you rather?' Starting with fun questions it concluded with the big question of 'would you rather have saved Jesus or Barabbas?' The Me God Wants Me To Be station asked: 'How do you see yourself?': 'How do you think God sees you?': 'How can I unlock my potential?' The children were invited to write letters to themselves answering these questions and took them home with a plan to keep them and open them in the future. After working through the 5 activity stations, the children moved through to the 'contemplation zone' and looked at paintings of the Last Supper whilst considering the question ‘Where are you sitting at the table?’
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Easter Unlocked was planned by Victoria Hutchinson, Lay Chaplain and Ordinand, Jessica Cotton and they were delighted with how the students engaged with the experience and how it allowed for wonderful interactions between students and members of local congregations. Helen said ‘We saw 660 students over three days. Each session was supported by around four sixth formers and three outside helpers from various churches including St Peter and St Pauls, Christ the King, Hope Church, St Botolph’s and St Mary’s Burton Latimer. These interactions, conversations and moments were the significant part of the event and without this input, the event would have had a very different feel.’
What wonderful ways for children to be able to reflect on the story of Easter and consider what it means to them. If you are feeling inspired to run similar events or reach out to young people in your community get in touch with Charlotte Nobbs, Children’s Mission Enabler at charlotte.nobbs@peterborough-diocese.org.uk.