New Life at Easter

Here is a lesson for Easter!

“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6

Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
It is Easter! It is Easter! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.

Sharing
Ask: In God’s world of plants and animals, have you ever seen any signs of new life this spring? (Trees are getting new leaves, etc.)

Listening
Ask the children to join in the story by saying “New Life!” every time you point at them.

Say: After Jesus dies, he was laid into a small room cut into a rock wall. This room was called a “tomb.” A large rock was rolled over the opening of the tomb, just like a door. Jesus’ tomb was in a garden.

Springtime had come to the garden. Signs of the season were everywhere. Baby birds were hatching in their nests. (Point) Bright green leaves were starting to grow on tree branches. (Point) Baby rabbits hopped behind their mother. (Point) Flower blossoms of yellow, pink, and orange opened under the warm sun. (Point) Seeds pushed up through the ground. (Point) Honeybees hatched and flew outside the beehive for the first time. (Point) And tadpoles swam in the water trough. (Point)

Night fell and the garden was dark, until an angel came shining bright as lightening. The angel rolled away the stone, and God game Jesus new life. (Point) Jesus stood and walked out of the tomb and into the garden full of (Point) light.

As the sun came up, the people who loved Jesus went to the garden to visit his grave. They were surprised to see that the stone was rolled away from the tomb and even more amazed when the angel told them that Jesus was raised from the dead. As the people turned to leave, they met Jesus! God had given him (Point)!

Exploring
There will be plastic eggs hidden around the room with chick stickers inside.

Say: Since eggs and chicks are a symbol of new life, let’s play some games using eggs that children have played for hundreds of years!

Egg Hunt: Invite the children to find one egg each from around the room. If the eggs are opened ask the children to put the sticker back inside of the egg until the end of the games.

Egg Balance: Have children form a circle. Give each child a spoon and an egg. Have them try to carry their eggs on their spoons as everyone asks around in a circle.

When the games are finished, they can put their stickers on their eggs.

Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!

If there is extra time have the children imitate sounds of new life.
Babies (waa waa)
Chicks (cheep cheep)
Duckling (quack quack)
Lamb (baa baa)
Donkey Colt (hee-haw)
Puppy (yip yip)
Kitten (mew mew)
Piglet (oink oink)
Goat Kid (naa naa)

If you would like you could also ask the children to invent some sounds of new life, like what it sounds like for a seed to grow, tree leaves to unfold, or grass growing.