Easter -- A Time for Celebration
by: Gwen Hopkins

Saturday Ramblins, Vol. 2, No. 7 (April 3, 1999)

What does Easter mean to you? Just another holiday? Many celebrate the birth of our Lord but forget the meaning of Easter. Easter is a time for rebirth when Jesus was crucified and rose again to clear us all of our sins and offer us a chance of new life.

As a child in Wales, I was brought up that every Easter we all took a small gift to our Easter Sunday chapel service. One year I took some eggs and the other children laughed. You see, they weren't Easter Eggs but real ones. These small gifts were then passed to the children at the local Children's Home in Pontypridd. The pastor asked why the others had laughed at real eggs, asking if they knew what the egg represented. Many just thought it was because of Easter, a chance for chocolates.

The pastor then went on to explain the egg represented a new life, with the young chick breaking through the shell. Also the egg represented the stone that was put in front of the tomb of Christ, which was moved when he arose, giving new life.

This month instead of write up. I'd like to share with you an Easter Recipe. May the Blessings for Easter remain with you always.

Gwen

EASTER STORY COOKIES
To be made the evening before Easter
Ingredients:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 (this is important--don't wait til you're half done with the recipe)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. >28:1-9