20 April 2025
Bible readings for today
Liturgical colour: WHITE
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CollectAlleluia!
God of new beginnings, your resurrection brought darkness into the fullness of your light; shed that light into the dark places of our lives, that we may grasp the promise of eternity and live as your resurrection people, created, redeemed and empowered through you. For you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen |
Easter Day (John 20:1-18 and Luke 24:1-12)
The aim of today is to understand that Jesus rose from the dead and brings us hope of new life in him, and that something happy and wonderful can come out of something very sad.
Input for Leaders
A beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission.
Download Terms of Use Seven Minute Sermon Podcast
Centuries of speculation have given Mary Magdalene a bad reputation. But her life actually provides a great example to follow. This 7 minute sermon podcast from Rev. George Penk is based on Luke 8.1-2 and John 20.14-17 |
Gospel Conversations 2025: Christ is Risen! We realise some of you will be watching this in order to prepare for a Sunday sermon, but if not, this is one of those weeks where we do recommend you wait until Sunday to watch it. We don't want to anticipate Easter Sunday before we go through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday: they involve their own work and meditation. But once you get to Sunday, be ready to celebrate!
Gospel Conversations 2024: (Mark 16:1-9) This is a real celebration of the resurrection, what an amazing, glorious story we are given!
Gospel Conversations 2023: (John 20:1-18) Rejoicing in the deep mystery, love and hope of Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Jesus in the garden. You won't want to miss this one! |
Easy Easter PacksHere are a few things that might be useful if you are making up Easter Packs to hand out to kids.
Intergenerational WorshipIntergenerational Services from Scripture Union
A collection of resources and ideas, written and compiled by Rev Katherine Ruhl Intergen Australia. Bible references: Luke
Or this Combined Easter collection of resources and ideas, includes Palm Sunday (as above) but also resources for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Kids Talks
Check out some other ways to share the Easter Story on the Bible Explore Good Friday page. 
Questions to think about
Celebrate with balloons!Love this idea from Carmen Kamrath from Childrens Ministry.com
Could be used in so many ways :) You’ll need: Helium balloons with ribbons attached (one for every child) and a large brown blanket or tarp Before kids arrive, place helium-filled balloons under a large “tomb” formed by a brown blanket or tarp. Gather children around the tomb and talk about how after Jesus died on the cross he was buried in a cave and the guards covered it with a large rock. Remind them that on Easter morning, his friends discovered that Jesus defeated death and is alive! Then release the blanket so the balloons float to the ceiling. Remind children that just as the balloons rose from the “tomb,” Jesus rose from the grave so we could live with him forever. As kids leave, give them a balloon to take home to remind them of the Easter message. Pray it!5 Creative Prayer Stations telling the story of Holy Week. Includes questions to think about and a script for taking a group of children around the stations. (Flame Creative).
Easter Egg Prayers (FlameCreative) - simple multisensory prayers using a hollow chocolate easter egg. |
GamesNothing like a few games for Easter fun! Try these:
SAFETY NOTE: If using eggs check for allergies. You can sub raw or hard-boiled eggs out for chocolate easter eggs, plastic easter eggs with lollies in, or ping pong balls. ActivitiesFlowering the Cross
Flowering the Cross is an old Easter tradition! It involves decorating a bare cross with flowers as a symbol of the resurrection. The activity can be shaped to fit the specific message of your service. You will need: wooden cross wrapped in netting or wire, baskets of flowers and greenery. St John's Johnsonville did this activity as part of an intergenerational service. They displayed John 3:16 in full, and instructions that said "What has been broken in your heart or in your world this year? Choose something to decorate the cross with. Ask God to transform the brokenness with his love and grace. Thread your flower onto the cross." 
Easter Outdoor Trail (Scottish Bible Society) - Various options and could easily be adapted to be a fabulous intergenerational activity.
Our Sins are Wiped Away (Children's Ministry) - object lesson about Jesus forgiving our sins.
Pebble Easter Eggs
A simple and beautiful craft, great for all ages to make, and you could use them in a treasure hunt activity too. (Sunhats & Wellieboots) 
Other creative Easter activities
Preschool FunHere are some ways you can invite your preschoolers to play their way into the bible story and spending time with God.
Share the Story: How about using a small world play tray to tell the story? Doubles as a great open-ended exploratory activity after the story. Share the Story: A simple version of resurrection eggs for little ones. (Happy Home Fairy) Hide and Seek: Check out the ideas in this lesson plan for 3-5's (Faith in Kids) Playdough: Try these Easter playdough mats from FlameCreative. Happy face, sad face: Make double sided masks out of paper plates, or blow up balloons and draw different emotion faces on them. Things to chat about: What makes you happy and sad? How did Jesus friends feel? Surprises: Play with a jack-in-the-box or a game like Buckaroo where there is an element of surprise. Talk about: What is it like to be surprised? What surprises have you had? Are they good? bad? Alive again! Play the 'sleeping giant' game with the kids. Talk about Jesus being dead and then alive again. 
More Easter Resources can be found on our Strandz Website. |
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