Communicating Easter to Families

“Easter and Christmas… the 2 major points of the Christian Calendar.”

Rev Jock Dunbar is the Minister of the St Marks Uniting Church, a small church in suburban Brisbane. Jock has witnessed first-hand the way his community connected to a friendly family based event in the form of Christmas Carols in the church grounds for the past few years and was inspired to try to connect with the same people or others at the other major point of the Christian calendar – the remembrance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus - Easter.

Families have different priorities to other people so engaging them takes activities that kids love like hunting for chocolate eggs, craft and even a Donkey!  Two Sundays before Easter, the St Marks congregation ran their very first Easter Family Fun Day. Kids and their parents engaged in the Easter message at every turn during the event, but never in a forceful or intimidating way. 

 

The message was clear in the craft, the music and of course in the story telling. Kids had a great time getting messy, being creative and even getting to ride a real life donkey.

St Marks volunteers chatted over sausages and hot cross buns, helped spread glue and paint on to cardboard and assisted small hands in moulding shapes to communicate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 



This congregation is making the effort to show the community they care and want to be in relationship with them, but most of all are willing to not just talk about the real meaning of Easter but demonstrate it as well.  

Rev Jock Dunbar reads Dave the Donkey as part of the fun day activities.