Easter Festivities
One of the areas that I have coordinated this past year is all-church special events. This past Easter, we created an event where families could have an enjoyable experience, hear the Easter message, and hang out afterwards. It was an invitational event so that people could invite their friends and neighbors.Here are some of the features of this special day.Our worship was a Worship Together Weekend, which meant that high schoolers joined our worship team. It was so great seeing their energy worshiping the Lord!
There was also a sunrise service in a large tent outside.
Outside, we had many activities going on. We only have asphalt in front, but we made the best of it.
For one thing, asphalt is a perfect place to have a train, so we did this for the first time. The kids (and adults) loved it.
In the tent after the sunrise service, we turned around the space and served a delicious (and free!) Easter breakfast. We are blessed to know a calligrapher. Hannah created this amazing sign for us.
Her calligraphic touches added so much to the event!
Our decor team did an amazing job. They created a cross photo opp. Unexpectedly, people started using both sides of the cross to take pictures, so it did double duty!
Another fun photo opp was Easter egg cutouts.
We got astroturf and put hay bales around the edges to create an Easter egg hunt for kids.
There was a lot of chaos as kids ran around gathering eggs!
Kids could also get balloons. Megan helped pass them out.
Baptisms are a big thing at Saddleback. We set up a baptismal tank another group had made but it sprung a leak. It took a large group of guys to move it out of the parking lot!
Our volunteer coordinator, Krista Arce, did an amazing job putting details together. Here's a list of all that we did:SATURDAY
- 5PM: Service and children’s program
- Easter egg hunt
- Mini Train
- Balloons for kids
- Cotton candy
- Baptisms
- Photo Opps
- Saturday night menu
- Turkey Meatballs ½ oz
- Mini Cocktail Weiners
- BBQ Sauce
- Carrot Sticks
- Celery Sticks
- Ranch Dressing
- Assorted Gluten Free Crackers
- Assorted Pre-Cut Cheese Squares
- Easter Sugar Cookies
- Ice Cream – individual cups in the freezer
SUNDAY
- 7 AM: Outdoor sunrise service
- Balloons for kids
- Photo Opps
- 9 & 11 AM: Children’s program
- Easter egg hunt
- Mini Train
- Balloons for kids
- Baptisms
- Photo Opps
- Sunday morning menu
- Pancakes
- Assorted Toppings
- Sausage
- Assorted Pastries
- Yogurt
- Fruit Cocktail
- Assorted Toppings
- Chocolate Fountain
- Assorted Dipping Items
- Flavored Waters
- Easter Sunday 11:00AM service
- Same as above plus any leftovers from the Saturday night service.
After four services, our family did our post-event tradition — going out to eat! Our family serves at all event services, so it's a great way for us to celebrate. Not to mention, Easter is the greatest day to celebrate in the first place, because Christ is risen!
