Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt

Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt

There has to be an egg hunt for an Easter party! They are so much fun, why not do two hunts? One will be a hunt after dark with flashlights and the other will be inside with the lights out. A new Easter dress would also be nice, so we’ll make some out of

wrapping paper. We'll also talk about the incredible, true account of Jesus rising from the dead.

Welcome the girls Discussion questions:

What are you going to do for Easter at your house this year?

If you could be an Easter egg, any shape, color, size, etc., describe the kind of Easter egg you would be.

“Easter Confusion” game

I’m giving each of you a paper with a game on it. You have to do everything on this paper as quickly as you can. Do the things in order but start at the item that has an arrow by it. (By having an arrow drawn to a different starting point on each paper, the girls aren’t all doing the same item at the same time.)

Create a new Easter Outfit

Many people buy new, colorful outfits to wear to church Easter Sunday morning because it’s such a special day. This tradition started when ladies would only make or buy a few outfits a year, so to get a new outfit on Easter was very special. Who has already gotten a new outfit for Easter, or will get one?

In case you aren’t getting a new Easter outfit this year, we are going to make some tonight. You will need to get in teams of two. I’m giving you 20 minutes to create an Easter outfit and then one of you will model it while the other tells us about the masterpiece. (Give each group 2 rolls of colorful wrapping paper, colorful tissue paper, scissors and tape. Have a fashion show of the completed outfits. Ask the girls to give a description of their outfit. Take a picture of the group.)

Snacks Deviled eggs

Bird Nests (recipe below)

Egg Salad sandwiches cut in oval egg shapes Chips

Grapes Carrot sticks Peeps

Fruit juice

Flashlight Easter Egg hunt

Ahead of time, have someone hide plastic eggs filled with prizes outside. A large open area like a soccer field works well, or in a large yard.

(Each color egg should have the same content inside.) Give the girls a list of all the eggs/items that are to be found. Each girl can only collect one of each color/item. Optional: include 2 bonus gold eggs containing cash

Example of a list each girl is given: Find: 1 Blue egg 1 Green egg 1 Purple egg 1 Pink egg 1 Orange egg 1 Yellow egg 1 Egg with swirls 1 bag

Devotion

(If the weather is nice, have the devotion outside – spread a big blanket to sit on, have a flashlight shinning in the middle, and enjoy.)

You looked for eggs tonight. Eggs are a part of Easter because they signify new life. Did you get some fun things in your eggs? (In one color of the eggs, place the Scripture passage of the resurrection from

John 20:11-31. Type out the entire passage, not just the reference.) In the (red) egg tonight, what did you find? The account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the best prize! Without it we could not have forgiveness from our sins. Without it we will not spend eternity in heaven with Jesus.

I’m going to tell you some news stories. You listen and tell me if it is a true story or not. Did it actually happen?

A nine-year-old girl was playing outside when a whirlwind picked her up and carried her away. She was found, unhurt, in a treetop almost two miles away. Is this a true story? Yes. This happened in China in 1992. 2

Here’s another story: Is it true or not? A large whale dies on a beach. It is loaded on a semi trailer. As it is being driven away, it explodes, splattering blood and decaying guts over people, vehicles and the fronts of stores. Is this story true? Yes. (Show pictures.) This happened in Tainan City, Taiwan on January 26, 2004. The whale was being taken away to have an autopsy performed. It took three large cranes and 50 workers over 13 hours to get the dead whale onto the back of flat bed of the truck. The explosion occurred because of the buildup of gas inside the decomposing whale. 3

Here’s another story: Is this true or false? A woman sat on a toilet for two years, without getting up, until her skin had grown around the toilet seat and she was stuck to it. Is this story true? Yes. This happened in Kansas in 2008 – the

woman’s boyfriend brought her food and water every day, since she didn’t want to leave the bathroom. Finally, the boyfriend called the police saying there was something wrong with his girlfriend. The police came, pried the toilet seat off the toilet and she was taken to a hospital to get it removed. 4

So, all those stories were true. They are outrageous stories. Unbelievable stories. But they happened. What is the most unbelievable story of all time? (The resurrection of Jesus after three days.) It’s true – it happened, but many people find it hard to believe. Are you aware, that there is no debate whether Jesus Christ of Nazareth really lived? Or that He died on a cross. There are records

that prove there was a real person by that name and that He died on a cross. There are many references to Him, not just in the Bible but in the historical records of that time. The part that people debate is whether Jesus was really God, and did He really rise from the dead.

There are records from that time, both Jewish and Roman that admit to Jesus’ tomb being empty. (Two of which are Josephus, and Jewish writings called the “Toledoth Jeshu.” These sources are strong evidence because they are admitting something they personally do not believe.)

The Bible tells us that the authorities at that time told the false story that the disciples came and stole Jesus’ body away. They hid the body and just told everyone Jesus rose from the dead.

The biggest problem with that is the disciples would have lived a lie until they died, because all of them (except for Judas who was dead), boldly preached Jesus and His resurrection. Before the crucifixion, they were scared – they ran away when Christ was arrested. Peter even denied he knew Jesus. But after the

resurrection, they became bold preachers. Many were beaten and thrown in jail for preaching. All the disciples, preached Christ until the end of their lives. Do you know how each disciple died? Andrew was crucified. Bartholomew was beaten then crucified. James the son of Alphaeus was stoned to death. James the son of Zebedee was beheaded. John was exiled for his faith to the Island of Patmos

where he wrote the book of Revelation. He died of old age there but before he was exiled he was boiled in hot oil and survived. Judas, not Judas Iscariot, was stoned to death. Matthew was speared to death. Peter was crucified upside down. Philip was crucified. Simon was crucified. Thomas was speared to death, and Matthias who took Judas’ place was stoned to death.

Do you really think that all of the disciples would have died such painful deaths for a lie? Surely not. And remember, it wasn’t just the 12 disciples who were

persecuted and died terrible deaths. Many Christians were persecuted by Nero and were torn apart by lions in the arenas.

Some people, who don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead, say that the disciples went to the wrong tomb. Jesus’ body is still in the tomb. However, that seems ridiculous, because the authorities at that time would have immediately shown the people the correct tomb with a body because they didn’t want to admit that Jesus rose from the dead.

Some people say Jesus didn’t die on the cross, He fainted or was unconscious. It just looked like He died. Then after being in the cool tomb for three days He revived and “came back to life.” I don’t think there should be any question

whether Jesus was actually dead. The Bible says the Roman soldiers said He was dead. When they pierced His side with a spear, blood and water came out. That is a sure sign of death. Jesus was crucified by professional soldiers who knew how to kill, and they hated Jesus. They would not have made a mistake.

If someone does believe that Jesus wasn’t dead when they put Him in the tomb, it seems impossible that someone could survive how a body was buried in those days. They wrapped each body in many yards of cloth, and layered spices in between the layers of cloth. Traditionally they would put 100 pounds of sticky spices in between the cloth layers. These sticky spices would help with the smell of the decaying body. So for anyone who was so close to death, that they appeared to be dead, it seems impossible to have their nose and mouth covered with cloths and layered in sticky spices, then to revive three days later without medical treatment, food or water, get out of the many layers of cloth, roll the sealed stone away that would have taken several men to do, and appear to people looking alive.

Plus, He walked the road to Emmaus with the two men for a distance of about seven miles. How could an almost dead person accomplish this?

I believe Jesus truly rose from the dead as the Bible says. And the resurrection is the most unbelievably true story the world has ever seen or heard! And because Jesus rose from the dead, He is with you all the time. He’s here right now – He’s with you at school – He’s with you at home – He’s with you wherever you go. He will never leave you or forsake you.

Additional Easter Egg Hunt

When we go back into the house, there is a second Easter egg hunt waiting. It will also be done in the dark, and you will use your flashlight. This time, you can collect as many eggs/coins as you can find. There is one rule - All the eggs are in plain sight. You will not need to open any doors or drawers or move anything. Look where you are stepping, there might be some on the floor. Go!

(While the girls are out doing the first hunt, have someone hide chocolate eggs or coins in the house. Have all the lights turned off as the girls arrive. Always count the number of items before you hide them, so after the girls have found “all” they can, you know if there are any left to be found. After this hunt is finished, turn the lights on, assemble all the girls at a table and let the girls socialize till they are picked up.)

Misc. Notes

Plan this party in the evening because the outside Easter egg hunt must occur when it is completely dark. Have each girl bring a flashlight, and a basket or bag to collect eggs.

For the outside egg hunt, a large soccer field, or football field works well. With such a large flat surface, you can simply lay the eggs on the ground, reducing concern regarding snakes or other critters that can be hiding in bushes or shrubs. If such a field is unavailable, have the hunt outside in

your yard. Place cones or other markers on the corners so the girls can see the boundaries of their search area. If using a large field or grassy area, hide the eggs by section, with only one-color egg in each

section. Make sections by running an imaginary line down the middle of your hiding area, and imaginary lines going the opposite way for how many different colored eggs you have. In each section only put one color of egg. This way, the girls have to search the entire area to find all their eggs.

Due to the amount of sugar that most kids consume, I encourage you to find mostly non-candy items for the hunts. Look at Oriental Trading Company and your party store for things like Easter charms, pens, jewelry, nail stickers, etc. Look for items little in size that can be placed in plastic eggs. Or place bigger items in a colored bag.

On the inside hunt, you can substitute coins instead of

chocolate eggs – hide pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. Plastic purple eggs are quite difficult to find in the dark. If you use them, put the least valuable item in them.

Be specific on the flashlight size – not a big lantern like flashlight, but not a small one that barely shines. Have an extra flashlight or two available for girls who forget to bring one, or in case a flashlight goes dead before the event is over. Optional: Give each girl a glow in the dark necklace or bracelet before the hunts begin for extra fun.

Bird’s Nest Recipe

1-pound pkg chocolate almond bark ½ cup smooth peanut butter

1-12 oz bag chow mien noodles Candy coated chocolate eggs

Melt the chocolate almond bark in the

microwave according to package directions. Add the peanut butter about halfway through the melting time. Break the chow mien noodles into pieces no bigger than 1 inch. Add noodles into the melted chocolate/peanut butter mixture. Stir. Drop by spoonfuls into muffin tins. Shape into a bird’s nest, with a depression in the middle of each. Add 3 chocolate eggs to each nest. Refrigerate until set.

Decorations

Since much of this event will be outside or in the dark, very little decorations are needed. Set a nice Easter table with an Easter tablecloth, Easter paper plates, and an egg centerpiece. A fun way to display silverware is using green plastic ware wrapped in orange napkins to look like carrots.

Invitation

It’s a Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt! Bring a regular size flashlight, not a large, extra bright one. Also bring an Easter basket or bag to collect your eggs in. We will go hunt eggs after it gets dark. Come prepared for fun!

Date: Location: Time: $:

Easter Confusion

Do everything as fast as you can. When you’re done, shout, “Happy Easter everyone!”

Yell, “I can quake like a duck and hop like a bunny.” Then do both 10

times.

Spell EASTER by contorting your body to shape each letter.

Run around the room 10 times, yelling the name of your favorite rabbit.

Using a plastic egg, show someone how to crack, peel and eat it. (You

must use sound effects)

While looking at a clock, quack like a duck and flap your arms for 20

seconds.

While pinching your nose, recite your first, middle

and last name 10 times.

Pretend you are the Easter Bunny. Hop around the

room on one foot and give a pretend egg to every

girl.

Additional Easter Egg History

Do you know how the tradition of hiding Easter eggs started? If started long ago in Germany. A mother, who was very poor, dyed some eggs as gifts for her children. It was during a famine, and there was very little food, so the eggs were a precious gift. She dyed them to make them extra special. Then she made a little nest in the yard as a hiding place and put the eggs inside. The next morning – which was Easter – she told the children to go look outside for a special surprise, and when the children got close to the nest, a little rabbit jumped out of it and hopped away. The idea that a bunny had laid the eggs was so funny, they told it to everyone, and the idea of an Easter Bunny started.