Bible base:
John 11:25,26
Aim:
To help students learn more about the meaning of Easter.
Things you’ll need:
- Three Cadbury’s Creme Eggs (or similar)
- An advert for Cadbury’s Creme Eggs (or similar)
- A stopwatch
- Mini chocolate eggs – enough for one for everyone in the assembly (optional, depending on school and your finances!)
Preparation
Find out, if possible, the current ‘world-record’ for time taken to eat a Cadbury’s Creme Egg, or have a suitable other ‘record’ ready (eg from other schools, youth groups etc visited).
Presentation
1 Ask the students some questions about Easter eggs, for example:
- Who likes chocolate?
- How many Easter eggs did you get last year?
2 Show an advert for Creme eggs. Show them a Cadbury’s Creme Egg – hinting that someone in this assembly might get the egg!
3 Tell them the ‘record’ time taken to eat a Creme Egg. Ask if anyone thinks they could beat that.
4 Ask for two volunteers (who like Creme Eggs!). Give them both a Creme Egg and challenge them to see who can eat their egg in the shortest time. Will either of them beat the record?
Use a stop-watch for timing. Make sure that both competitors start at the same time, on your ‘Go!’. Encourage support for both (making sure that both volunteers have support!). You could ask half the audience to support one competitor, and one part the other one. Build up the atmosphere by commentating as the contest develops.
Cheer the winner. Announce the times. Is there a new record? Award the winner another egg as their prize.
Reflection
- Comment that it’s great getting – and eating – Easter eggs at Easter, but what’s the point of them? Ask the students to suggest some answers.
- Respond to answers given by students. These might include:
- New life
- Baby chicks being born
- Spring/new life beginning
- Jesus coming back to life.
3 Talk briefly about the answers you receive, making sure that the above are included. Then go on to explain that Christians believe Jesus’ death and resurrection – his coming back to life – mean that forgiveness, new life and the chance to start again are possible for everyone.
Response
1 In a time of quiet, ask students to think about:
- What does Easter mean to me?
- Are there any ways in which I need to make a new start?
2 Pray, if appropriate, then wish everyone ‘Happy Easter’!
Optional extra: Tell students that you’re going to give them each a mini-Easter egg as they leave. As they eat it, ask them to think about anything they need forgiveness for, or ways in which they need to make a fresh start. Say that they could even ask God to help them with that. (Make sure you encourage them to put the wrapping in a rubbish bin!)
