Here we go with more thoughts on Easter. As you read these thoughts, keep in mind these are just my thoughts. They are not based on scripture and they are totally debatable. I just want to share with you some ideas that have been forged in the fire of experience. So here we go with thought number 4.
Your Weekend Service at Easter Should, In Some Way, Reflect a Typical Weekend Service
The big idea here is not to make your services or weekend experience SO special and different that your visitors feel like it was a bait and switch when they come back after Easter. Again, maybe in your culture, it would be better to create a super special service experience that is nothing like the rest of the year. In my experience, it seems to work better the other way. Here’s an example:
Years ago, I did a full on “production” in the children’s service at Easter. It had everything…lights, costumes, special effects, etc. It was super cool. I was very proud of our volunteers and the end result. Well, a few weeks later a new kid walks up to me and wants to know where the actors are. He said, “when is the play thing going to start?” I told him we “just had a regular service today.” He sat down and after the service I asked him if he enjoyed being there. He said, “not really, it was boring. When are you doing the play thing again?” I said, “see you next Easter.” Just kidding, I didn’t really tell him that. But I did feel a little ridiculous explaining to this kid that we only do that one time a year. Especially after he told me he was bored (punk).
Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not saying we should keep the bar low at Easter so we don’t disappoint the rest of the year. As I said before, Easter should be special and cool. However, I’m not sure we set ourselves up for success with our visitors when we pull out all the stops for an Easter service and give them flannel graph the rest of the year (please don’t be offended that I singled out flannel graph).
The challenge is to simply give them a great service experience they can and will experience again…before Christmas.
Steve Adams has been the Children’s Pastor at Saddleback Church since 2007. He has served as Children’s Pastor for over 20 years and is a leader and mentor to many children’s ministry leaders around the country and into the world. God has blessed him with a creative mind, a true pastor’s heart and a passion for serving God and others through Children’s Ministry! Steve and his wife, Stephanie, have two sons – Tyler and Matthew.
More Than Puppets 
Thanks for sharing this. What I get from this is that we should be excellent all the time. No need to wait for special occasions to go big, go big on a regular basis. I try to do something off the wall at least once a month that will really be memorable. Of course doing it every week would be even better, but that can be kinda hard.
Matt N.
I love that idea Matt. What are some of the off the wall things you do once a month?
Well for last month we were learning about conviction, standing up for what is right even when others don’t. The series title was Rooted. I took 2 four inch PVC pipes. One pipe was plain. The other I build a stoat wooden base for. I grabbed the first one (no base) and asked they kids if they thought it would stand. I then stood it up on the stage. I talked to the kids about how easy it is to stand up when there is not any pressure to do the wrong thing, and I pushed over the pipe. Then I grabbed the one with the base and showed it to the kids. I again asked them if they thought it would stand. I pushed at it with the same pressure that I did the other one and, of course, it stood firm. Then I pushed on it with more force making it fall over. This is where it got interesting. Once I stood i back up I pulled out a power drill and screwed the wooden base to the stage floor. The kids could not believe that I had just screwed the thing directly to the stage floor. I left it standing, screwed to the floor for the rest of the lesson pushing on it every now and then as I did the lesson to emphasize the point.
Matt N.