While the Spring weather here in Utah is a bit bi-polar; sunny one day, snowing the next, you might be able to squeeze in an Easter tea between egg hunts and snowball fights.
To me the real meaning of Easter is remembering and thanking Jesus Christ for his Atonement which places us back in line with God’s love and grace and hopes for our futures. I wrote this analogy to help explain why we need a Savior and how much His love means to me.
http://www.pammcmurtry.com/search?q=The+Miraculous+Atonement+of+Jesus+Christ%3A+The+First+Easter+
All you need are a dozen plastic eggs and a few items to tuck inside. Number the end of the eggs 1 -12 with a permanent marker. Print the following text, cut into strips and place inside the corresponding numbered eggs by highlighting them, pressing control and “p” on a p.c. (choose “selection”) , or command and “p” on a mac. The objects inside the eggs are:
1. a small cup (check craft stores for a small unfinished wood thimble)
2. 3 dimes
3. 2 – 3″ of twine
4. a chunk of soap
5. A tiny red robe shape cut out of felt
6. wooden or heavy paper cross
7. dice
8. 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ square of white fabric, torn almost in half
9. a 1 1/2″ x 11/2″ square of white fabric
10. a small rock
11. a few whole cloves and a bay leaf
12. This egg will remain empty
Tell the story about the sacrament of the Last Supper and Christ’s night in Gethsemane, how he paid the price for all of mankind’s sins if they repented and that they might be able to return to heaven and live with the Father . The following scripture verses are taken from the New Testament in the Holy Bible.
1. “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.” (Luke 22:42 – 43)
2. Zechariah, a prophet of the Old Testament foretold that Christ would be ransomed or betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for
thirtypieces of silver. ” (Matthew 26: 14 – 15)3. “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to
Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27: 1 -2)4. “When Pilate saw that he
could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. (Matthew 27: 24)5. “And they stripped him, and put on him a
scarlet robe. And when they hadplaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.” (Matthew 27: 28 – 30)6. “And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” (Matthew 27: 31 – 32.)
7. “And they
crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” (Matthew 27: 35)8. “Jesus, when he had cried again with
a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27: 50, 51, 54)9. “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named
Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth” (Matthew 27; 58 – 60)10. “And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great
stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (Matthew 27: 60, 65, 66)11. “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for
the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow…Andthe angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. (Mark 16: 1, Matthew 28: 2 – 5)12. “He is not here: for he is
risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead” Matthew 28: 6 – 7)
Glazed ham – we like Costco’s red foil-wrapped cooked ham
Green salad with dried cranberries, feta, sugared pecans and Girard’s light campagne dressing
Au gratin potatoes, this year we are trying a variation with
jalapenos, mmm.
Roasted asparagus
Green bean and onion ring casserole
Coconut pineapple ambrosia
Bunny buns (rabbit-shaped croissants)
Light carrot cake with pecans and cream cheese frosting
From the McMurtrys’ home to yours, have a blessed and happy Easter!
