The Pensacola Jaycees

Easter Sunrise Service

Come out and join us for our 65th annual Easter Sunrise Service! 6:30am at Bayview Park (at the foot of Mallory St.)

Easter Story Cookies

To be made the evening before Easter.
You need:

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 1 teaspoon Vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe)! Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was savagely beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. Vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the vile bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white Represents –in God’s eyes — the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the harsh rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and carefully take out the cookies. Notice the pretty, cracked surface and emphasize to the children how wonderful the cookie will taste. Let them savor the anticipation of the sweetness in their mouths. When they are very excited to have a cookie and their mouths are watering, put a cookie on the counter and tap it with a spoon. The cookies are hollow! This represents all of the bitterness and sins that caused Jesus’s suffering and how they vanish once Jesus rose from the tomb. The children may be sad when
they learn that no cookies will be eaten this day, but the lesson they learn will go a long way in increasing their understanding of the sacrifice Jesus made for His people.

Read Matt. 28:1-9