Distance Can't Dull the Joy: Easter Ideas for Long-Distance Loved Ones

Posted By Pastor Kevin Rutledge 8 months ago

To infuse joy into your loved ones' Easter celebration, consider creating an "Egg Hunt in a Box." Start by decorating eggs, filling them with goodies, and adding a heartfelt note. Pack these surprises carefully into a festively adorned box. Ship this delightful package to your loved ones, and upon arrival, the excitement begins! Parents or caregivers can hide the eggs around the home or yard, enhancing the fun with clues to uncover the hidden treasures. Staying Connected Beyond the Egg Hunt: While the egg hunt is a fantastic Easter activity, there are numerous ways to stay connected with your loved ones: Egg Hunt in a Box: To infuse joy into your loved ones' Easter celebration, consider creating an "Egg Hunt in a Box." Start by decorating eggs, filling them with goodies, and adding a heartfelt note. Pack these surprises carefully into a festively adorned box. Ship this delightful package to your loved ones, and upon arrival, the excitement begins! Parents or caregivers can hide the eggs around the home or yard, enhancing the fun with clues to uncover the hidden treasures. Video Call Wishes: Schedule a video call to wish them a happy Easter. Suggested conversation topics include: Favorite Easter memories: Share your cherished Easter moments and ask them about theirs. Easter traditions: Discuss family traditions, both old and new. Show and tell: Have them share their Easter crafts or stories with you. Easter Care Package: Send a thoughtfully curated Easter-themed care package filled with treats, small gifts, and perhaps a personalized card. It's a tangible expression of love from afar. Virtual Storytime: Share the joy of Easter by reading them an Easter story over the phone. Suggested story time topics include: Easter traditions and stories: Share classic Easter tales or family stories related to the holiday. Faith-based stories: If applicable, consider sharing stories that incorporate the story of Jesus' death and resurrection so that they receive the true meaning of Easter and the hope that it brings. The following books by author Glenys Nellist are so helpful in sharing the Easter story in imaginative and bite sized ways that are perfect for virtual story time.Twas the Morning of Easter by Glenys NellistEaster Love Letters From God by Glenys Nellist No matter the physical distance, you can make this Easter a cherished memory for the special children in your life. The Egg Hunt in a Box is just one example of how creativity can bridge the miles. Remember, these moments matter, and with a little effort, you can create lasting memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. Stay in Touch Long After Easter is Done: To continue fostering a strong connection, we encourage you to explore these ideas and find what works best for you and your loved ones. Stay updated with their lives by scheduling regular calls, sending surprise messages, and embracing other creative ways to share love and laughter. Create Easter Magic Now! Add a special touch to this Easter by creating an Egg Hunt in a Box and exploring other ways to stay connected. Click below to discover more ideas and make this Easter unforgettable for the special children in your life!

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Lent: A Time For Reflection, Prayer & Fasting

Posted By Pastor Kevin Rutledge one year ago

As we enter the time of Lent, we enter a time of reflection and spiritual discipline practiced by Christians worldwide. It is the 40-day season leading up to Easter and is often marked with fasting, prayer, and self-reflection. It allows us to deepen our spiritual lives and grow our relationship with God.The season of lent originated in the early church as a time of preparation for Easter. Members were received and baptized on Easter, and those who were kicked out of the church because they refused to live by the church’s teaching were readmitted. During Lent, they fasted and prayed. They also studied and prepared for the commitment they were about to make.Now all Christians are invited to participate in the spiritual disciplines that mark the life seeking to grow more in love with Christ. These disciplines include fasting, prayer, and self-examination. John Wesley taught that these Means of Grace were available to all people and were a way through which God works to shape us to be more like Christ.The spiritual discipline most associated with Lent is fasting. Fasting, or giving up something we enjoy or value, is a way to remind ourselves that God should be our primary focus. Our ability or inability to give up that thing shows where in importance that thing is. It can also help us focus on God’s ability and desire to provide for our needs. If we cling to something so tightly that we can’t give it up, maybe we need to do just that to help us understand our dependence on God.Prayer is another Means of Grace focused on during Lent. In prayer, we deepen our communication with God and seek his Guidance and wisdom in our lives. Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life. We are encouraged to pray regularly and to make it a priority in our daily routines. When tied with fasting, when we feel the need or desire for what we have given up, we can instead enter a time of prayer, again emphasizing instead our need for God rather than our other desires.In all this, we have entered a time of self-reflection, looking at the things we value and how we spend our time. Are they in line with God’s desire for us and our desire to grow into the person God has created us to be? Are we using all the ways God has made available to us to experience His love and grow more like his Son, Jesus Christ?This year, we will be starting our Lenten practices with a joint service with Paoli United Methodist Church on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 22nd, at 7:00 pm at Berwyn UMC. This service will feature an invitation to the Lenten disciplines, an imposition of ashes to remember our mortality, and communion to remind ourselves that we enter this season to focus first on Christ and we enter this season as a part of a community gathered around His banquet table. Pastor Alice and I hope to see you at this service.Lent is a critical time for those who follow Christ to deepen their spiritual lives, grow in their relationship with God, and be more like Christ in their living through practicing spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, and self-reflection.How will you make this time Holy this year? 

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