Easter arrived a little early this year in Long County when Celebration Castle and Elim Baptist Church co-sponsored an Easter egg hunt March 31 on Elim Church Road.
According to Tina Ray, a church members who helped organize the effort, the event was provided for the AWANA program, Children’s church program, and Sunday school children from the church as well as other guests who wanted to have a good time.
“This is a good way to teach the kids, what the real meaning of Easter is about, and it is also a good outreach to hopefully have some of the visitors get in church,” Tammy Smith, Elim Church children’s coordinator, said.
The event kicked off at 11 a.m. with a puppet show for the youths entitled, “What Is Easter All About.”
Teenage puppeteers from the church put the show together, entertained the group, and informed the audience of how the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the real reason to celebrate Easter.
After the puppet show, there was an Easter egg hunt with 400 candy eggs hidden on the grounds of the castle. Children, ages 2 to 11, swarmed the area, searching and finding the candy treasures.
So the older kids wouldn't have an advantage, children were allowed to search in order of the youngest too oldest, so all would be fair. And even after the hunt, adults made sure each child had at least 10 eggs in their basket.
After the egg hunt, both the children and adults ate hot dogs, chips and cake. The kids were also given quarters from Annette Abbey, owner of Celebration Castle, so they could play games in the arcade.
The church also had a table set up where the children could help pack “care packages” to be sent to soldiers serving in Iraq. Some of the items for the troops included sunscreen, lip balm, candy and special notes and pictures from the kids.
Trish Lohsandt, who was attending the activity with her husband and daughter, Racheal, said, “I was invited to come out here, and we have been looking for a church to get Racheal more involved in. It is gorgeous out here, and we are having a good time.”
The day wrapped up with everyone cheering and clapping for Chuck and Annette Abbey in appreciation for their furnishing the facilities for the day of fun.
Annette Abbey said since this was the 150th anniversary of Elim Baptist Church, she thought it would be a good way to begin celebrating the anniversary by having the Easter egg hunt at the castle.
“I would like to see all the churches in the area get together here next year, and have a big event at Easter,” she said. “It would be a way of drawing people together and a good way to get the Lord’s message out.”
According to Tina Ray, a church members who helped organize the effort, the event was provided for the AWANA program, Children’s church program, and Sunday school children from the church as well as other guests who wanted to have a good time.
“This is a good way to teach the kids, what the real meaning of Easter is about, and it is also a good outreach to hopefully have some of the visitors get in church,” Tammy Smith, Elim Church children’s coordinator, said.
The event kicked off at 11 a.m. with a puppet show for the youths entitled, “What Is Easter All About.”
Teenage puppeteers from the church put the show together, entertained the group, and informed the audience of how the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the real reason to celebrate Easter.
After the puppet show, there was an Easter egg hunt with 400 candy eggs hidden on the grounds of the castle. Children, ages 2 to 11, swarmed the area, searching and finding the candy treasures.
So the older kids wouldn't have an advantage, children were allowed to search in order of the youngest too oldest, so all would be fair. And even after the hunt, adults made sure each child had at least 10 eggs in their basket.
After the egg hunt, both the children and adults ate hot dogs, chips and cake. The kids were also given quarters from Annette Abbey, owner of Celebration Castle, so they could play games in the arcade.
The church also had a table set up where the children could help pack “care packages” to be sent to soldiers serving in Iraq. Some of the items for the troops included sunscreen, lip balm, candy and special notes and pictures from the kids.
Trish Lohsandt, who was attending the activity with her husband and daughter, Racheal, said, “I was invited to come out here, and we have been looking for a church to get Racheal more involved in. It is gorgeous out here, and we are having a good time.”
The day wrapped up with everyone cheering and clapping for Chuck and Annette Abbey in appreciation for their furnishing the facilities for the day of fun.
Annette Abbey said since this was the 150th anniversary of Elim Baptist Church, she thought it would be a good way to begin celebrating the anniversary by having the Easter egg hunt at the castle.
“I would like to see all the churches in the area get together here next year, and have a big event at Easter,” she said. “It would be a way of drawing people together and a good way to get the Lord’s message out.”