Find an Easter Surprise, Not a Rotten Egg!

by Reba Collins

Timing and first impressions go hand in hand. For Christians, Easter is THE biggest deal of the year. So, visiting a church during the Easter season can be like meeting a blind date for a special occasion -- high expectations on both sides; a bit more “dressing up” than normal; not much explanation about all of the details. You hope to find many sweet surprises in the experience, but you have no clue if, or when, your date will start to stink as the celebration gets rolling.

So how do find your own surprise in Easter church baskets promising sweet and sugary spiritual treats? How can you best keep Easter from being a one-off experience? You don’t choose blindly.

If you’re planning to visit a church for the first time over the next two Sundays, here are a few strategies to help you avoid feeling like you’ve chosen a basket full of rotten eggs:

1.        Ask a friend or family member for information. Most “church-going” Christians find Easter to be one of the easiest times to invite friends and family to church. You may have already received an invitation. But do you accept the first one that comes your way? Nope. If you are invited, get details. Like: What is your traditional Easter service like? What, specifically, is the sermon going to be about? Who usually comes and how crowded is it? What do you do after the service? Then, let your friend know that you’ll think about it and get back with them in the next few days. Honestly, sometimes well-intentioned invitations result in rotten eggs because the invitee didn’t know what to expect because they never bothered to ask.

2.       Ask a friend or family member for a recommendation. If you’re on the opposite end and no one has invited you, ask a trusted friend, co-worker, or family member what’s going on with their church’s Easter service. I know many people don’t want to do this in fear of being overwhelmed with a pushy Christian message. But if you think about it, they have respected the pace at which you want to engage spiritually up to this point. If your friend hasn’t been pushy yet, they probably won’t see your inquiry as an invitation to open the flood gates of evangelism.  Going with a friend, or their advice, increases your chances of finding a nice surprise. 

3.       Investigate your options online. To select an Easter service that you feel good about choosing, pre-sorting your options. Whether you’re investigating an invitation, recommendation, or an unfamiliar church, check out the church’s Website. Use the evaluation tools on The Church Guide Website to help you decide if a group’s beliefs, purpose, personality, and interests might entice you after your Easter visit. Check out their pre-Easter discussions by listening to an online sermon. See if they offer ministries that intrigue beyond Sunday morning. You don’t have to be surprised, in a bad way, by what you experienced when you visit.   

The bottom line is connecting with a good church choice during Easter is the best surprise of all. With a little pre-planning and preparation, you might be able to find just that this Easter season.  

Happy hunting – I’m praying you won’t find any rotten eggs!