An Unexpected Easter Children's Story

(Dialogue with children.)
“I found an Easter basket this morning.
Did you find anything special this morning? Did it look like this basket?
What do you think is in it?”
(Inside an Easter “goodie” bag are candy canes, candy hearts, and candy corn.)
“Let’s look inside.”
(Pull out candy canes.) – “What are these?
That’s not what we expected to see, is it?
When do we usually see candy canes?......
Well, that was certainly a surprise.”
“Let’s see what else I have.”
(Pull out candy hearts.) – “What are these?
That’s not what we expected to see, is it?
When do we usually get candy hearts?
Well, candy hearts were certainly a surprise.”
“I wonder what else is in here?”
(Pull out cauldron with candy corn.) – “What are theses?
That’s not what we expected to see, is it?
When do you usually eat candy corn?
That was certainly a surprise.”
“I didn’t find what I expected in my Easter Basket this morning.”

In today’s scripture story Mary and Jesus’ disciples didn’t find what they expected either. What did Mary see when she went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried?
The stone was moved away. She was surprised.
She went and got Peter and the other disciple (John) and they RAN back.
They were surprised too!
THEY DIDN’T EXPECT TO FIND THE TOMB EMPTY, BUT IT WAS.
BECAUSE JESUS WAS RISEN. JESUS WAS ALIVE!
So today we proclaim Christ is Risen and everyone answers, “He is Risen Indeed”
Let’s practice again.
Now You turn around and Say, “Christ Is Risen” and see what happens.