Keep Easter Activities Focused and Safe
Holy Week and Easter schedules are full of worship services and community events. To avoid Easter controversies while engaging neighbors, stand firm in Christian truth and protect all participants.
Easter egg hunts are a beloved spring tradition for families and kids. While celebrating the joy of new life, remember to plan well. Some parents might request treats that are allergen-free. Other families might request accommodations for children who have special needs.
In some areas, cultural and legal debates have accompanied egg hunts. City officials in Easton, Pennsylvania, temporarily removed the word “Easter” from egg hunt promotions in 2022 after receiving complaints about church-state separation. The move sparked backlash, as well as debate about faith expression in public spaces.
Safety is paramount at any Easter outreach event. Recruit plenty of volunteers for holiday carnivals or festivals. For bigger gatherings, use a security team or hire off-duty law enforcement officers.
At a 2025 Easter egg hunt hosted by a congregation in Gulfport, Mississippi, gunfire erupted during a child-custody dispute. Deacon Eddie Shed, the church’s head of security, was shot and killed while shielding children and others from harm. The tragic incident is a reminder about the real, sometimes unpredictable risks of church events that are open to the public.
Easter outreach activities can be safe, welcoming, and faithful to your mission. Without compromising your doctrine or insulting your neighbors, publicize egg hunts as joyful celebrations that point to Christ’s resurrection.
When partnering with public entities or using municipal spaces, understand how to comply with guidelines without compromising your beliefs. For example, offer worship components that are clearly voluntary. So everyone can enjoy events safely, conduct risk assessments and partner with trained volunteers and local law enforcement.
Doctrinal Fuzziness and Culture Wars at Easter
While trying to be welcoming, some pastors water down the Easter message. In sermons, they might refer to the resurrection yet minimize sin, the cross, and repentance. Other ministers turn Jesus into more of an inspirational figure than our crucified and risen Lord.
Yes, it’s important that Easter guests not feel unworthy and judged. But don’t go overboard with making the gospel feel vague and comfortable. The resurrection doesn’t make sense without the cross, and the crucifixion doesn’t make sense without sin. Unless people understand what Jesus has saved us from, they won’t grasp how amazing his grace truly is.
In an Easter sermon, explain why Jesus had to die and what he accomplished when he arose. Add life-application points for adults and children, explaining how Easter changes our lives today. Otherwise, visitors might leave the sanctuary feeling inspired but not transformed.
Also use care with online Easter communications. Facebook and Instagram posts often reach far more people than a Sunday sermon. That makes social media a powerful tool but also a potential landmine.
Several years ago, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) faced accusations of heresy for posting, “The meaning of Easter is more transcendent than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whether you are a Christian or not, through a commitment to helping others we are able to save ourselves.”
Warnock, senior pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, later deleted the tweet. But before he did so, a culture-war debate ensued.
Easter messaging can quickly become entangled in ideological battles. Yes, churches and Christians should engage with culture. But Easter is a tricky time to be provocative or to get political. It should be the clearest, most loving invitation of the year—not a litmus test for nonreligious beliefs.
Before posting or printing anything, ask if the words will help people grow closer to Jesus. Consider whether the message might become controversial and overshadow the holy occasion.
Also consider optics. Remember that the resurrection is good news for people across the political spectrum. At Easter, center your allegiance on Christ alone. That way, you won’t risk alienating visitors who distrust religious institutions. And you won’t undermine the church’s witness by reducing the gospel to a voting bloc.
