A hot cross bun, an Easter egg and a taste of God’s love

‘I know that church!’ said an excited student at East Torrens Primary School as volunteers handed out hot cross buns and Easter eggs.

Members of Glynde Zion Lutheran Church in South Australia had a wonderful time last week preparing and sharing toasted hot cross buns and chocolate Easter eggs with more than 400 students and teachers at the local public school in Hectorville. The school’s pastoral care worker, Anna, coordinated the visit, along with support from the school’s wellbeing coordinator and principal.

Over many years, our congregation has developed a strong connection with the school. Last year, we had the opportunity to give pens and notepads with the Glynde Lutheran Church contact details on them to the graduating Year 6 students.

We were looking for ways our church could connect with and support the students and staff, and Anna offered us the opportunity to serve them at Easter. I wondered how they might know about us as a church, and that Easter is about Jesus Christ. I offered to hand out little coloured plastic crosses, but in the end, we settled for hot cross buns and Easter eggs. And this probably made a bigger impact.

Our congregation supplied the buns and chocolate eggs for recess one day last week, and the students received their Easter gifts with much excitement. This was very evident by the joy expressed on their faces.

As a congregation, we know that more than half of the students at East Torrens Primary School speak English as a second language (if at all), and many come from disadvantaged families. So, for the members of Glynde, it was an easy way to give the children a little bit of joy through a hot cross bun and a chocolate Easter egg – and by our service, we left a positive impression on the school community.

Anna later shared that for the students, receiving these gifts was ‘a real treat and made their day – and hopefully their Easter’. It also gave us great joy to see the young people so enthusiastic.

As we handed out these simple symbols of Easter joy, many students were curious, asking who we were and why we were doing it – a great opportunity to share the good news. One little girl shouted, ‘I know that church! Do you know my dad? His name is Lee.’

We didn’t know Lee, but now she knows a little bit more about ‘that church’.

Richard Fox is the pastor at Glynde Zion Lutheran Church in South Australia.

How are you sharing the good news of Jesus in your local community this Easter? We would love to hear what you are doing so we can encourage others as we partner together in God’s mission. Email lca.comms@lca.org.au