Morning of Easter walk
Rain and gray skies didn’t stop the North Main Street Church of God from staging its T’was The Morning of Easter Story Walk on Saturday.
The walk, which ran from 1 to 4 p.m., was moved from the back gym parking lot into the gym itself at the 1201 N. Main St Ext. facility.
Inside the gym, youthful participants strolled from station to station illustrated by huge pictures from the children’s book by English author Glenys Nellist. Children could interact with story figures at some of the stations, collect treats and answer Bible questions.
Emily Hooks, organizer of the Easter walk and the director of the children’s ministry at the church, said turnout partway through the event was good despite the move indoors.
“This is the first year we’ve done it. I found the idea online,” said Hooks. “I’ve been working on it for the past two months. ”
She said there are 15 stations representing the events of Easter morning.
One station was manned by Hooks’ husband, Nathanael Hooks, who was dressed as a Roman guard at the tomb of Jesus. His wife found the costume in a church closet and spiffed it up.
“I’m to ask how many guards did it take to move the stone,” he said. Visitors to his station go through the Bible to find the answer which is “many.”
Emily Hooks said nearly 20 families had signed up to take part although the event was also open to walk-ins. There was no age limit. She said about 40 children had gone through the stations by 2 p.m.
Nathanael Hooks added “This is the first year we’ve done it. Based on the reception, we will do it again next year.”
Church member Gabriella Norman was at one of those stations portraying Mary Magdalene. She had bottles of myrrh, frankincense and sandalwood.
“These are oils they would have used back then to put on bodies” Norman said. “They come and smell the oils and tell me which ones they like the best.”
When she’s not decked out in the cape and sandals as the woman who traveled with Christ and his apostles, Norman teaches children at the church two Sundays a month.
“They asked me to do this and I said yes,” she said. “There was no practice. I helped set up. They told me what I would do and I’m doing it.”
Brandon Lenhart, senior pastor at the North Main Street Church of God, said he arrived early Saturday morning and helped set up the Easter Walk when it was moved to the gym.
The treats and snacks available when the walk was finished were fun, he said, but the walk has a deeper meaning.
“It’s really the message of Easter and why this weekend is significant,” Lenhart said.
