About 60,000 years ago in Africa, human beings began to engrave and decorate ostrich eggs as an ancient symbol of new life.
Some 55 millennia later, decorated eggs, and representations of those eggs made with gold and silver, were put into the graves of ancient Sumerians and Egyptians as signs of death, rebirth and kingship.
Christians continued the tradition by painting Easter eggs during the Dark and Middle ages, considering them a representation of the emergence of Jesus from the tomb and resurrection.
Today people still decorate eggs, and a popular offshoot is the Easter egg hunt for children every spring.
On a sunny yet breezy Saturday afternoon March 30, nearly 200 children and their parents gathered together at Delran United Methodist Church, 32 Conrow Road, close to the township water tower on Haines Mill Road, for its third annual Easter egg hunt.
“This is a great turnout. It has been growing each year, and this is the warmest day yet,” said Pastor Sam Park, adding that after COVID families were looking for things to do. “We thought this would be a good way to serve the community.”
Libby Hickok, the church’s education coordinator and organizer of the event, said it is open to children from six months to 13 years old.
“We use plastic eggs. Some have candy in them, and others have a small toy,” said Hickok, who praised the work of the church volunteers who helped set up everything.
At 3 p.m. four different age groups lined up in different areas of the church grounds with their bags in hand, and as soon as the start signal was given they all raced to collect their eggs full of vigor and energy. The parents were delighted to see their children smiling and having fun.
Park praised the firefighters who were making sure everything went safely.
“The members of the Delran Fire Department are wonderful. They have been with us every year,” he said, pointing out the extra effort put into the community event by Fire Chief Joseph Cunningham Sr. and Battalion Chief Joshua Stellwag.
The Easter egg hunt was originally planned for Saturday, May 23, but it poured all day.
“Fortunately, we had a rain date,” said Park, who greeted everyone as they arrived.
He said part of the church’s mission is to “reach out to others in need, beginning with our community and moving out across the entire world.”
Some of the ministries available to everyone include Basin and Towel, Small Group, Music, Quilters, Vacation Bible School, Youth Ministry and Children’s Ministry.
“We offer a style of worship that is uplifting, casual, vital, and a mix of traditional and contemporary,” Park said. “Our worship music is provided by our Praise Team at 10 a.m. The service is come as you are. The church is a place where you can gather with other people who truly do accept you as you are. There is no pressure to get involved more than you really want to.”
On March 30, the church grounds served as the gathering place for the community, especially the children who all seemed to have a great time. Park and Hickok said they were already looking forward to the Easter egg hunt next year.
