On Saturday, March 23, over 50 Easter egg hunters participated in our annual Bethesda Lutheran Community Easter Egg Hunt! In typical Iowa fashion, there was lovely March snow the night before the event, so volunteers hid approximately 3,000 Easter eggs inside the church! These eggs were stuffed during our Lenten soup suppers with treats donated by the Bethesda congregation. Thank you to all who volunteered and donated to make this event possible! Christina welcomed each family and helped register participants for a raffle to win gift cards from Marmalade Moon, Dog-eared Books, and No Escape Iowa.

Littles 0-5 years old collected eggs from the sanctuary. Kindergarten through second graders invaded the Splash Children's Church rooms in search of eggs. Third through fifth graders took to the Flood Youth Group rooms, where they found eggs in couch cushions, pool table pockets, and bean bag chairs. After all the treasure was gathered into baskets and bags, families gathered to enjoy crafts designed by Lori, a photo booth featuring our Bethesda Easter Bunnies, and delicious breakfast snacks.

Our annual Community Easter Egg Hunt event is a testament to the power of community involvement. Planned by the Children's Education and Youth Board (CEYB), it's an open invitation for our community to come together and enjoy some spring fun at church. If you're interested in being part of next year's event, there are various ways you can contribute. You could consider filling Easter eggs during the Lenten Soup Suppers, supporting the event planning, volunteering on the day of the event, or simply stopping by to join the party! For any queries, feel free to reach out to Pastor Jonathan Dolan or Chelsey Ray. We're excited to see the event continue to grow, bringing our community families together for fun and fellowship each spring.