This is the Mystery of Easter

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One of my joys this year is remembering that Easter is a whole season and that the good news of Jesus’ resurrection does not need to be crammed into only Easter Sunday.

For the season, one of the books my family is reading is "This is the Mystery of Easter" by Amelia Richardson Dress and Lilly J. Moore. The strength of the book is the text. In the author’s notes, Dress shares that when writing, she considered all of the questions children (and adults) have asked her about Easter like: why did Jesus die? Did God want Jesus to die?

"This is the Mystery of Easter" picture book cover

Even though I can preach an Easter sermon, I have found myself tongue-tied at times when a child is asking me these questions. How can I use language they understand? About questions that I sometimes have questions about? Dress gives us language to begin the conversation. Her book gives voice to Jesus' resurrection, while reminding us of both the mystery of God and certainty of God's love.

A bonus is that Dress offers it as a free download on her website with instructions on how to share it as a children’s sermon.

“This is the Mystery of Easter” by Amelia Richardson Dress and Lilly J. Moore. Published by Amelia Richardson Dress in 2020.