From popcorn.org

Kids can help create these adorable popcorn Easter baskets.

Yield: 12 baskets (basket base: 3-inches wide and 1 3/4 tall)

Ingredients

3 quarts popped popcorn

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine

3 cups miniature marshmallows

3 tablespoons (1/2 of a 3-ounce box) strawberry, lime, or lemon gelatin dessert mix

12 licorice twists (8-inches each)

1/2 cup shredded or flaked sweetened coconut

Green food color, or color of choice

Small candy-coated chocolate eggs or jellybeans

Equipment needed: 12-cup muffin pan

Directions

Spray a large mixing bowl lightly with cooking spray and place popcorn inside.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and gelatin dessert powder until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over popcorn and mix well until coated.

Spray hands with cooking spray and press firmly to form into 12 balls. Press each popcorn ball into well of muffin tin. Press firmly into muffin pan with the back of a spoon to form base of basket. Bend and press a licorice twist firmly into both sides of each basket. (If licorice seems thick, peel 2-3 strings from each piece).

Place coconut into re-sealable plastic sandwich bag. Sprinkle a drop of food color onto coconut and seal bag. Press bag to distribute color evenly. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of coconut onto each basket. Place a few candy eggs into each basket. Allow basket to set about 1 hour before gently removing baskets from muffin pan. (Removal can be made easier with the tip of a small knife applied to pan edge).

Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap for storage. Add a ribbon tie to plastic wrap as a decorative closure.

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Popcorn Easter Basket

Nutrition Facts

Per 1 cup:

180 calories

8 g total fat

4 g saturated fat

10 mg cholesterol

90 mg sodium

29 g carbohyrdrates

1 g fiber

17 g sugar

2 g protein

39 mg potassium

By candystore.com

Almost every year, Easter and National Jelly Bean Day both fall in April, making it the de facto Month of the Jelly Bean.

In a normal year, over 16 billion beans are made just for the Easter season. With things starting to open back up this year, it’s tough to tell whether fewer or more jelly beans will be needed. Perhaps people will feel like outdoor Easter egg hunts are safe and go big after a quiet 2020. It remains to be seen but should be interesting to watch it play out.

National Jelly Bean Rankings

As a nation, sometimes it seems like we can’t agree on anything. Our size, diversity and multitude of culturally-influenced preferences creates a rainbow of opinions. This particular rainbow happens to be made of jelly bean opinions.

We ranked the top 21 jelly bean flavors in America. Here we go.

#1 Cinnamon – Reigning Champion: Cinnamon made steady progress towards the top over the past few years. It finally overtook the #1 spot last year and hangs on again this year. This spicy red jelly bean flavor is part of a trend of spicy candy we noticed a while back. In fact, the top 3 jelly bean flavors do not include a sweet or fruity flavor at all!

#2 Black Licorice: Black Licorice is regaining its mojo. It had been on a losing streak, falling from the #1 spot 3 years ago down to #3. It took a step forward this year back to the #2 spot. There’s no denying the immense popularity of black licorice jelly beans. In Michigan, they are the number 2 flavor.

#3 Buttered Popcorn: Salty and buttery, Buttered Popcorn was still riding high last year, maintaining at #2 after knocking Black Licorice off the top spot 3 years ago. Black licorice has pushed it aside again this year. Both flavors incite strong opinions, positive and negative, but in the end, Buttered Popcorn has work to do to if it wants to become the number one jelly bean flavor in America again. It is the #1 favorite flavor in Michigan.

#4 Cherry: Cherry is like the jelly bean elder. It has been around for a long time and was once the king of jelly bean flavors, reigning for more than 20 years. It’s no longer in the top 3, but perhaps its time has not yet come.

#5 Juicy Pear: Juicy Pear is sort of a new classic jelly bean flavor. It has reached a high level of popularity in a relatively short lifespan. This year it even took over as the #1 flavor in Colorado, Wyoming and Florida!

#6 Coffee: Coffee had a major year, jumping from the #16 spot all the way up here to #6. It was the biggest move of the year and felt like it was overdue. Coffee, the drink, has never been more popular, and coffee flavored treats and gifts are on the rise. Coffee flavored jelly beans are no different, making strong moves and mixing it up with various flavor varieties like latte and espresso (which we lumped together).

#7 Watermelon: Watermelon held its place at the number 7 spot this year. They are popular coast to coast, and like cherry are more sweet-flavored.

#8 Root Beer: Maine’s favorite flavor, Root Beer, is moving up fast. Jumping 2 spots again this year to make the number 8 spot, it has moved up 7 spots in 3 years.

#9 Cotton Candy: Cotton Candy has been knocking on the door of the top ten for a few years now. This year it made the jump from #11 to #9.This fair ground-inspired flavor is all sweetness without the  fruity. For some people it’s the perfect combination of sweet and no citrus.

#10 Orange: Orange flavor fell another spot this year after getting jumped by Cotton Candy. Orange has held strong as a classic jelly bean flavor to remain in the top ten. It even took the top spot in Idaho.

#11 Sour: Sour flavored jelly beans have made a nice move up this year, moving up from #13 to #11 most popular flavor. They were #1 in New York and now Nebraska, too.

#12 Coconut: Coconut is moving up from #14 last year. It’s another classic flavor that’s not super fruity and doing well.

#13 Toasted Marshmallow: Toasted Marshmallow dropped big time from the #6 spot last year. It was the biggest drop of the year.

#14 Chocolate: Chocolate jelly beans moved up again this year, 5 spots from the #19 to #14 place. Chocolate lovers might wonder why it’s not even higher, but they did claim the #1 spot in Illinois again.

#15 Green Apple: A Green Apple jelly bean a day keeps the doctor away. Probably not, but Green Apple is reeling now after dropping another 3 spots this year. From #8 three years ago, they now find themselves at #15. A classic old school jelly bean flavor, it’s number 3 in Michigan.

#16 Blueberry: Blueberry jelly beans, the flavor they invented specifically to make the blue in red white and blue, has fallen another spot to #16, down 3 spots in as many years. Useful for their blue color, which is a popular color for event candy, blueberry jelly beans may struggle to differentiate themselves from the crowd of fruity flavored jelly beans.

#17 Strawberry: Strawberry jelly beans have seen an abrupt reversal of fortune, and not in a good way. Dropping all the from the #8 spot down to #17, these classic favorites might need a PR team to explain what the heck happened here.

#18 Grape: Grape stayed strong at #18, same as last year. Purple is a strong color and is an asset to Grape jelly beans. Purple is one of the most popular candy colors and there are not many other purple flavors.

#19 Banana: Banana flavored jelly beans moved up from #21 to #19, a small but significant move. Banana is a classic candy flavor that isn’t super traditional for jelly beans, but the popularity of Jelly Belly has made it more prominent in recent years.

#20 Bubblegum: Bubblegum flavor fell 3 spots from #17 last year, making it a 6-spot loss over 3 years. So bubblegum is in a downtrend. 

#21 Red Apple: Red Apple fell back a spot to #21. Red apple has done well to stay moderately high even though its greener brother is the more famous of the apple flavors.

Next week: The best and worst Easter candy

By Clair Robins clair@candystore.com

There’s a lot not to like about the way 2020 is shaping up. The Worst Easter candy is low on that list, but here it is anyway. Easter is already just around the corner and the candy opinions are coming out again. You’ve heard the complaints and even had some of these in your own Easter basket. Here are the worst Easter candies according to our survey.

The Definitive Ranking of Worst and Best Easter Candies

Easter is a really big candy holiday.

Did you know more is spent on candy for Easter historically than for Halloween itself? Depending on which data you look at, Easter is as big or bigger than even Halloween. It’s a silent monster.

The National Retail Federation says Easter candy spending was $2.49 Billion this year, down slightly from last year’s $2.63B. In 2020, it is a little murky due to the coronavirus outbreak. So stock up for your Easter Egg hunt while you still can!

Historically, however, of the people who do not plan to celebrate Easter, 33 percent will still buy Easter candy. What?!

That says a lot. There is some good stuff out there, people.

But there is also some pretty bad stuff. We know because you’ve told us loud and clear what you don’t like. As we mentioned before, you have to be careful when asking people about their least favorite holiday candy. It stirs up some deep emotions that can come out in an unfiltered rage.

When we did our Easter season surveys, we asked a whole lot of people about their favorite and least favorite Easter candy. We got 19,000 responses. The results are included below.

The 10 Worst Easter Candies

10. Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy Tails

Cotton Tails Cotton Candy Worst Easter Candy

Fluffy Stuff cotton candy stayed at #10 this year. It is a popular brand of packaged cotton candy. If you like cotton candy, it’s good cotton candy. I personally am neutral on the stuff, could take it or leave it. The people in our survey were not as neutral. Cotton candy is not their favorite, to put it mildly.

More than that though, there is a strong sentiment that it doesn’t belong in the family of Easter appropriate candies. I can appreciate that. It does feel a little gimmicky to take your cotton candy product and call it a rabbit’s tail and market it for Easter. That may not be terribly different from what a lot of candy products do, but it does feel a little forced here.

9. Jelly Beans (Generic). Down from #6 last year.

Jelly beans come in many different flavors from many many different manufacturers. They are not universally hated for Easter. it’s just that people prefer higher quality jelly beans these days. The days where you could plop any old jelly bean down into the grassy Easter basket might be gone.

8. Peeps Hot Tamales. New on the list this year.

The thing with Peeps is there is a group of people who love them and a much louder group who do not. Peeps are fun for making funny art stuff, but most people don’t want to eat them or very much of them. It’s doesn’t seem to be something that is someone’s regular go-to. It’s more of a had one during a holiday season, don’t need one again for a while. Regret it? Maybe.

These Hot Tamales Peeps are really standing out for some reason. The word from those speaking up is they crossed some line here. Personally, I have not tried them. We do know that spicy candy has gone up in popularity. Perhaps this is an attempt by Peeps to capitalize. Good luck.

7. Twix Eggs. New on the list this year.

Twix Eggs Worst Easter Candy

Twix Eggs don’t on the surface seem to be anything that might cause an affront. It’s just a bigger version of a Twix, which people love. It seems like the shape is what most people are objecting to. Also that fact that making a Twix into a giant bar maybe isn’t as appealing? Could it be that part of the appeal of Twix is the breaking apart and the snap with each bite?

6. Chocolate Crosses. Up from #7 last year.

Chocolate crosses have become an increasingly popular–but possibly not so well received–Easter candy. Much of the backlash seems to come from people trying to square the idea of turning a torture device into a yummy chocolate treat.

I have to admit, this one always seemed a little forced to me. I get the whole “reason for the season” movement that some of the more traditional believers have hung their hat on. I do. I grew up in that world. Perhaps that motto works better at Christmas time, when there was no torture. Just a little frankincense and myrrh.

5. Chicks & Rabbits Marshmallow Candy. Down from #4 last year.

I actually quite like these. It seems like most people are comparing them to circus peanuts. Circus peanuts are not good company to keep, if you’re trying to be popular. They were the #1 worst Halloween candy.

Also, they don’t really look like chicks or rabbits. They kind of look like aliens.

4. Bunny Corn / Easter Candy Corn. Down from #2 last year.

Bunny Corn Candy Corn Worst Easter Candy

Candy corn always places highly among the disliked candy, but can often also place highly on the most liked list. It’s a highly disputed candy type.

For Easter, it seems the hoard have chosen to dislike. I am a confessed candy corn lover, but I will admit the pastel coloring does give me pause. I’d still eat it though.

3. Chocolate Bunnies (Solid). Up from #5 last year.

Chocolate bunnies are one of the most iconic Easter candies. So what gives?

Solid chocolate bunnies are a buzz kill. You see a chocolate Easter bunny and think how fun it will be to devour it. The thing is, solid chocolate Easter bunnies (as opposed to hollow) are just too much darn chocolate. It’s demoralizing. Here’s this giant, dense brick of chocolate.

Yes, it’s shaped like a bunny, and it’s cute. After one bite, enticing turns to intimidating. You realize there’s no way you are going to devour this thing. The one pictured above is 12 ounces (340g) of chocolate. A regular-sized Hershey Bar is 1.55oz (43g). That solid chocolate bunny is equal to nearly 8 whole Hershey Bars (7.9, to be exact). Could you eat 7.9 Hershey bars?

Probably not. You pull the foil back up over the quarter-eaten bunny ears and long for the time before you made such a foolish attempt on a solid chocolate bunny. A time when your Easter Fun momentum was still on the rise.

2. Peeps Easter Candy. Up from #3 last year.

Peeps are a regular on our WORST holiday candy lists. They just don’t get much love outside the diorama art world. They tend to get compared to rubber or sugary foam in the comments we received.

They don’t seem to be a thing that many people want to associate with putting inside their bodies. Put it on a doughnut, however, and they might sing a different tune.

1. Cadbury Creme Eggs. Reigning Champion.

As Easter candy goes, Cadbury Creme Eggs are one of the most well-known candies ever. There were the classic old commercial where the clucking bunny lays an egg and it’s a Cadbury Creme egg.

A whole generation thought rabbits clucked after this …and laid eggs. You gotta give Cadbury credit, there is cultural cachet there.

Cadbury Creme Eggs are a highly unique candy. Chocolate shell with a creamy and sugary goo inside that has both the white and the yolk of the candy egg. It seems like a confectionery engineering marvel. Bravo for creating such a work of candy art. The thing is, they’re just awfully horrible to actually eat.

The chocolate shell is a problem. The thing is hard enough to eat without making a mess, but god forbid the egg has gotten a tiny bit warm and the outer shell has softened. Then you’re in for a sloppy mess with this awkwardly shaped candy whose liquid filling does nothing to support its shape. It falls apart into goo.

Speaking of the shell, its ingredients have recently gone through some changes. Cadbury Creme Eggs’ shell used to be made of Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate. But Cadbury was bought by Kraft in 2010, and that was an ominous event. Five years later, they announced the change to a “standard chocolate mix.”

People were not happy about that. They even started a petition to go back to the old recipe.

But the liquid filling is the thing that people seem to have the most problem with. It’s liquid fondant, which ok yeah that sounds gross. Its consistency apparently leaves more than a little something to be desired to most people.

Cadbury Creme Eggs aren’t the only Easter candy made by Cadbury. They are the worst, but Cadbury also happen to make the very best.

See the 10 best Easter candies next week!

Pastor Inge Whittemore

East Nelson Church

9024 18 Mile Rd, Cedar Springs

 

Easter is coming! I remember looking forward to it as a kid because it meant Easter baskets, candy, those little fluffy yellow chicks with wire legs and feet, and then there were the marshmallow peeps–yum! That’s what Easter meant to me even though I was a life-long church going kid.

That’s because the story of Jesus rising from the dead was way too difficult to wrap my mind around. I didn’t really even understand death since I didn’t know anyone who had died. 

Now, I’m a whole lot older and have lived through many things. I understand the finality of death and the amazing hope found in the resurrection of Jesus. Why? Because I no longer feel condemned by the things (sins) I’ve done. I can live without regrets and guilt because Jesus handled it! Those things are behind me, gone, wiped out, buried and forgotten by God because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  

I know that God will provide. Any doubts I have I can bring to God. I can bring them to God and I don’t need to be afraid because God has shown amazing compassion to even those who really doubted (think Job or Thomas, who even required that Jesus show his hands and feet). If God loved those big doubters, He will surely love me.

I also know that I have a peace that has overcome the fears I’ve had. I know that my redeemer lives and because of that all my fear is replaced with awe, wonder and faith. I know that I can pray and I will be heard by a God who is so loving that he gave his only son for me. When I struggle, Jesus knows what that’s all about because he lived a human life and when I bring those struggles to him he gives me peace through the Holy Spirit.

See, if you are struggling, feeling overwhelmed, worried or fearful please understand that Jesus knows your heart and wants to step into it and conquer those difficult feelings. He creates a new heart and continues to work inside of each of us. We are new creations because of Jesus.  

That’s why Easter is exciting!

God wants a relationship with you. Take time to worship at one of the following churches during Holy Week next week and let God prepare your heart to celebrate the joy of Easter!

CEDAR SPRINGS

Calvary Assembly of God

meeting in Red Hawk Elementary on the CSPS campus

(enter through Door 10)

April 1: Easter Worship Service at 10:30am

more info on Facebook or cscalvary.org

 

Cedar Springs United Methodist

140 S. Main St., Cedar Springs, MI 49319

March 25: Palm Sunday 10:15 a.m. Worship with “Fish Tales” Children’s Musical

March 29: Maundy Thursday Worship at 7:00 p.m.

March 27: Easter “For Early Risers” Worship at 8:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast at 9:00-9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship at 10:15 a.m.

 

Hillcrest Community Church

5994 18 Mile Rd, Cedar Springs

March 31: Easter Service 6 p.m. “Gospel Message!”

April 1: Easter Service 10 a.m. “Gospel Message!”

   

Solon Center Wesleyan Church

15671 Algoma Avenue, Cedar Springs, MI  49319

March 31: Easter EGGstravaganza, Registration begins @ 11 AM.  For kids 0-10 years.  4,000 candy filled eggs. Includes a special needs egg hunt! 

April 1: Easter Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

 

The Springs Church

135 N. Grant St., Cedar Springs

March 30: Good Friday service at 7 p.m.

April 1: Easter Sunday 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services

 

St. John Paul II

3110 17 Mile Road, Cedar Springs

March 29:  Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 p.m.

March 30:  Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at 3:00 p.m.

March 31:  Easter Vigil at 8:30 p.m.

April 1:  Resurrection of the Lord-Easter Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

HOWARD CITY

First Baptist Church – Howard City

304 E Shaw St. Howard City 

April 1: Easter Sunrise Service 8:00 a.m.

Easter Breakfast at 9:00 a.m.

Easter Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

 

ROCKFORD

Bella Vista Church

5100 Belding Rd NE, Rockford

March 30: Community Good Friday service 7 p.m.

 

BridgeWay Community Church

7700 Childsdale Ave., Rockford, MI, 49341

March 24: Free Community Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt, 8-11 a.m.

March 30: Good Friday Service – “I Thirst” at 6:30 p.m.

March 31: Easter Celebration Service – “Come Alive” at 6 p.m.

April 1: Easter Celebration Services –  “Come Alive” at 9 & 10:45 a.m.

 

Courtland Oakfield United Methodist Church

10295 Myers Lake Ave. NE, Rockford

March 29: Maundy Thursday breakfast 9:30 a.m.

March 31: Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

April 1: Easter Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.

 

Holy Spirit Episcopal Church

1200 Post Dr. NE, Belmont

March 25: Palm Sunday worship service at 10 a.m.

March 29: Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m.

March 30: Stations of the Cross service at noon

April 1: Easter Breakfast at 8:30 am, Easter worship service at 10 am

 

Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church

4865 Eleven Mile Rd, Rockford, MI 49341

March 25: Palm Sunday Mass 9:00 am, 11:00 am

March 30: Good Friday Divine Mercy Chaplet 12:00 pm

March 30: Good Friday Passion Play 12:30 pm

March 30: Good Friday Service 2:00 pm

March 31: Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 am

March 31: Easter vigil Mass 8:30 pm

April 1: Easter Sunday Mass 9:00 am, 11:00 am

 

Rockford Springs Community Church

5815 14 Mile Road, Rockford, MI 49341

March 29: Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00pm

April 1: Easter Worship Service 9:30am

 

River Rock Church

6060 Belding Road NE Rockford, MI 49341

April 1: Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. 

Easter Worship Services at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

 

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church

310 E. Division Street, Rockford MI  49341

March 25:  Palm Sunday Service at 9:30 AM

March 29:  Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00 PM

March 30:  Good Friday Service at 7:00 PM

April 1:  Easter Breakfast, 8:30 AM

April 1:  Easter Worship Service, 9:30 AM

 

SAND LAKE

Church of the Full Gospel

East Lake St., Sand Lake, MI 49343

March 30:  Good Friday “Walk and Remember” Noon-1:30 p.m.

April 1: Easter Worship at 11:00 a.m.

 

Mary Queen of Apostles Catholic Church

1 W. Maple St, Sand Lake, MI 49343

March 30:  Good Friday “Walk and Remember” Noon-1:30 p.m.

March 30: Evening Prayer/Stations of the Cross 7:00 p.m.

April 1: Sunday Morning Mass 7:30 a.m. & 9:30 a.m. 

 

Resurrection Lutheran Church

180 3^rd St (Northland Dr), Sand Lake, MI 49343

March 30:  Good Friday “Walk and Remember” Noon-1:30 p.m.

March 30: Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.

April 1: Easter Breakfast 8:00 a.m.

April 1: Easter Worship at 9:30 a.m.  Balloon release after service.

 

Sand Lake United Methodist Church

65 W. Maple St., Sand Lake, MI 49343

March 30:  Good Friday “Walk and Remember” Noon-1:30 p.m.

April 1: Easter SONrise Service 8:00 a.m.

April 1: Easter Breakfast 8:30 a.m.

 

South Ensley United Methodist Church

13600 Cypress, Sand Lake, MI 49343

April 1: Easter Worship at 10:55 a.m.

 

Sand Lake Village Churches

March 30: Good Friday “Walk and Remember” Noon-1:30 p.m.

Walk begins at Resurrection Lutheran with stops at the Church of the Full Gospel and Mary Queen of Apostles and ends at Sand Lake United Methodist Church Refreshment after the walk. Transportation provided for those not able to walk

Hey kids, 

Would you like to win an awesome Easter Basket? It’s time for our annual Easter Coloring Contest and your chance to win!  

Please print out and color the picture above with crayons, markers or colored pencils. Our judges will choose 3 winners from three age groups: 4-5 years; 6-7 years; and 8-10 years. 

Good Luck and remember to be creative but follow the rules!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rules: 

1. Only one entry per child. 

2. Only one winner from each age group will be drawn from finalists.

3. We are not responsible for lost mail. 

4. All entries must be at our office by March 26th by 5pm. 

5. Use only crayons, markers or colored pencils. No paint, glitter, stickers, etc.

Winners will be announced in the March 29th edition of The Cedar Springs Post. So hurry, all entries have to be at The Post by Monday, March 26 by 5:00 p.m. 

Please deliver entries to: 

36 E. Maple St., Cedar Springs.

Or mail to: Easter Coloring Contest

P.O. Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319

God wants a relationship with you. Take time to worship at one of the following churches during Holy Week next week and let God prepare your heart to celebrate the joy of Easter!

CEDAR SPRINGS

Cedar Springs Ministerial Association

April 14: Journey to the Cross

A self-guided journey through the final days of Jesus’ life

Come anytime between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

Held at The Springs Church, 135 N. Grant St., Cedar Springs, MI 49319.

Cedar Springs United Methodist

140 S. Main St., Cedar Springs

April 9: Palm/Passion Sunday service at 10:15 a.m.

April 13: Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m. at East Nelson UMC, 9024 18 Mile Rd.

April 14: Good Friday. We will walk the Stations of the Cross at the Springs Church, 135 N. Grant, from 11-1 and 6-8 p.m.

April 16: Easter sunrise service at 8 a.m., followed by breakfast at 9 a.m., and regular Easter service at 10:15 a.m.

First Baptist Church

233 S. Main St., Cedar Springs

April 14: Good Friday service at 7 p.m.

April 16: Easter Sunday services 9:30 a.m. Devotional and breakfast, and 10:45 a.m. morning worship. No evening service.

Solon Center Wesleyan Church

15671 Algoma Ave., Cedar Springs

April 15:  Easter Eggstravazana for kids 0-10 years. Registration begins at 11 a.m. Egg Hunt and so much more at 12 p.m.

April 16:  Easter Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

The Springs Church

135 N. Grant St., Cedar Springs

April 16: Easter Worship Services at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

There will also be a great celebration happening in our Kid’s Splash Park Live during both services!

ROCKFORD

Courtland-Oakfield United Methodist Church

10295 Myers Lake Ave NE, Rockford

April 16: Easter Celebration at 10:00 am.

Rockford Springs Community Church

5815 14 Mile Rd., Rockford, MI 49341

April 13: Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00pm

April 16: Easter Sunday Service at 9:30am

SAND LAKE

Sand Lake Village Churches 

April 14: Good Friday Walk and Remember 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Walk begins at Resurrection Lutheran and ends at Sand Lake United Methodist. All churches below participating.

Church of the Full Gospel

East Lake St, Sand Lake (Corner of E Lake and 1^st St)

April 16: Easter Service at 11 a.m.

Mary Queen of Apostles Catholic Church

1 W Maple St, Sand Lake (NE corner of the park)

April 14: Good Friday 7:00 p.m. Solemn Vespers and Stations of the Cross

April 16: Easter Day Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt after 9:30 Mass for children through 5^th grade.

Resurrection Lutheran Church

180 S 3^rd Street (formerly Northland Dr), Sand Lake

April 9: Palm Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Egg Hunt to follow.

April 14: Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.

April 16: Easter Breakfast 8 a.m., Easter Worship 9:30 a.m. Balloon release after service.

Sand Lake United Methodist Church

65 W Maple St. Sand Lake (NW corner of the park)

April 16: Easter SONrise Service 8 a.m. with free breakfast to follow.

South Ensley United Methodist Church

13600 Cypress, Sand Lake (Corner of Cypress and 136^th St)

April 16 Easter Sunday Service 10:55 a.m.

SPARTA

North Kent Community Church

1480 Indian Lakes Rd., Sparta

April 16: Easter service at 10 a.m. “Resurrection Power.” Refreshments served before the service.

Hey kids, 

Would you like to win an awesome Easter Basket? It’s time for our annual Easter Coloring Contest and your chance to win!

Please color the picture above with crayons, markers or colored pencils. Our judges will choose 3 winners from three age groups: 4-5 years; 6-7 years; and 8-10 years.

Good Luck and remember to be creative but follow the rules!

Click to Download:

EasterColoringContest.pdf

EasterColoringContest-entryform.pdf

Rules: 

1. Only one entry per child.
2. Only one winner will be drawn from finalists.
3. We are not responsible for lost mail.
4. All entries must be at our office by April 10th by 5pm.
5. Use only crayons, markers or colored pencils. No paint, glitter, stickers, etc.

Winners will be announced in the April 13th edition of The Cedar Springs Post. So hurry, all entries have to be at The Post by Monday, April 10 by 5:00 p.m.

Please deliver entries to:

36 E. Maple St., Cedar Springs.

Or mail to: Easter Coloring Contest

P.O. Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319

Father Lam T. Le, Pastor

St. John Paul II Parish

3110 17 Mile Rd. 

Cedar Springs, Michigan 49319

 

Finally, spring is here! Having many friends and relatives who live in warm parts of the country, whenever I visit them, they always ask, “When will you move here with us and stay in the sun-shining states instead of Michigan?”

My response to them is always the same. “Only in Michigan will you experience four distinct seasons and, after a long winter season, you will appreciate spring time. What happens during spring is a wonderful analogy to Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.”

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, at all times to acclaim you, O Lord, but in this time above all to laud you yet more gloriously, when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.  Through him the children of light rise to eternal life and the halls of the heavenly Kingdom are thrown open to the faithful; for his death is our ransom from death, and in his rising the life of all have risen. Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they acclaim: Holy Holy, holy, holy, Lord of hosts. . .  (Preface II of Easter, Roman Missal-Third Edition).

I would like to call your attention to what is highlighted in the prayer: the resurrection of the Lord has an impact on not just human beings, but on all. That is the faith of the Church! Christ’s resurrection changes all things for the good! Alleluia.

This is when spring in Michigan can help us explain the mystery of Easter. After a long winter, grass, flowers, and tree leaves appear again. It is refreshing! When you walk into your house, it seems like a new one! What spring does for the environment, the Resurrection of the Lord does even more so for the world. The Lord, the Creator of all, has entered the world and by his death and resurrection has redeemed the world. Nothing has been untouched in this earthly field by the resurrection of Christ.

The challenges us now is to listen to the teaching of the Apostle Paul: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory” (Col 3: 1-4).

Our entire world has been changed by Christ’s resurrection. Let’s us focus on “what is above.”  Amen.

 

Post photo by J. Reed

The home at 3240 17 Mile, Solon Township, sports a sea of pastel colors at Easter time each year. Yvonne Cook, and her husband Mike, who recently passed away, have been decorating their yard with these colorful eggs for the past 10 years. Take a drive by and see for yourself!

By Pastor Dick Nichols

Cedar Creek Community Church, 2969 14 Mile Road, Sparta

Almost two thousand years ago, on the Sunday following the crucifixion of our Savior the Friday before, two women approached the sepulcher where Jesus had been laid, to make the necessary preparations for his dead body. We read, “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:5-6 NIV).

For these friends of Jesus who came to the tomb, life and death would never be the same. This Jesus whom they loved and believed to still be in the grave, had risen from the dead, conquering death for us, our last enemy in this life.

Through the story of the resurrection and the promised Spirit of God, alive in us, we too must look at our own lives and answer for ourselves, “How do we approach Easter Sunday 2016?” Our answer has much to say in whether Easter makes a difference in our lives or not. How many Easters have we heard and heard again about the resurrection, and do we come to this day expecting to experience the same-o same-o, old routine? The women came to the borrowed tomb before sunrise on a Sunday, and surprise, the tomb is empty! Oh wow, like we haven’t heard this before!

Maybe we come not expecting anything more than what we’ve known before, after all, we know that God’s word is as Paul has written, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2^nd Corinthians 1:20 NIV). It will be exactly as God has said it will be.

Then again, we may not spend much time reading our Bible, or attending worship services, but it’s Easter, and we know just enough to be curious, is there something there for me? Is there anything in the Bible or church that may make my life better? Our experience with Easter has always been good, but, what if we approached Easter 2016 with a heart that is open and expecting, exactly what, we’re not sure, but hoping that God will make the resurrection of Christ more of a reality in our lives?

If we come to Easter Sunday as people who have heard the story before, as people who can no longer be amazed, we will very likely leave the same way we came. We meet God where we are at. If we approach Easter in humility, repentant before God, knowing our absolute need for Jesus, he will never disappoint us. Christ’s resurrection is not just another story in the Bible, it is the central point in our faith as Christians.

How will we approach Easter 2016? Will this Easter be different? Are we willing to approach this day and the rest of the days of our lives, by joyfully allowing God to enter into our hearts, and begin a work within us that allows us to hear this story with spiritual ears, in a way we’ve never heard it before?

Approach God with an open heart, and hear with childlike amazement, God’s eternal truth in Jesus Christ!

He is risen! Indeed!

From the Kent County Health Dept.

Baby bunnies and chicks grow up to be rabbits and chickens. Before you decide live Easter pets would be a cute gift for your kids, be sure you do plenty of homework. Adults should consider the life cycle, as well as health and safety issues, of giving bunnies or chicks to children for Easter. The Kent County Health Department recommends giving children toy stuffed animals instead.

“Those who adopt these pets should be aware of the responsibilities and the health-related concerns that come with these pets—both human and animal health concerns,” according to Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for the Kent County Health Department. “Municipalities may have restrictions on adult

chickens. Be sure you know what the legal or neighborhood association requirements are before you buy chicks.”

Every year, the Kent County Animal Shelter receives dozens of unwanted rabbits from people who can’t care for them. The shelter no longer takes in unwanted or stray chicks or chickens.

Raising chicks and other poultry is popular and can be safe, but in recent years, there has been an increase in Salmonella outbreaks in humans. Salmonella is common in baby poultry and spreads from contact with the birds or their environments. Birds with Salmonella may appear healthy, but in humans, the bacteria can cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, fever, and dehydration. Illness can last for up to a week and can be serious in young children, older adults, or those with weakened immune systems.

Children under the age of five should have adult supervision when handling chicks or chickens. Be sure to wash your hands and your child’s hands thoroughly after handling chicks or chickens. Don’t let children snuggle or kiss chicks. And never allow chicks or chickens into bathrooms, kitchens, or areas where food is

prepared, stored, or eaten. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information at http://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellababybirds/.

Rabbits can live seven to ten years. Pet rabbits have specific health needs, special diets, and must live indoors. While they can be very social with the right care and supervision, they don’t like to be held or cuddled. Releasing a house-raised rabbit into the wild leaves the animal vulnerable to predators.

If giving or receiving plants for the holiday, make sure they stay out of the reach of any pets. Some items, such as lilies and daisies, can be toxic to pets. For a complete list, check out: www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants.