The Easter Bunny is no match for the Beech Grove United Methodist Church.

With Easter hopping ever closer on March 27, the Driver congregation will be cranking out thousands of chocolate-dipped peanut butter, butter cream, coconut, and fruit-and- nut eggs over the next few weeks.

“Millions, maybe,” said Carole Clarke, carefully decorating dozens of 1-ounce peanut butter eggs with their signature yellow flowers. “We never really know till it’s over.”

Since starting in 1979, Beech Grove’s Easter Egg Factory has become a spring tradition.

It’s the church’s only fundraiser, and proceeds are used for missions and capital projects at Beech Grove, she said.

Until Holy Week begins, the makeshift factory — the kitchen and fellowship hall of the church — will buzz with two shifts of volunteers, working six days a week, to produce the eggs. These factory workers get Sundays off, although most usually show up, said Lynn Felton.

While joking and laughing, volunteers work hard on the assembly lines to measure, mix, cut, weigh, mold, dip and decorate the sweet treats, volunteer Bette Moore said.

“But the secret ingredient is love,” Felton said. “Don’t tell anyone.”

Eggs come in three sizes: one ounce, which are usually sold by the dozen; half-pound; and one pound. The smallest ones, which can usually be devoured in a couple of bites, are the best-sellers, he said.

Prices are $9 per dozen (with any combination of flavors) for the small ones, and $6 and $12 respectively for the larger ones. To place an order, visit the church’s website, www.beechgroveumc.org, call 538-8353 or email beechgroveumc@charterinternet.com.