Holy Week Celebration #4 - Resurrection
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Jesus’ resurrection is very hard to understand. And when we go straight from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday with no Holy Week mourning in between, it’s hard for Easter Sunday to have any meaning. Here is a way to experience and celebrate the resurrection with even the littlest ones.
Read It
Matthew 28:1-10 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:9-10 -NRSV |
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Do It
A way to anticipate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus
A way to anticipate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus
- On Friday evening before bed, put something away. Make sure this is something your kids will ask about, something you will miss. We do this to remember that Jesus died for three days, that we were without him. Some ideas:
- Tape shut a favorite food (milk or something else you enjoy on a regular basis)
- Shroud (cover) the TV or computer
- Close off a room of the house
- Turn off a light in a much-used room of the house
- Block off an entrance to your house
- Put away your bikes
- Hide the car keys
- Make a big cake or other treat, then put it in the freezer
- Put away a favorite toy
- On Easter morning, get your child(ren) up when it is still dark outside. Keep lights off in your house, and wait for that first bit of sunlight. As the sun comes up, read the scripture passage and celebrate. Get out whatever was put away, sing songs, dance, blow up balloons, do whatever can help your children know that this is a big deal, cause for a party! Jesus is alive!
Pray It
Thank you for life, God! Thank you for Easter, when we can remember that you live, that you work in us, that you are active in our world. Help us to always remember to celebrate you and follow you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for life, God! Thank you for Easter, when we can remember that you live, that you work in us, that you are active in our world. Help us to always remember to celebrate you and follow you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Extras
Soon after Easter last year, our four-year-old asked us when Mr. Rogers will rise from the dead. This stuff is confusing! We celebrate how Jesus rose from the dead, but what in the world does that have to do with the rest of us? Here’s how we answered our child’s question - it’s not perfect, but it’s at least a place to start:
All of us who love and follow God will one day rise from the dead like Jesus did. One day we will all be with God in heaven. Jesus did it in three days to show us what it will be like for us, so that we can have hope of being with God and being with all the people we love. But for us it won’t happen right away like it did for Jesus. So - Mr. Rogers will rise from the dead one day, just like all of us will, and like Jesus did. This stuff is really hard to understand, and Mommy and Daddy don’t totally understand it either. But the important thing to know is that God loves us, and not even death can separate us from God’s love. We will one day be with God and with each other, just like Jesus.
Soon after Easter last year, our four-year-old asked us when Mr. Rogers will rise from the dead. This stuff is confusing! We celebrate how Jesus rose from the dead, but what in the world does that have to do with the rest of us? Here’s how we answered our child’s question - it’s not perfect, but it’s at least a place to start:
All of us who love and follow God will one day rise from the dead like Jesus did. One day we will all be with God in heaven. Jesus did it in three days to show us what it will be like for us, so that we can have hope of being with God and being with all the people we love. But for us it won’t happen right away like it did for Jesus. So - Mr. Rogers will rise from the dead one day, just like all of us will, and like Jesus did. This stuff is really hard to understand, and Mommy and Daddy don’t totally understand it either. But the important thing to know is that God loves us, and not even death can separate us from God’s love. We will one day be with God and with each other, just like Jesus.
