The reason for the most significant and joyous celebration is fast approaching. We call it Easter--Resurrection Sunday. As parents and grandparents who desire our children to experience, celebrate, and be changed for all eternity, it's worth the investment to take back Easter. Our society has done its best to steal the actual meeting of this Christian holiday (holy day). Don't let your family fall into the trap that Easter is all about the Easter baskets filled with small toys and choice candies.
Resolve today to set a new norm in your family concerning how you will celebrate Easter in 2023 and the years to come. Focus on the significance of Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday. Let's consider steps to turn Easter from a highly commercialized holiday to a joyful celebration of the resurrection of our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Sanctifier. Download Christian Easter music for all ages to play in your car. Learn the songs and sing along with great gusto. Check out this site: 50+ Powerful Worship Songs for Easter.
My favorite of all Easter hands-on activities is making a Resurrection Garden. Do an online search and get started today.
Make a Holy Week book with scriptures, drawings, and prayers. After each day’s scripture, allow time for discussion and questions, and end with prayer.
Palm Sunday: Read about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11).
Monday: Read from the gospels the account of Jesus' final week. Today read (Matthew 26:6-13 or John 12:1-11). Jesus' anointing at Bethany by Mary.
Tuesday: Jesus' prediction of His death (John 13:21-30).
Wednesday: The betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16 or John 13:21-30).
Thursday: Read and discuss the Last Supper (John 13:1-17, 31-35) and Jesus' prayer in the garden (Matthew 26:36-45). Attend a Maundy Thursday service at your church or a church in your community. If you can’t find a Maundy Thursday service, have your own at home. Prepare to wash each other’s feet as you revisit the scripture in John that you’ve just read. It’s the perfect opportunity to engage the entire family in what it means to serve each other. Record some ideas about how your family can better serve day-to-day. Then share ideas about serving as individuals—at home, school, church, or in your community. Remember to serve with joy and with the knowledge that you are ultimately serving your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
After the Last Supper, Jesus took a few of his disciples and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This was a time of intense and passionate prayer. Jesus knew what Friday would bring. He longed for his disciples to pray for Him. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40-41). If not on Thursday evening, carve out a time before Resurrection Sunday to observe a time of silent prayer. The amount of time you commit will depend, in part, on the ages of your children. Pray outside, weather permitting. If not, create a quiet place in your home free of distractions and pray with Jesus.
Friday: Jesus' arrest and crucifixion (John 18:28-19:37).
Saturday: Read about the burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-66). Jesus spent this day in the tomb. Talk with your family about what life would be like without Jesus. Reflect on His great sacrifice and love for us while we were still sinners.
Sunday: Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus (John 20:1-18). Prepare for great rejoicing on Easter Sunday as you sing Hallelujahs to the Risen King. Jesus overcame death and the tomb. Rise early on Easter Sunday to watch the sunrise--thanking God for the new day and the empty tomb. At the end of the day, gather your family--sing your favorite Easter songs and share words of praise and thanksgiving for God's greatest gift--His only begotten Son, Jesus! If you haven’t shared with your children about your salvation experience, your own testimony, now would be a great time. Allow time for your children to share their testimony as well.
If possible, purchase an age-appropriate book about Easter for each of your children. Resurrection Eggs are perfect for walking your children through the Easter story. Put together an Easter basket or two for a shut-in, a new neighbor, or someone you know who needs to be encouraged. Include a few treats along with a small cross, scripture bookmark, and/or a story of Easter.
Hallelujah, He has Risen! He has Risen Indeed!
Resolve today to set a new norm in your family concerning how you will celebrate Easter in 2023 and the years to come. Focus on the significance of Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday. Let's consider steps to turn Easter from a highly commercialized holiday to a joyful celebration of the resurrection of our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Sanctifier. Download Christian Easter music for all ages to play in your car. Learn the songs and sing along with great gusto. Check out this site: 50+ Powerful Worship Songs for Easter.
My favorite of all Easter hands-on activities is making a Resurrection Garden. Do an online search and get started today.
Make a Holy Week book with scriptures, drawings, and prayers. After each day’s scripture, allow time for discussion and questions, and end with prayer.
Palm Sunday: Read about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11).
Monday: Read from the gospels the account of Jesus' final week. Today read (Matthew 26:6-13 or John 12:1-11). Jesus' anointing at Bethany by Mary.
Tuesday: Jesus' prediction of His death (John 13:21-30).
Wednesday: The betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16 or John 13:21-30).
Thursday: Read and discuss the Last Supper (John 13:1-17, 31-35) and Jesus' prayer in the garden (Matthew 26:36-45). Attend a Maundy Thursday service at your church or a church in your community. If you can’t find a Maundy Thursday service, have your own at home. Prepare to wash each other’s feet as you revisit the scripture in John that you’ve just read. It’s the perfect opportunity to engage the entire family in what it means to serve each other. Record some ideas about how your family can better serve day-to-day. Then share ideas about serving as individuals—at home, school, church, or in your community. Remember to serve with joy and with the knowledge that you are ultimately serving your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
After the Last Supper, Jesus took a few of his disciples and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This was a time of intense and passionate prayer. Jesus knew what Friday would bring. He longed for his disciples to pray for Him. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40-41). If not on Thursday evening, carve out a time before Resurrection Sunday to observe a time of silent prayer. The amount of time you commit will depend, in part, on the ages of your children. Pray outside, weather permitting. If not, create a quiet place in your home free of distractions and pray with Jesus.
Friday: Jesus' arrest and crucifixion (John 18:28-19:37).
Saturday: Read about the burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-66). Jesus spent this day in the tomb. Talk with your family about what life would be like without Jesus. Reflect on His great sacrifice and love for us while we were still sinners.
Sunday: Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus (John 20:1-18). Prepare for great rejoicing on Easter Sunday as you sing Hallelujahs to the Risen King. Jesus overcame death and the tomb. Rise early on Easter Sunday to watch the sunrise--thanking God for the new day and the empty tomb. At the end of the day, gather your family--sing your favorite Easter songs and share words of praise and thanksgiving for God's greatest gift--His only begotten Son, Jesus! If you haven’t shared with your children about your salvation experience, your own testimony, now would be a great time. Allow time for your children to share their testimony as well.
If possible, purchase an age-appropriate book about Easter for each of your children. Resurrection Eggs are perfect for walking your children through the Easter story. Put together an Easter basket or two for a shut-in, a new neighbor, or someone you know who needs to be encouraged. Include a few treats along with a small cross, scripture bookmark, and/or a story of Easter.
Hallelujah, He has Risen! He has Risen Indeed!
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Thank You, Nancy Duggin. ❤️