Hearts Prepared for Resurrection Day
Resurrection Day is fast approaching. While we focus most of our thoughts on Sunday, interspersing activities throughout the weekend will help our families prepare their hearts for Sunday.
Here are some ideas for you:
Thursday: Attend a Maundy Thursday service in your area or create one at home over a candle lit dinner.
Read Scriptures based upon the days leading up to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion (Matthew 26:20-25: Last Supper. Judas’ betrayal, Matthew 26:31-35: Jesus predicts Peter’s denial, Mark 14:32-41: Gethsemane. Jesus pleading with his disciples, Matthew 26:47-52: Jesus arrested, Luke 22:54-62: Peter denies Jesus, John 18:33-38a- Jesus before Pilate, Matthew 27:20-26: Pilate pleads w/ the crowd. The crowd cries “Crucify Him”, Mark 15: 16-20: Jesus led out to be crucified, Psalm 22:1-11: Jesus last words on the cross).
Blow out the candles at the end of the last scripture and dismiss the family for quiet time for the rest of the evening. For little ones, this may have to be altered but for older elementary or older, the children could be led in a family prayer and then they could retreat to time alone and write their own prayers of thanksgiving for Jesus’ sacrifice.
Friday: Good Friday family movie night and/or bedtime stories. Here are a few suggestions:
- Preschool age: An Easter Carol or ‘Twas the Night Before Easter (Veggie Tales). Also, check out the author’s pages on this website for age appropriate books.
- Primary-Jr. High: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (great symbolism of Christ through Aslan).
- High school and adult: The Passion of the Christ
Saturday: Old-fashioned Resurrection Eggs. Before you could purchase Resurrection Eggs, my mother and I made our own. Here’s how: prick a pin hole in both ends of a raw egg. Blow out the contents of the raw egg into a small mixing bowl. Repeat for all your eggs. Cover and refrigerate the raw egg mixture for Resurrection Morning omelets. Proceed to color your fragile shells with your favorite egg coloring kit and display in a fun way on your dining room table.
Sunday Morning: Resurrection Omelets. Prepare your favorite ingredients to go into your salvaged egg mixture from Saturday and create a quick and easy family omelet or scramble. Discuss how the empty egg shells on the table symbolize Jesus’ empty tomb on the first Resurrection Day and just like we’re swallowing what was inside the shell, Jesus’ resurrection swallowed up death once and for all. We no longer have to fear death because if we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we are promised eternal life.
Attend worship services together.
Sunday Dinner: Resurrection Rolls. Using a refrigerated package of crescent rolls, roll a marshmallow into the center of the roll and bake. When you bite into the roll, the marshmallow has disappeared!
Happy Resurrection Day!
Dawn