AS WE BEGIN
Today on Palm Sunday we begin Holy Week. One week to tell the story of Jesus’ Sacrifice. It would be wonderful if you could spend some time this week with your children explaining what happened each day of this most special week.
PALM SUNDAY: APRIL 5TH
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a Donkey colt. The people saw him coming and they rushed out of their homes. They were very excited and thrilled to see him. They spread their cloaks and palm branches on the street in front of him and waved more palm branches to celebrate his arrival.
Read Matthew 21:1-11 as a Family. Think of something or someone to celebrate in your lives.
MONDAY – APRIL 6TH, 2020
Early in the morning Jesus went to the temple to preach about God’s love. Many people came to the temple to listen to him. The temple leaders did not want Jesus to preach there. He chased the moneylenders out of the Temple which angered many. Jesus wanted to keep the temple a Holy Place.
Read Mark 11:15-19 as a Family. Think of something that makes church Holy for you.
TUESDAY – APRIL 7TH, 2020
On Tuesday Jesus continued to teach in the Temple. He told stories to show that God wants people to live good lives and be kind to each other.
Read Matthew 26:6-13 as a Family. What special gift would you give Jesus?
WEDNESDAY – APRIL 8TH, 2020
On Wednesday, which is called Spy Wednesday, Judas Iscariot one of the twelve disciples went to the chief priests and was given 30 Pieces of Silver to betray Jesus.
Read Matthew 26:14-16 as a Family. Why do you think Judas betrayed Jesus, his friend?
MAUNDY THURSDAY – APRIL 9TH, 2020
On Thursday was the Feast of the Passover. This Passover meal we now call the Last Supper because it was the last time Jesus and his twelve disciples would get together to share a meal. At this meal Jesus blessed the bread and wine and told his disciples that they should continue to do the breaking of bread and drinking the wine to remember him.
We do this every Sunday in Church. It is called Communion or Eucharist. After Supper they went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and Jesus asked his disciples to stay awake with him. But they all fell asleep. At the garden Jesus was arrested.
Read Matthew 26:26-30 as a Family. Jesus prayed in the Garden. Write a two line family prayer that you can always pray.
GOOD FRIDAY – APRIL 10TH, 2020
The chief priest and other officials turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate the Roman Governor of Palestine. They were afraid of him. They wanted to have Jesus killed. Pilate washes his hands and says the people can choose one prisoner to release. The crowd decides to choose Barabbas, a murderer. So Jesus is condemned to death and is forced to carry his cross to Golgotha, the place of the skull. There he is hung on the Cross and he dies in three hours. Before he died Jesus prayed “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”
Read Matthew 27:31-56 as a family. That night Jesus was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. What did his disciples feel like at time?
HOLY SATURDAY – APRIL 11TH, 2020
Saturday was a terrible day for the disciples. They were sad. They thought they had lost Jesus forever. They were afraid the Roman soldiers would come for them. They did not know if they could carry on God’s work without Jesus. They gathered together and hid. They were sad and afraid.
Read Luke 23:49, 55-56 as a Family. Have you ever been afraid?
What could make you feel brave and unafraid. Prayer?
EASTER SUNDAY – APRIL 12, 2020
Early in the morning the women who were followers of Jesus went to the tomb where his body had been placed. They wanted to bury the body properly. When they got there they found Jesus’ body was not there. They were afraid his body had been stolen. But then an Angel appeared and said” Do not be afraid! Jesus has risen from the dead. Go quickly and tell the disciples that they should go to Galilee and you will see him there.
Read Mark 16: 1-7 as a Family.
Celebrate the Risen Lord!
Take care of yourselves. Stay safe & be good to each other. May God bless us all.
Happy Easter!
Always,
Sue Beckham 🙂
Director of Family Ministry