Holy Week

We have been sick most of the week off and on and so I never got out some fun ideas for Holy Week until today, Maundy Thursday.  Better late than never. Perhaps these will be more useful for you next year.

1. Family Lenten Devotion- The Word Became Flesh.  This is a devotional to do for the 40 days leading up to Easter. If you do a Jesse Tree at Christmas you will like this. It has an image and you can make pictures for a wreath or Easter tree or simply do the devotion (that's what we did this year.)  You cannot buy this at stores. I got mine through a friend so if you want one comment below or email me and I can try to get the info to you. The 40 days of devotions are on the life of Christ! My kids LOVE it! There are questions to ask after the story and there is a prayer and songs to sing. :)

2.  Palm Sunday- make or purchase palm branches. A friend gave us a couple of palm branches that have been the centerpiece of our table all week and also fun to play with. :)  When telling the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem my kids love waving these and shouting "hosanna" or laying them out on the ground with their coats as we pretend Jesus is riding through.

3. Resurrection Eggs- these are old school, but kids love these!  My children take turns shaking, guessing and opening the eggs and we tell the story of each symbol and it is a fun way to teach Truth and history.

4. Easter coloring books- we found these at our local Christian bookstore. They have different ones for different age levels.  My son loves art and coloring and he has enjoyed this a lot.

5. Wednesday- prepare for a Passover feast.  I have never done this before, but this year is the first time we will have a traditional Jewish Passover Feast on Maundy Thursday.  So, on Wednesday we found a market that sells grass fed lamb.  We purchased our first lamb of leg (warning: if you don't have a groupon or coupon you may have to take out a small loan to purchase some lamb). Half kidding, but thankful I had a groupon and got 50% off my lamb. :)  Wednesday night Steve and I prepared the blood dripping lamb and poured a homemade marinade in all of the crevices and through all the strings that bound this lamb together.  Thursday afternoon, I think this is going to be a great picture of how the lamb of God, blood dripping, silent, he was led to slaughter for our sin.

6. Maundy Thursday: Wash each other's feet as you tell the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet.  Then, the Passover feast.  Tonight we will have our first Passover feast. This may be a disaster as I have never cooked lamb, but worth a try.  You can also have "wine", horseradish, parsley or potatoes, matzah, vegetables, salty water to dip your parsley in, apples & raisins and a boiled egg.  There is meaning behind each of these items.  If you look up Jewish Seder plate you will get more information. Also, on Ann Voskamp's blog (A Holy Experience) she has a Christian Haggadah Passover booklet that you can print out and has a lot of information on what to eat, what it means and questions to ask over dinner. This is what I printed out this week.

7. Good Friday- we will color eggs and talk about new life in Christ & resurrection.  Good Friday services are held at many churches.
*This has nothing to do with Good Friday, but we will fill plastic Easter eggs because on Saturday we are going to an Easter egg hunt in a friends neighborhood and will have some fun with old and new friends.

8. Saturday- we are cooking for our Easter Sunday lunch and Easter egg hunt

9.  Easter Sunday- Resurrection rolls for breakfast. Yummo and fun!  We are making some other fun snacks too.  Celebrating new life in Christ and so much HOPE!

Sorry I don't have links to anything I mentioned. I wanted to share our ideas for Holy Week, but am short on time.

Blessings and Happy Easter!!