Category: Benefice

Easter Sunday - Jesus has risen! Activity: Easter egg hunt – chat about why we celebrate Easter with hollow eggs. How the egg represents the empty tomb but also symbolises new life. Discuss:  How has Jesus’ resurrection changed the world?  Will you let it change you? Here is a short video for children: https://vimeo.com/channels/1551170/397067880 Activity: For older children and adults: Do you struggle to believe in the resurrection?  Here are 7 explanations that people give: Jesus was not dead Disciples were hallucinating Disciples lied / conspiracy The truth was distorted over time / legend There was an imposter Jesus Disciples were influenced/bribed Jesus was resurrected Watch these videos presented by a retired Cold Case Detective (who was an atheist before he investigated the resurrection).  He examines each of these possibilities and explains why no.7 is the only reasonable conclusion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsO8JI9mmQc&t=137s  Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP9kyITpZZk  Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlV7-GI3Bww&t=1  Part 3 Has your view changed?...

Saturday - when Jesus body lay in the tomb Activity: wrap someone in toilet paper, but be sure to save it for use later!  Think how Jesus’ body and cloth was anointed in a lot of oils and spices and how the women at the tomb, discovered the grave clothes left behind, with the head cloth folded up neatly.  For older children – tell them about the shroud of Turin that some people believe is the actual cloth that wrapped Jesus.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt_92yHPSug Activity: Resurrection Roll – anoint a marshmallow in spices, wrap it in puff pastry burial clothes, then put it in the tomb (oven).   When you take it out, Jesus’ body will have disappeared! Discuss: What do you think Jesus was doing on the Saturday?   Lying dead in the tomb?  Already resurrected and getting healed by angels?  Getting a big hug from his father?...

Good Friday - the day Jesus was crucified Activity: make this crown of thorns bracelet from wire and string.  Can you wear it until Easter Sunday? Activity: Bang some nails into a piece of wood, in the shape of a cross, then thread some wool around the nails. Activity: Paint your hands red and make a handprint cross on a big piece of paper.  Think about how we would have been the crowd shouting “crucify him”, so his death would have been on our hands. Discuss: Why do you think we call it Good Friday?...

Maundy Thursday - The Last Supper Activity: Make your own bread (or soda bread) and talk about the last supper while you share it. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/simple-soda-bread Here is a mini service from Messy Church that you could use which includes candles, prayers, a scavenger hunt and memory game. https://www.messychurch.org.uk/resource/breaking-bread-fun-family-prayer-time?utm_source=Messy+Church&utm_campaign=5438b315c3-mc_apr20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f2d70c7e51-5438b315c3-314796733&mc_cid=5438b315c3&mc_eid=93701ce6d8 Discuss: How weird do you think it was for the disciples to be told “eat, this is my body, drink, this is my blood”.  Imagine your mum handing you your tea and saying that! After the last supper, Jesus went out to the garden of Gethsemane to pray.  It would have been a full moon, so quite bright.  Why not go outside, after dark, look up at the moon and think about how that moon is exactly the same moon that Jesus looked up at, when talking to his father, asking to be relieved of this terrible mission, but finally agreeing. Here is a video for children: https://vimeo.com/channels/1551170/397065666  ...

Activity: Play charades and see how many parables you can remember. Here are a few: the sower, mustard seed, hidden treasure,  pearl, unmerciful servant, workers in the vineyard, tenants, wedding banquet, 10 virgins, new wine in old wine skins,  wise and foolish builders, good Samaritan, friend at midnight,  unfruitful fig tree, lost sheep, lost coin and the prodigal son. Discuss: Which is your favourite parable and why do you think Jesus told so many?...

Activity: Make a perfumed massage oil and give each other foot massages.  Talk about how a women used her very expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet and then wiped it away with her hair. Discuss: Why were some of Jesus’ followers angry with her, but Jesus wasn’t?...

Here are the audio recordings of John reading his daily reflections for Holy Week. Listen, reflect, and pray. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Maundy Thursday morning Maundy Thursday evening Good Friday Easter Sunday...

Jesus said: “My Father’s House is a house of prayer but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”  . Activity: Make a prayer station in your house You could add a candle, prayer dice (if you have one), a cross, a photo of grandparents or NHS worker, flowers in a vase, bible, picture of Jesus (google “Prince of Peace”).  As you do it, talk about how Jesus went to the temple to pray but found a market full of people buying and selling things.  We think of Jesus as a calm, peaceful man, but on this occasion, he got very, very angry and even used a whip! Discuss: Do you think it is OK to get angry? ...

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2xvP7SEDO0&t=1137s...

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