Holy Week @ Home

by | Mar 20, 2020 | Christian Formation, devotions, Uncategorized, worship, youth and family

During the season of Lent we’re reminded of our sin, mortality and our desperate need for a savior. This is even more true with our recent social distancing. We have a savior. But our salvation came at a precious price. Holy Week is an intense time in our church year when we focus on the days leading up Jesus’s death, crucifixion and resurrection. It can be an emotional and meaningful experience if we allow it to move us. Particularly for our young people, it’s important to process these feelings with trusted adults.

We know that even when everything is normal, attending six services in seven days isn’t practical for most families. And now with no option for in-person worship it’s even more importiant that we have some resources to hold us togehter outside of church. That’s why we’ve assembled “Holy Week @ Home” which equips you with family devotions so that we can all take this special Holy Week journey and more fully share in the joy of Easter worship together!

Continue reading for a special family devotional for each day in Holy Week.

Family Discussion & Activities

Palm Sunday (April 5)

This is the time we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The Jewish people were welcoming who they thought would be a great military king that would save them from oppression. The Jewish religious leaders were plotting to rid their community of an obvious heretic who threatened their influence over the people. And clearly the roman empire wasn’t going to let a new “king” stay on the scene very long. So what starts and a joyous occasion quickly devolves into mob mentality. Watch and read to learn more!

For Adults & Teens

  • Watch the video: Gospel of Luke Ch 19-23
  • Read Matthew 21:1-11. 
  • Discuss a time when you were really excited about something, only to find out that it wasn’t what you expected at all. 

Close in prayer: Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the

For Children & Families

  • Read page 455-459 in the Spark Story Bible download.
  • Place Palm Sunday stickers on the Holy Week sticker sheet.
  • Discuss: Why did people go up to Jerusalem? What makes Jerusalem important? When has your family made a trip to somewhere exciting or important?

Close in Prayer: Jesus, you are a peaceful king who teaches us how to bring peace and love into our world. Help us remember that all creation praises you! Help us praise and thank you every day. Amen.

Maundy Thursday (April 9th)

This is where our tradition of sharing Holy Communion comes from. We also remember Jesus humbly washing the feet of his disciples. These deeply moving actions give us a real experience of how powerful servant ministry can be.  At St. John’s, the service concludes with the stripping of the altar and all the decorative furnishings of the church as a symbolic representation of that final night.

Adults & Teens

  • Watch the video: Gospel of Luke Ch 19-23 
  • Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and John 13:1-17, 31b-35
  • Discuss a time you felt insecure or embarrassed and someone helped you feel valuable. How can we be a help to others – even those who may not feel like they need or deserve it? 
  • If possible, prepare a family meal together. 

Close in prayer: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who not lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Maundy Thursday, BCP p. 221)

Children & Families

  • Read pages 463-475 in the Spark Story Bible download together.
  • Prepare a family meal together. Place Maundy Thursday stickers on the Holy Week sticker sheet. 
  • Discuss your family, friends, and people at work or school. How can you serve them? What can we do for them that they may not be able to do for themselves? 

Close in prayer: Lord Jesus, help us be your hands and feet to everyone we meet. Help us see the needs around us and love as you love. Show us ways to help and serve our friends, our family, and even people we don’t know. Thank you for showing us this way to love. Amen.

Good Friday (April 10)

On Good Friday, the church mourns for Christ’s death and marvels at His life for His obedience until death.  The altar remains completely bare and it’s customary to empty the holy water from the font in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil.  It is a solemn reminder of exactly why Easter is such a joyful occasion.

Adults & Teens

  • Watch the video: Atonement
  • Read John 18:1-19:42
  • Cut a piece of yarn long enough to make a braclet. Rub spices into the yarn such as cinnamon, all spice, or cloves. Tie the braclet around your wrist and ware it until Easter. The smell of the spices will remind you of the spices used on Jesus’ body. 
  • Discuss a time that you’ve felt hopeless or afraid that something important just wasn’t going to work out. Did you find hope and continue on? Did someone encourage you along the way?

Close in prayer: Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Good Friday, BCP p. 221)

Children & Families

  • Read page 477-481 together in the Spark Story Bible Download.
  • Cut a piece of yarn long enough to make a bracelet. Rub spices into the yarn such as cinnamon, allspice, or cloves. Tie the bracelet around your wrist and ware it until Easter. The smell of the spices will remind you of the spices used on Jesus’ body. 
  • Place Good Friday stickers on the Holy Week sticker sheet. 
  • Discuss a time that you felt scared or sad? Who listened to you? Who helped you hope for something better?

Close in prayer: Jesus, thank you for always giving us hope. Than you for not giving us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power and love! We want to give you our feelings of fear and hopelessness. Thank you for taking them from us and giving us your love, power, and hope for a new life. Amen.

The Great Vigil of Easter (April 11)

The Great Vigil of Easter is the link between the grief of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Day. The service begins in darkness at sundown and slowly moves into the light of the resurrection. Through this powerful liturgy, we recover the ancient practice of keeping the Easter feast. The Vigil is where all our Lenten preparation leads us.   The congregation gathers in darkness, with the new fire, which represents the light of salvation, lights the Paschal candle. The Paschal candle is used throughout the Easter season and at baptisms and funerals throughout the year. We then process into the church to be among the first to sing our “Alleluias” with organ and brass sounding salvation during this glorious feast and to welcome our newly baptized!

Adults & Teens

  • Watch the video: Luke Chapter 24 
  • Read Romans 6:3-11 and Matthew 28:1-10
  • Discuss a time that you’ve felt hopeless or afraid that something important just wasn’t going to work out. Did you find hope and continue on? Did someone encourage you along the way? 
  • Light a votive candle, a reminder of the light of Christ. Let it burn into the evening. Light it again on Easter Day.
  • If possible, connect with a parent or godparent. Tell stories of you baptisms.

Close in Prayer: O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.  (Collect for Easter Day, BCP p. 222)

Children’s & Families

  • Read pages 483-484 in the Spark Story Bible Download together. 
  • Light the votive candle, a reminder of the light of Christ. Let it burn into the evening. Light it again on Easter Day. Place Easter Day stickers on the Holy Week sticker sheet. 
  • Discuss a time that you felt scared or sad. Who listened to you? Who helped you hope for something better?

Close in Prayer: Jesus, thank you for always giving us hope. Thank you for not giving us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power and love! We want to give you our feelings of fear and hopelessness. Thank you for taking them from us and giving us your love, power, and hope for a new life. Amen.

Easter Day (April 12)

Worship the risen Christ!

  • Relight your votive candle from the Great Vigil of Easter.
  • Talk off your Good Friday bracelet and replace it with your “He Has Risen” bracelet.
  • Attend online Easter worship as a family. 

Resources 

Download Spark Stories