The readings, except for the gospel, for this Sunday are the same in
all three lectionary years. Go to the
links below to explore what has been posted for years A and C, then read on for
additional ideas, particularly for the Year B gospels.
+ Using a royal crown and crown of
thorns to explore Jesus kingship
+ A reading script for Psalm 118 that captures the feeling of the
parade crowd
+ A movement script for Philippians 2 for a dancer or for the
congregation
+ An answer to the child’s question
“Why did they hate Jesus so much?”
+
Go to Year C - Palm - Passion Sunday to find
+ Exploring “Thine is the kingdom,
the power and glory” in the Lord’s Prayer
+ Comparing Jesus to some modern
day super heroes/ines
+ Telling the stories of Jesus
loving people throughout Holy Week events
+ Also go to my book Sharing the Easter Faith With Children
to find6
+ Commentary on each Holy Week stories from the children’s
point of view
+ Essays about how children respond to the Holy Week and
Easter stories at each age
+ Scripts for two Palm Sunday calls to worship led by
children. One has children yelling set
lines from several corners of the sanctuary.
The other has a group of children at the rear of the sanctuary answering
a worship leader in the front and is based on Psalm
24.
+ and more.
+ First, a word about the palms: The single strips of greenery often
distributed to the congregation are not palm branches. They are at best leaves from palm branches or
even sections of leaves. Children handed
one of them and told to wave their palm branches are puzzled. For good reason, they cannot imagine people
waving such a thing to welcome Jesus.
So, to help them join the crowd on Palm Sunday provide them with real
palm branches. (They can be ordered from
the same distributors at not that much greater a price.)
+ When you order palms consider
ordering from Eco-Palms at Ecopalms.org. Eco-Palms are harvested in a sustainable
manner and workers are paid a fair wage. Many denominations endorse them and
your green-conscious children will be pleased!
+ Especially if you are featuring different crosses during Lent, today’s
cross is the palm cross. Go to King of Peace Resources and scroll down to "How to Make Palm Crosses" for picture directions for making them.
I
heard about one worship leader who walked the whole congregation through making
palm crosses of their own during the worship service, projecting the step by
step photographs. Worshipers were urged
to take their crosses home to post on the refrigerator, a bathroom mirror, or
some other visible spot where it can dry during the year. (When I walked my lectionary study group
through the same process, they all felt it was way too complicated to attempt
during worship. So, try it on your own
before you try it with the congregation.)
Or,
save Palm Sunday crosses made today to make ashes for
next Ash Wednesday. Next
Ash Wednesday burn the crosses then crush them in a small bowl with a pestle
and mixed the ashes with a little oil for use at the imposition of ashes. The worship leader who described this
suggested that the majority of the ashes be prepared before the service,
setting aside a few to be crushed during the service while the significance of
ashes made from last Palm Sunday’s palms is explained. It would also be possible to prepare the
ashes with an older children’s class during the church school hour to both
teach them about the ashes and encourage their attendance on Ash Wednesday. (Warning:
ashes mixed with water may form lye which will burn the skin. So, mix ashes with olive or any other kitchen
oil.)
+ Palm Sunday processionals at the beginning of worship are a tradition in many
congregations. Often children lead or
follow the choir/s waving palm branches.
Adults love these parades. As
children age, they can become uncomfortable and feel “on display” in them. For them, the best parades are those that
include worshipers of all ages mixed together.
It is possible for the entire congregation to begin worship outside or
in “the hall” and then process into the sanctuary together. When they process as a group, older children
appreciate having a stylized way of carrying their palm branch such as help
across their chest and pointed up toward their shoulder. Or, try the idea below that was left as a
comment by “Allison in Pennsylvania” last year….
“My church has “always done” a Palm
Sunday parade with the kids during the first hymn which is usually, “Hosanna,
Loud Hosanna, the Little Children Sang” (which I think the adults like better
than the kids.)
So to liven things up, last year I made sure
that the inside and outside aisle seats had palms (since not everyone takes a
palm on their way in). And I put the robes we use at Christmas on the inside
aisle too. As the kids did a circuit
around the outside of the sanctuary, people waved their palms at them as they
went by and they waved back (minor sword fighting ensued, but they were moving
so it didn’t last long).
As the kids prepared to come down the middle
aisle, the grown-ups sitting on the end threw
down the robes to cover the aisle and threw down the palm branches too. It ended up being much more dramatic
than usual, which I count as a blessing! :0) This year, I may not do it during the hymn but
rather as part of reading the Scripture… so people can watch what is going on
instead of burying their faces in the hymnal!”
+ If you are more focused on Passion Sunday and do not plan to use nail
crosses on Good Friday, feature nail crosses
today. Use one to introduce the Passion
readings. Point out why these crosses
are made with nails. Speak briefly of
how terrible the stories that we will hear this morning are. There is a lot of hurt feelings and a lot of
very real, very bad pain. Admit that it
is hard to listen to the stories. But,
insist that they are important stories to hear.
Finally, promise that Jesus’ story does not end where we stop reading
today. The very best story won’t be read
until next Sunday. We have to wait for
it. But, we know it is coming. That helps us live with the sad stories this
week.
PASSION
+ Vocabulary
Heads-Up for those Observing Passion Sunday: for children
passion is kissy, icky, mushy stuff. Few
have even claimed passion as an intense enthusiasm, as in “she has a passion
for the cello.” So, it is probably best
to simply introduce “Passion with a capital P” as the title given to the
stories Jesus betrayal, trials, and crucifixion.
+ If you have been following Jesus around the sanctuary during
Lent, there are several
possibilities for today:
Have
an acolyte or other person hold him high to carry him in at the head of the
palm processional and set him in place at the front. Others in the processional lay their palm branches around him.
If
you use props for a reading of the Passion Sunday text from Mark, stand “Jesus”
in a very visible spot and add the props around him as you read.
If you
are so into Passion Sunday that there will be a large rough cross at the front
of the sanctuary, stand Jesus beside that cross. Gather children there to tell some of the Holy
Week stories illustrating with pictures from the week. (See the source for such pictures in the Mark
section below.)
+ The covenant theme that follows the Old Testament readings for
Lent this year, could be carried
through today. God’s ultimate covenant
is the promise of forgiveness for us and our response of accepting that
forgiveness and at least trying to forgive others. That is however hard for children to
grasp. So, it may be best to leave the
covenant theme and focus on the details of the stories for this day.
The Palm -
Passion Gospel Texts
Mark 11:1-11
+ In Mark’s gospel there is no mention of the parade involving
children. It was an adult inspired and
led event. I’m sure children got into
the act, but they were joining the adults.
That is more reason to make palm
processionals intergenerational.
Gather as many of the congregation as are willing in the hall or some
other convenient place for the call to worship.
Then process into the sanctuary together waving palms and singing. When they participate with their parents and
leaders of the church, children know that this is one very important
parade. To keep the music going strong
choose a short familiar chorus (“Prepare the Way of the Lord!” or “The King of
Glory Comes, the Nation Rejoices”) that worshippers can sing repeatedly rather
than a Palm Sunday hymn whose words they probably do not know by heart and thus
cannot sing as they walk up the aisle with their palm branch.
+ Speaking of Palm Sunday hymns: there are not many of them and they are sung only
one Sunday a year. They lack the easy to
join in on “alleluia” choruses of the Easter hymns and their language is
difficult for children. Unless the
children learn them in choir, I would not expect children to sing them in
worship with much enthusiasm. There are
clearer ways to rehearse the story with them.
+ If you will be reading the Passion using a variety of readers, choose an older child to read the Palm Sunday story
from either Mark or John.
John 12:12-16
+ John’s account has no children and barely mentions the donkey. John is clearly focused on what kind of king
Jesus is. To check out the directions scroll down to this crown picture in Year A - Palm - Passion Sunday for using two crowns to talk about
John’s points.
Mark 14:1- 15:47 or 15:
1-39 (40-47)
 |
| JESUS MAFA. Jesus drives out the merchants, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48271 [retrieved January 29, 2015] |
+ Illustrate Palm/Passion gospels with pictures from the collection
of African paintings of the life of Jesus available through Vanderbilt Divinity
School Library. Go to Vanderbilt Divinity Library Art Collection then enter MAFA in the search box to get to 65
pictures from the life of Christ. (These
can be downloaded free for non-commercial use with attribution.)
Select
pictures that your congregation will easily recognize from the whole life of
Jesus to project without comment throughout the worship service.
Select
pictures from Holy Week to project as you read the gospel.
Print
pictures from Holy Week in order on long sheets of paper (scrolls?) or in a
small booklets for each worshiper to follow as the gospel is read.
Use
pictures from the life of Jesus to have the conversation with children about
why people hated Jesus enough to kill him.
Go to Year A - Palm Passion Sunday and scroll down to the question for details on the conversation.
+ Many congregations devote the sermon time this day to reading the entire Passion story. For worshipers who know the stories well, it is a
powerful review. But those of any age
who are less familiar with the stories find it very long and tend to tune out. Help them stay tuned in by breaking it up,
using a variety of readers and adding little movement. Add a visual element by moving
related props around the sanctuary as the stories are read. The readers, acolytes, or members of a youth class could place the props. Though
children are capable of carrying the props, many adults would be uncomfortable
seeing children carry many of these particular props. The children benefit from watching the props
and hearing the stories.
Choose the readers carefully
and hold a group rehearsal so all are comfortable with their assignments.
Reader
1 – older male to read about the religious leaders’ effort to get rid of Jesus
Reader
2 – woman or older teenage girl to read about Mary of Bethany
Reader
3 – excellent, dramatic reader to read the Last Supper and the Garden of
Gethsemane stories
Reader
4 – young adult male to read about Peter
Reader
5 – older man to read about Pilate
Readers
6 and 7 – older teenage males to read the crucifixion as soldiers
Reader
8 – woman to read about women at the cross
Reader
9 –young adult male to read about Joseph of Arimathea
+ +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ +
Mark 14:1 –
15:47 Readers Script
Reader 1
sits near and reads from a lectern or music stand on one side of the
sanctuary. Readers 2, 3, 4 and 8 sit
near and read in turn from a lectern or music stand on the other side of the
sanctuary. Readers 5, 6, and 7 enter
from the rear of the sanctuary and leave after their scene. Reader 8 is seated in the congregation near
the front where he can easily get out and come to the front to read. Acolytes or prop carriers come up the central
aisle bearing their props, then leave by the side aisle.
Reader
1: It was two days
before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and
the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, “Not during the festival,
or there may be a riot among the people.”
Reader 2:
(Acolyte carries a burning scented
candle up the central aisle leaving it on the Table OR, if incense is part of your
tradition, acolyte comes up central aisle swinging the censer and leaves as the story is read.) While he was at
Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came
with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the
jar and poured the ointment on his head.
But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the
ointment wasted in this way? For this
ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the
money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has
performed a good service for me. For you
always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you
wish; but you will not always have me.
She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its
burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the
good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in
remembrance of her.”
Reader 1: Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of
the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly
pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity
to betray him. (Acolyte drops a bag of money on the Table)
Reader 3:
(Acolyte brings in a loaf and
chalice to set on the Table OR appropriate worship leaders set the Table for
the Sacrament later in the service) On
the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his
disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations
for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent
two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a
jar of water will meet you; follow him,
and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher
asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my
disciples?’ He will show you a large
room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” So the disciples set out and went to the
city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover
meal.
When it was evening, he came with the
twelve. And when they had taken their
places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray
me, one who is eating with me.” They began
to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve,
one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me.
For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by
whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to
have been born.”
While they were eating, he took a loaf of
bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take;
this is my body.” Then he took a cup,
and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many.
Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Reader 4:
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all become
deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I am
raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this
day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three
times.” But he said vehemently, “Even
though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the
same. (Acolyte places a large rooster statue – maybe pottery, a piñata, or a
colorful small banner on a stand - near the front)
Reader 3:
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,
“Sit here while I pray.” He took with
him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved,
even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed
that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things
are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you
want.” He came and found them sleeping;
and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one
hour? Keep awake and pray that you may
not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak.” And again he went away and
prayed, saying the same words. And once
more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they
did not know what to say to him. He came
a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners. Get up, let us be going. See,
my betrayer is at hand.”
Reader 1:
(Acolyte brings in a sword or
club, shows it to the congregation and leans it against the Table.) Immediately, while he was still speaking,
Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords
and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign,
saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under
guard.” So when he came, he went up to
him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his
sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out
with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple
teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.” All of them deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following him,
wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the
linen cloth and ran off naked. They took
Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the
scribes were assembled.
Reader 4: Peter had followed him at a distance,
right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the
guards, warming himself at the fire.
Reader 1: Now the chief priests and the whole council
were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found
none. For many gave false testimony
against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false
testimony against him, saying, “We heard
him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days
I will build another, not made with hands.’ ”
But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and
asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against
you?” But he was silent and did not
answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the
Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am; and
‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the
Power,’
and ‘coming with the clouds of
heaven.’ ”
Then the high
priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your
decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death. (Acolyte carries wooden gavel to the Table and bangs on it like a judge
pronouncing sentence) Some began to
spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!”
The guards also took him over and beat him.
Reader 4:
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the
high priest came by. When she saw Peter
warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man
from Nazareth.” But he denied it, saying,
“I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into
the forecourt. Then the cock
crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing
him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again
he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter,
“Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” But he began to curse, and he swore an oath,
“I do not know this man you are talking about.”
At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter
remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will
deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. (Acolyte
carries the rooster out the central aisle.)
Once the
rooster is out, Readers 5, 6, and 7 march together up the central aisle. Reader 5 turns to face the congregation at
the center of the front. Readers 6 and7
stand to either side of him with authority.
All carry black folders from which they read.
Reader
5 : As soon as it was
morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and
the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to
Pilate. Pilate asked him, “Are you the
King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” Then the chief priests accused him of many
things. Pilate asked him again, “Have
you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further reply, so that
Pilate was amazed.
Now at the festival he used to release a
prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in
prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to
do for them according to his custom.
Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of
the Jews?” For he realized that it was
out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to
have him release Barabbas for them instead.
Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man
you call the King of the Jews?” They
shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate
asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more,
“Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to
satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he
handed him over to be crucified. (Pilate readers walks out the central
aisle.)
Reader 6: (Acolyte
carries a crown of thorns up the central aisle holding it high, then places it
on the Table.) Then the soldiers led
him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters);
and they called together the whole cohort.
And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns
into a crown, they put it on him. And
they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon
him, and knelt down in homage to him.
After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own
clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Reader 7:
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry
his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Reader 6: Then they brought Jesus to the place called
Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).
And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his
clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
Reader 7: It was nine o’clock in the morning when they
crucified him. The inscription of the
charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”
Reader 6: And with him they crucified two
bandits, one on his right and one on his left.
Those who passed by
derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the
temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the
cross!” In the same way the chief
priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and
saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come
down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also
taunted him.
Reader 7: When it was noon, darkness came over the whole
land until three in the afternoon. At
three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema
sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they
said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.”
And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and
gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to
take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud
cry and breathed his last. And the curtain
of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him,
saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s
Son!”
Reader 8: (Standing at the
lectern) There were also women looking on from
a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the
younger and of Joses, and Salome. These
used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were
many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
Reader 9: (Coming
up from the congregation to stand where Pilate reader stood) When evening had come, and since it
was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of
the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God,
went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead;
and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some
time. When he learned from the centurion
that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking
down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had
been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the
tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother
of Joses saw where the body was laid.
Depending on what happens next in worship all readers
exit and props are removed or readers exit but the props remain in place.
NRSV
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+ + + +
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+ + + +
+ + + +
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+ +
+ Peter’s First Easter, by Walter Wangerin Jr., has Peter telling his experiences from the
Last Supper through Jesus forgiveness at the fish fry on the beach. Older boys especially appreciate his
straight-forward, strong but emotional account of what happened. The art depicts Peter and Jesus as strong
believable men. The book is too long to
read in its entirety, but a single story could be read from this book at
children’s time during a service with a sermon rather than reading of The Passion.
Don’t Forget to Peek Ahead
to the Easter Surprise
+ Adult worshipers know that Easter follows this horrible story. But, children, especially younger children
may not. Even if they have heard the
Easter story, they may not place it after the Passion. Older children who may be tuning into this
reading of the full Passion story for the first time, often respond
strongly. So, it
is important to end with a reminder that God has a wonderful surprise waiting.
If
you buried the Alleluia in a box, bring out the box, refer to what is in it,
and invite the children to come next week to celebrate God’s wonderful surprise
ending.
Practice
whispering the word “Alleluia!” and write it in the palms of each child’s hands
as a secret they can hold as they listen to some of the sad scary stories that
come before we get to the “Alleluia story.”
Rev.
Lynne Clements began a Palm Passion service with a children’s time in which she
remembered reading chapter books with her parents at bedtime as she was growing
up. She recalled how hard it was to wait
to hear the ending – even when they had read the book before and she knew the ending.
She then said that Holy Week is a story
week and that some of chapters in that story are sad and scary. She also promised that the ending is really,
really good. So, she encouraged the
children to listen to and think about the chapters we would read today and during
the week and to “be here, right in this room, next Sunday morning to hear and
celebrate the incredible, wonderful ending of the story.”
Looking
Ahead to Holy Week
+
As
you make announcements about Holy Week services and if you really do want
children to attend them, tell them and their parents so very directly.
Give them a hint about one thing that will be particularly interesting or
important for the children as well as for the adults. For example, “On Thursday evening we will
celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the night Jesus invented it. We will hear the story of how it came to be. This is a night for children and parents and
grandparents, for kids and teenagers and adults, for all Christians who love
and follow Jesus.” Or, go to Holy Week Passports Passports for a way to help children and their families track their progress
through Holy Week.
+ Many children and their families find Lent just too long to
follow. They are just now tuning
in. To help them make
Holy Week into a Jesus Week in their homes check out Celebrating Jesus Week.
+
Challenge households
to read part of Luke’s story of the events of Holy Week each day this week. Provide a bookmark/card with readings either
from Mark’s gospel or from the Children of God Storybook Bible. It would even be possible to print one list
on each side of the same bookmark with some Holy Week graphics.
The Holy
Week Stories
from Mark’s
Gospel
Sunday Mark 11:15-19 Jesus Attacks in the Temple
Monday Mark 12:28-34 The Greatest Command
Tuesday Mark
14:12-25 The Last Supper
Wednesday Mark 14:43-50 Jesus is Arrested
Thursday Mark 15:1-15 Pilate condemns Jesus
Friday Mark 15:21-39 Jesus is Crucified
Saturday Mark 15:42-47 Jesus’ Body is Buried
Easter Mark 16:1-8 The Tomb is Empty
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Holy Week Stories from
Children of God Storybook Bible
Palm Sunday: “An
Angel Appears to Mary”
What kind of king were they
expecting?
Monday: “The
Law of Love”
Tuesday: “A
Woman’s Love for Jesus”
Wednesday: “Jesus
Becomes A Servant?”
Maundy Thursday: “Jesus
Shares His Last Meal with his Friends”
Good Friday: “The Trial and
Death of Jesus”
Saturday: “The
Trial and Death of Jesus” again
Because nobody could believe what happened
Easter: “Jesus
Is Alive!”
+ If it is spring
break in public
schools and many families will be traveling and so miss Holy Week services,
encourage them to take their bookmarks with them and to take a picture of
themselves reading the Bible together at the beach, in the mountains, in their
den at home, or wherever they spend Holy Week. Post their photographs on a bulletin board
titled something like “First Church families read THE STORY during Holy Week.” This is one way to resource families to do
home worship and to encourage them to pay some attention to the Holy Week story
even if they do not come to the church during the week.
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