So, Easter is only 2 weeks away. Good Friday is two weeks away. Where did those weeks go? Wasn't it Christmas yesterday?
Last Easter, we were between houses (staying with my parents). We didn't get much build-up to Easter. It just sort of happened. This year, I'm a little more prepared. In the same way we don't want our family Christmas to be all about Santa and presents, we don't want Easter to be all about eating chocolate eggs and rabbits. So, we are developing some Easter family traditions...
1) Easter Bible readings
I've chosen 11 Easter readings (including one for Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday). These readings are loosely based on the "resurrection eggs" (see picture - each egg contains a small token to remind us of a part of the Easter story (e.g. a donkey, silver coins, a piece of cloth, a spear...)
Thursday 29/3 - Matthew 21:1-11 - Jesus' entry into Jerusalem
Friday 30/3 - Matthew 26: 1-5 - Judas' betrayal of Jesus
Saturday 31/3 - Matthew 26: 17-30 - The last supper
Sunday 1/4 - Matthew 26: 36-46 - Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane
Monday 2/4 - Matthew 26: 47-56 - Jesus is arrested
Tuesday 3/4 - Matthew 27: 11-26 - Jesus on trial
Wednesday 4/4 - Matthew 27: 27-31 - The crowd mocks Jesus
Thursday 5/4 - Matthew 27: 32-37 - Jesus carries the cross/ casting lots for his clothes
Good Friday - Matthew 27: 45-54 - Jesus' death
Easter Saturday - Matthew 27: 57-66 - Jesus is buried
Easter Sunday - Matthew 28: 1-10 - Jesus is alive!
We do these readings from an adult Bible, but will also follow-up with reading the Easter account from our kids' Bibles and any other Easter books we have.
2) Our Easter "Basket"
This was an activity for the kids to work on when we were at home sick last week. This box will house our resurrection eggs - and on Easter Sunday, some chocolate eggs too!
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| We cut out some pretty paper |
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| Miss 15 months used play-dough scissors (no blade) |
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| Later, we just started tearing the paper |
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| And gluing it to our shoe-box |
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I added the word "Risen" to the top of the box with letter stickers
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3) Other Easter fun
I would love to have a special activity to go with each of the Easter readings but (a) I can't think of something unique for each day and (b) I am going to be doing some training for work just before Easter, so probably won't have time to do too much anyway!
Here are a few ideas we probably will do...
Thursday 29/3 - Jesus' entry into Jerusalem - a collage craft with a donkey, and palm leaves (or other leaves as necessary!)
Saturday 31/3 - The last supper - a passover meal. We have done this for the past 2 years - lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs (greens), with red wine for grown-ups
Sunday 1/4 - Gethsemane - Make an Easter garden. See this link for details
Good Friday - Jesus' death - Hot Cross Buns, attend church
Easter Sunday - Jesus is alive - "Jesus is alive" cake with cracked (hollow) Easter egg on top, Easter egg hunt, attend church.
What are your Easter traditions? Can you give me any more ideas?
