Making Room for the Cross at Home -Easter Sunday-

Written by the Hobbit and Elf on 4/7/2020
This post on family Easter at Home contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.

Observing Holy Week and Easter at Home: Why & What Is It?

This 4 part series is about the week leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection, and how we can make room for that during this pandemic and isolation.

No one anticipated that Easter services would be at home this year. But then again, the disciples weren’t expecting the resurrection to look like it did either. So we’re in good company to have a truly moving Easter experience. Our hope is that even though this Holy Week is virtual, that it will be a deep and meaningful week that your family will always remember.

Observing Holy Week at home is not just for Catholics or other more classical church believers. What is Holy Week? It is, on the church calendar, the week before Easter. It begins the Sunday before Easter on Palm Sunday. It is important to note here that the church calendar itself does nothing for us in and of itself. What it does is provide reminders and helpful seasons (or rhythms) to help keep ourselves open to God. It has deepened our spiritual lives and we hope that it will deepen yours.

You can find part one on Palm Sunday here, part two on Maundy Thursday here and part three on Good Friday here.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday and the churches are closed. Family Easter at home this year. It’s very surreal.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem cheered as a king, was convicted as a heretic, and died a horrific death on the cross all within a weeks time. Three days after he was crucified and buried, He rose from the dead. Dying for our sins so that we can have a relationship with God and have the hope of Heaven.

“Tomorrow we shall celebrate the glorious Resurrection of Christ! Away with tears and fears and troubles! Let us lift up our hearts! ‘At some future time perhaps even these things it will be a joy to recall.'” C.S. Lewis discussing celebrating Easter during World War II. The Quotable Lewis.

We we are in a situation that is overwhelming, in various ways, for us all. Some of us are sick, some are grieving, and all are experiencing a new normal. Today is a day of supreme comfort though as it indeed God’s yes to eternal life.  We hope you are able to find joy in this today.

The Story

The resurrection is in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). This excerpt is from Matthew:

Matthew 28:1-10  New International Version

Jesus Has Risen
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Activities for Family Easter at Home

1) A Scavenger Hunt that tells the Easter story.

We know that some of you have access to a big backyard. Some may be in a third floor apartment. And in some places it will be sunny and in others raining. So we have tried to make this work for everyone. 
A) Something green to remind us of Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and people waved Palm leaves.B) A book that teaches us something to remind us that Jesus spent the first part of the week teaching people about the Kingdom of God. 
C) A piece of bread, biscuit, anything made of grain OR something dark red/purple to remind us of the Last Supper (Maundy Thursday).
D) Something that is wood or looks like wood to remind us that Jesus died on a wooden cross on Good Friday
E) Find something with a hole in it. This could be anything from a doughnut to an old shirt. The hole represents the tomb of Jesus.
F) A rock, a stone, or anything similar to be the stone that is rolled away from the tomb on Easter morning!

2) Stream a service together. You could even stream a couple, and some of your favorite worship music.

3) How can you bless someone today? Through reaching out, a card, delivering groceries, helping financially- what is something you as a family can do together?

4) Make an empty tomb with legos, play doh, or by drawing it and talk about what it means for you and for others.

Prayer:

Praying with Younger Kids:

Thank you God for preparing a way for us. You died on the cross for our sins and came back to life so that we can be with God forever in Heaven. Even though we can be grumpy and tired of staying at home, we are so very thankful for our house and our family. We pray that this weekend would bring hope to a lot of people and that we can be an encouragement to our neighbors. Amen

A prayer adapted from the Book of Common Prayer:

Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels,
and let your trumpets shout Salvation
for the victory of our mighty King.
Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth,
bright with a glorious splendor,
for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.
Rejoice and be glad now, all Christians,
and let our homes today
resound with the praises of your people.
Everyone pray with me to God the Almighty
for the grace to sing the worthy praise of our God;
through Jesus Christ his Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

We hope that this was helpful for you.

-You can find more family activities in our other Holy Week at Home posts. Part one covered Palm Sunday here. Part two is on Maundy Thursday and part three is on Good Friday.

-You can find more of our faith and family posts here.

-Are you needing something to do virtually with your life or small group? We have reviews and group discussion guides for I Still Believe, The Chosen, and Breakthrough with Overcomer as well.

We would love to hear how you are celebrating family Easter at home- drop us a comment below!

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