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Holy Week and Easter at home

The most important week of the Christian year, a few minutes each day: from the crowds on Palm Sunday to the empty tomb on Easter morning. For families with children of any age. Easter is Sunday, March 28.

How it works

  • Five days, a few minutes each, at dinner or before bed.
  • Each day has one thing to do together. Children remember what they do.
  • Stop whenever someone is done. One step counts. Answers can be said, pointed to, drawn, or skipped.
  • Going to church too? Many churches hold short services on Thursday and Friday evenings, and an early one on Easter. Children are welcome at all of them.

Palm Sunday · Sunday, March 21

The king on a donkey

Read

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a young donkey, and the crowds spread branches and cloaks on the road.

Read Mark 11:1–11

1 When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 2 and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.” 4 They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him. 5 Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?” 6 They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 They brought the young donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8 Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and spreading them on the road. 9 Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

Do

Wave branches (or paper ones), and say what the crowd shouted. Loud or quiet both count: shout it, whisper it, or just wave.

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

In plain words “Hosanna” was a cheer that meant “Save us!” The crowd was welcoming a king.

Mark 11:9, World English Bible.

Ask everyone

Kings rode horses. Why do you think Jesus chose a donkey?

Or, a simpler one: Which is bigger, a horse or a donkey? Which is gentler?

Pray

Lord Jesus, you came gently, on a donkey.Please be with us this week. Amen.

Thursday · Thursday, March 25

The last supper

Read

At supper, Jesus kneels and washes his friends’ feet, the job nobody wanted. Then he gives them a new commandment.

Read John 13:1–15

1 Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” 12 So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you.

World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

Do

At dinner, serve each other: one person pours the water or serves the food for everyone else. If everyone wants to, you can also wash each other’s hands with a bowl and a towel; skip it for anyone who doesn’t like wet hands or being touched.

Ask everyone

Jesus did the job nobody wanted. What job could you do for someone this week?

Or, a simpler one: Name one job at home: setting the table, feeding the dog, carrying the bags.

Pray

Jesus said:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.”

Lord Jesus, you served your friends.Teach us to serve each other. Amen.

John 13:34, World English Bible.

Good Friday · Friday, March 26

The cross

Read

Even on the cross, Jesus takes care of his mother and his friend. Then he says, “It is finished.”

In plain words Jesus died on a cross. It was real, and it was sad, and his friends cried. But it is not the end of the story: on Sunday, he is alive.

Read John 19:25–30

25 But standing by Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

With young children, this is enough: “Today we remember that Jesus died, because he loves us. Sunday is coming.” If they ask something you can’t answer, “I don’t know all of it” is a good answer.

Do

Keep some quiet: one silent minute together by a candle, or turn screens off for a while. If quiet is hard, a calm activity like drawing or a slow walk counts.

Ask everyone

Even on the cross, Jesus made sure his mother would be looked after. Who looks after you?

Pray

Lord Jesus, you died for us because you love us.Thank you.Please be with everyone who is sad today. Amen.

Saturday · Saturday, March 27

The quiet day

Read

Jesus’ friends lay his body in a tomb and roll a stone across the door. The women sit and watch.

Read Matthew 27:57–61

57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came. 58 This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up. 59 Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

Do

Get ready for Easter while you wait: color eggs, pick flowers, or set the table for tomorrow.

Ask everyone

Have you ever had to wait without knowing how something would turn out? What was it like?

Or, a simpler one: Jesus’ friends had to wait. Pick a word for how they felt: sad, scared, confused or tired.

Pray

Lord, when we have to wait in sad times,stay with us,and give us hope. Amen.

Easter morning · Sunday, March 28

He is risen

Greet each other

Christians have greeted each other this way on Easter for centuries. One says the first line, everyone answers:

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

If you put away an “Alleluia” card for Lent, bring it out now.

Read

Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb in the dark and finds it empty. She doesn’t recognize Jesus until he says her name.

Read John 20:1–18

1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!” 3 Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. 5 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11 But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!” 17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

Ask everyone

Mary knew Jesus when he said her name. What would you want to say to him?

Or, a simpler one: Say “Hello, Jesus” together, or draw the empty tomb.

Pray

Thank you, God, that Jesus is alive again.Death is not the end,and we are yours forever. Amen.

And after

Easter isn’t one day. The church keeps it for fifty days, until Pentecost, so keep saying the greeting at dinner for a while.

More for this week

Lent at home · This Sunday · Find a church for Easter

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.