Page 130 - MPTSOUTH NEWSLETTER - JAN to JUN 2019 ISSUE

Holy Week Cross,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Most
Catholic churches offer Stations of the Cross, four-
1) Resurrection Eggs : An egg carton filled with a teen plaques circling the interior walls which
dozen plastic eggs, each containing a symbol of depict the final hours of Jesus’ life. You may want
the Holy Week. Each egg is accompanied by to visit and contemplate these, one by one.
twelve brief child-friendly lessons. Reflections
made more exciting for the children. 9) Hot Cross Buns: Traditional Good Friday fare for
the family to make and eat together.
2) Palm Sunday: If your church doesn’t make
much of Palm Sunday, you might consider just Saturday of Holy Week
once attending one that does. For an in-home
celebration, read Matthew 2:1-11 together. If you 10) The Passion: Watch Mel Gibson’s portrayal of
have a large family or a few friends, you can put Jesus’s last hours with older children (warning:
together costumes and act out Jesus’ arrival in graphic but realistic violence). If your children are
Jerusalem. younger, watch the Jesus Film Project’s beautiful-
ly crafted evangelical movie, scripted only with
3) Seeds: Seeds offer a clear message to children of words from the Gospel of Luke.
the power of new life. Rest eggshell halves filled
with soil in egg carton. Young children are not Easter Sunday
abstract thinkers. To learn, they need to see. Expe-
riences like growing seeds or bulbs give them a 11) Easter Greeting: Greet each other with “Alleluia,
concrete image, providing a bridge into the the Lord is risen!” and answer “He is risen indeed!”
abstract concept of new life. Plant any seed in
each (or even grass seed for fastest results). Place 12) Sunrise Service: Attend one offered by a church,
in sunny window. or climb a hill with your family, worship together,
and share a picnic breakfast.
4) Art Museums: The Passion of Christ is the
most-portrayed subject of Western artists. If you 13) Special music: Listen together to Sandi Patti’s Enriching Your
live in a metropolitan area, a visit to your local art moving “Was it a Morning Like This?” Listen again.
museum may give your family much to ponder. Discuss how it must have felt to see our risen Lord.
Was anyone who saw him ever the same? Jesus Holy Week Family Tradition
5) Housecleaning: Wednesday of Holy Week has said those who believe without having seen are
been a traditional day in many countries for blessed (John 20:29).
housecleaning — from the Jewish custom of By Margie S. Danes, Finance
cleaning before Passover. 14) New clothes: New converts were traditionally
baptized at Easter, wearing new white garments
6) Passover: Each year more Christians are drawn to symbolize their new life. If your family has new Holy week is a time for repentance and a time for renewal of faith. It
to celebrate Passover, the feast commemorating Easter outfits, share with your children where this
the departure of the Israelites from slavery (Exo- tradition came from. is normally celebrated at home with the whole family. For some, it is
dus 12). Jesus had come to Jerusalem to celebrate celebrated through a pleasant and relaxing trip or adventure. Others,
and was actually crucified on Passover Day. He is Somewhere in the Easter celebration, you may be
the fulfillment of this tradition, as our own Pass- coloring eggs and visiting relatives. Eggs then can are in to tradition of Visita Iglesia in which seven churches are nor-
over Lamb. become subtle way of sharing the Good News of mally visited during the Lent season. Regardless on how or where it
Jesus Christ. Like seeds, eggs are very much a
7) Foot Washing: This Maundy Thursday event symbol of new life. Traditionally they were also a was celebrated, what is important is that we keep on mind the true
speaks volumes about Jesus’s desire for us to symbol of Easter joy because they were a forbid- essence of holy week – Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to
serve. Read John 13. Wrap a towel around your den item during Lent. Nowadays, dyed to take to
waist, as Jesus did, and wash your children’s feet. grandmother’s for an annual Easter egg hunt, save us from our sins.
Your lives might never be the same. they can bear all manner of joyful messages.

Good Friday Share with unbelieving relatives and friends what Below are some more ways on how to enrich your own family’s cele-
your family is doing for Easter this year — maybe
8) Three Hours: Observe Jesus’ crucifixion by read- next year they’ll join in. Whatever traditions you bration of the holy week season. Choose a few from this collection,
ing the Biblical account together. Sing old hymns keep, remember that for believers Easter is a cele- share their meaning in whatever words your children, family or love
of the Crucifixion and the Cross: “Were You There bration that really never ends like the never-end-
When They Crucified My Lord?” “The Old Rugged ing love of Jesus. ones will understand, and keep the ones you like as part of your fami-
ly’s Easter heritage.