The day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is this Sunday. I don’t like to refer to it as “Easter” because that word has pagan origins. Besides attending a morning Sunday service at church, do you have anything planned as part of the celebration? Here are a few ideas to make the festivities more fun and informative for the entire family.
1. Decorations. Before the event, make streamers or tabletop centerpieces on the theme. Doves and cross-streamers are a lovely touch to an indoor or outdoor space. The same goes for signs with bible verses on them. You can find many other decoration ideas online or come up with them yourself!
2. Crafts Table. Whether you plan to invite friends over or choose to keep it as a family celebration, a crafts table is always a good idea. There could be coloring pages based on the biblical story, stencils to make doves and crosses, and even paint and markers to illustrate a favorite story or memory. These creative ideas will keep children occupied while the adults greet guests, prepare the spread, or just relax. Don’t let the children have all the fun though, as adults can join in at the crafts table too!
3. The Feast. Speaking of a spread, you can spice things up this year by making a meal reminiscent of the Last Supper. It is not certain how long before His crucifixion the Last Supper took place, but most believe that according to John 17, it was the night before.
Though the Bible is clear that unleavened bread and wine were served at the Last Supper, the other foods Jesus and his disciples ate are not stated. What is known is that foods such as dates, bean stew, and even lamb were popular at the time, and you can now find various recipes online. Your children can help you. Older children can prep much of the food or assist with the cooking process itself. Younger children can be put in charge of the food display and be little taste testers too. While everyone is partaking in the meal, discuss the significance of the Last Supper in reference to the resurrection of Christ. What a great way to get the whole family involved!
4. Resurrection. Now that you have shared the significance of the meal relative to His resurrection, discuss the resurrection itself. To make it a little more interactive, prepare certain discussion points with your children ahead of time. If you have guests over, consider playing a game at the end of the story using questions about details from it. Whoever answers the most questions correctly wins the game and gets a prize!
These are a few suggestions that you and your family can consider in celebrating this most eventful time in Christian history, always remembering the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for us.
Please also visit our website and purchase my children’s book It’s Not About You, Mr. Easter Bunny- A Love Letter About the True Meaning of Easter, along with the coloring book and teaching kit. These are all wonderful teaching tools that children will enjoy and learn from, over and over again.