Holy Week is one of the most significant weeks on the Christian calendar. It chronicles Christ’s final week of ministry, his arrest, death, and resurrection. Despite its importance, my efforts to prepare my family for Easter year after year always feel lacking. Each spring, I tell myself, “This year we’ll be intentional.” Yet as the weeks fly by, Easter comes and goes before I’m prepared for it, and I find myself thinking, “Maybe next year.”
Perhaps you feel the same way. Between work, school, and all the other activities that fill our schedules, how can parents prepare their family for Easter? Below are four practices and a word of encouragement for families who want to create intentional moments for Holy Week this year.
In our social media-driven society, you may feel pressure to create a picture-worthy experience of your Holy Week. This time of year, our feeds are flooded with images of families who do everything from daily special activities to Easter-themed crafts and snacks. These carefully curated snapshots can make any parent feel like a failure.
But consider Jesus’s final meal with his disciples. It took place in a borrowed room with followers who were awkward, who often missed the point, and who didn’t fully know what was happening. Resist the urge to make a production out of your Holy Week—it doesn’t have to be posted to social media to be impactful. Pick one small action step that turns your family’s attention to Christ’s work on the cross.
As your children mature, your approach to observing Holy Week should mature as well. Preschool and elementary children need hands-on experiences—they need to see, hear, touch, and, when possible, taste and smell Holy Week. As with most activities for this age, make it quick, simple, and fun. Here are some ideas:
For older elementary and middle school students, lead with curiosity. Ask your children, “What do you know about Holy Week?” “Why is Holy Week important to us as Christians?” Invite them to explore what the Bible says about the final week of Jesus’s ministry. Here are a few key passages you can read together. Consider reading one portion of the story a day and discussing what you discover in the passage.
As your students enter high school, your goal is to move them toward personal reflection. You want them to own their faith. Invite them into the planning process by asking them what they would like to do during Holy Week. Be open to their ideas. If you’re met with indecision or indifference, offer ideas like a Bible reading plan or a short video study.
You don’t need to start from scratch to determine how to focus on Holy Week with your family. Rely on established practices. You can start with the resources your church offers, like a reading plan it provides or family activities it suggests. You can also look into local immersive experiences that chronicle Jesus’s final week and make plans to attend the special services your church holds, including Good Friday. While younger children may struggle with a more somber service and moody teens may protest over missed plans with friends, gathering with other believers to remember Christ’s death is worth the effort.
Starting with something that has already been created can help when you’re short on time or creativity. The RightNow Media library has a curated list of Easter resources for all ages and interest levels. Carve out time to gather as a family to watch an age-appropriate series. For older middle school and high school students, J.D. Greear’s five-session Easter series is a great option. For elementary and preschool, consider this animated story from Stories from the Storyteller.
Remember that every family has a personality as unique as a fingerprint. The way you approach Easter as a family will not look the same as another family. For some families, engaging thoughtfully about Easter will come naturally and with enthusiasm. For others, it may be a struggle. If you’ve never been intentional about the week leading up to Easter, you may experience some resistance from your family. Regardless of the outcome, remember that any movement toward focusing on Easter is worth the effort.
Lasting from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, Holy Week counts for eight days in the church calendar. But Christians live the embodied message of Christ’s death, resurrection, and promised return year-round. In Deuteronomy 6:4–8, God instructed the Israelites to pass their faith on to their children. He told them to talk with their family about their faith in the mornings, throughout the day, and as they went to sleep. We have the same opportunity to talk with our families daily, from sunup to sundown. Be encouraged, it’s never too late to proclaim with joy: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
If you’re a decision-maker at your organization, request a free consultation to find out how RightNow Media can equip and inspire your people.
Not a decision-maker?
Tell your pastor about RightNow Media instead.
.svg){kind=icon}
.jpg)
