Holy Week Journey Candle Ritual:
Set up 5 candles. Maybe you want to put other symbols of Holy Week with the candles. Each day, you will light one less candle, and on Friday, you will “shroud” (cover) the candles. Maybe you want to do this during a meal time or before bed, or some other regular time of the day.
Sunday April 5
● Worship: Remember to tune on to Facebook Live at 10:30 and join River of Hope for worship!
● Family Devotion:
○ Light all 5 candles and discuss the word Hosanna!
○ Click here to view and print the Kid’s Bulletin for Palm Sunday for some great activities.
○ Click here to view and print the Family Activities page. There are activities for each day of the week and can be used at the Family Devotion time all week.
● Activities:
○ Click here to view and print a family Palm Sunday activity. This would be good to use during the family devotion time! The activities are good for all ages.
○ There is a wonderful PBS documentary on Netflix that walks us from Palm Sunday to the crucifixion. It is narrated by Hugh Bonneville of Downtown Abby fame.
● Prayer: Pray for all the people who are not able to spend this Palm Sunday with the people they love during this “shelter in place” time.
Monday April 6
● Family Worship/Devotion
○ Candle Prompt: Light 4 candles as we make our way to Good Friday.
○ Refer back to the Family Activities Page to find the scripture verse for today.
● Activities:
○ Take time to create your own Alleluia ribbon wands to use on Easter Sunday.
○ Continue to work on the coloring pages from the Palm Sunday hand outs.
● Prayer: Pray that God would show us how we can “go out” and love our neighbor today, even when we are safe at home.
Tuesday April 7
● Family Worship/Devotion
○ Candle Prompt: Light 3 candles as we make our way to Good Friday.
○ Refer back to the two Family Activities Pages to find the scripture verse for today.
● Activities:
○ Again, refer back to the two hand outs – what activity can you do together as a family today?
○ As you prayed for God to show you ways to “go out”, find an opportunity to do one of those today!
● Prayer: Pray for all of the staff at hospitals and clinics – doctors, nurses, food service staff, custodial staff, security, IT staff, and others. Thank God for their willingness to serve others who need medical care today.
Wednesday April 8
● Family Worship/Devotion
○ Candle Prompt: Light 2 candles as we make our way to Good Friday.
○ Refer back to the two Family Activities Pages to find the scripture verse for today.
● Activities:
○ Again, refer back to the two hand outs – what activity can you do together as a family today?
○ Plan a meal that you can cook together as a family.
● Prayer: Pray for those who are food insecure tonight – whether because they do not have enough money or a way to get to the grocery store. Pray for ways to share from our abundance with those who have little.
Maundy Thursday April 9
● Family Worship/Devotion
○ Candle Prompt: Light 1 candles as Good Friday draws near.
○ Click here to view and print a Maundy Thursday Children’s Bulletin
○ Click here to view and print a Maundy Thursday Family Activity
● Activities:
○ Check out this Maundy Thursday Crossword
○ Author Max Lucado’s book “On Calvary’s Hill” has a beautiful section on foot washing. Hear this read aloud at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCMHSlPXiMc
○ After listening, journal or discuss with others one thing that stood out to you from this familiar story.
○ There is a movie version of the Gospel of Matthew. You can literally sit down with your Bible and follow along from verse 1, chapter 1 right through to chapter to Chapter 28:20. The movie was recorded using the NIV version. You could take a lot of time and watch the entire story – or fast forward to the section on the last supper. Both are available on YouTube.
■ Here is the link for the 4 hour movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmK9Mvsyfqs
■ Here is a shorter length clip to find the section on the Last Supper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zSLG0Se8Ag … fast forward to 4:16
○ Family Movie Night! Watch The Prince of Egypt together to have a deeper understanding of the Passover. When Jesus sat down to supper with his friends, it was to eat the Passover meal. This is an amazing animation of the story of Moses and God freeing the Israelites. It is available on Amazon Prime.
Prayer: Pray for opportunities to follow the new command of Jesus – to love one another!
Good Friday April 10
● Family Worship/Devotion
○ Candle Prompt: Leave all candles unlit and cover with a cloth. The light has gone out – until Easter Morning.
○ Click here to view and print a Good Friday children’s bulletin
○ Click here to view and print a Good Friday Family Activity
● Activities:
○ A wonderful meditation on Peter’s denial. https://buildfaith.org/could-peter-forgive-himself/
○ There is a really old, CLASSIC movie called The Robe on Amazon. It takes a different look at the crucifixion , from the perspective of the Centurion who won Jesus’ robe in a roll of the dice. It’s available on Amazon to rent for $3.99.
○ Watch Mel Gibson’s “The Passion” on Prime. It is really… REAL. If you haven’t seen it, the movie is subtitled in English as the actors speak Aramaic – the language that Jesus spoke. It is really graphic as it tells the story of what happens with crucifixion
- Remember that empty Easter Egg you collected last week? Fill it ½ way with dried beans, popcorn, or rice to make your own Alleluia egg! When we gather together on Sunday to celebrate the empty tomb, we will shake our eggs in joy!
● Prayer: Pray for a deeper understanding of suffering; the suffering that Jesus chose on our behalf and the suffering that others experience and do not choose. Ask for a heart of compassion and opportunities to relieve the suffering of others.
