Holy Week - Day One

Each year we celebrate Holy Week as a family and have activities that correspond with what Jesus did that last week of His mortal life. Most of these activities come from the fabulous book - "A Christ-Centered Easter: Day-by-Day Activities to Celebrate Easter Week" by Janet and Joe Hales. 

So here is what we did today:

Palm Sunday (Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem)

Prophecy: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, they King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" - Zechariah 9:9

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12=36

Family Discussion: Discuss the symbolism of using palm branches to usher the Lord into Jerusalem (see this story from the Friend). There is also some great information from the April 2009 Ensign - see the section on "The Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (click here).

Suggested Activities: 

• Begin your Easter week with a "LOA" (Love One Another) table or wall. Cover a table or wall with poster board or butcher paper. Encourage everone to write complimentary notes to each other on the poster throughout the week. Read the comments aloud on Easter Sunday.
• Make palm leaves out of cardstock. Re-enact Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem. While someone reads from the New Testament (see the Scripture Reading above) you can act out what it must have been like. Then discuss the story from the Friend (link above: "Exploring Palms for the Lord")
• Go on a nature walk with your children. Instruct them to find a variety of objects that are significant to the Easter story. For example, find a branch to signify the palm branches thrust at Jesus' feet as he rode a donkey into Jerusalem; a thorn to represent the crown of thorns Jesus wore on his head; a piece of wood to signify the cross to which Jesus was nailed; a rock to represent the stone that rolled away from the open tomb, etc...