What we did to celebrate Holy Week 2025
Here is what Ryan and I did to celebrate Easter this year. Hannah and Alex joined us for the activities from Tuesday onward. It was actually quite a lot of work, but we wanted to try to make this Easter Holiday as celebrated as Christmas! We took advantage of activities that were put on by our ward and community as well. It was an uplifting week.
Palm Sunday- The Triumphal Entry
We went to a special concert to celebrate Christ's triumphal entry. It was put on for the public by nearby stakes, they performed songs about the Savior like "This is The Christ" and then the orchestra did an amazing job playing some songs from Handel's Messiah. If you ever get the chance to listen to Handel's Messiah live I cannot recommend it enough, it is so powerful. I cried the whole time, and got goosebumps when we all sang "hallelujah" together. It was very loud, bright, and joyful and the stage was decorated with palm leaves.
Monday- Jesus cleanses the Temple
We went to temple and read in the scriptures about Jesus cleansing the temple. We talked about these things as we walked together around the temple grounds with Melody:
-If anyone had a right to cleanse the temple, it would be Jesus, it's His house
-The temple had to be cleansed so that the people who needed to feel peace could come and be healed.
-Healing is free
Tuesday- Jesus teaches at the temple and mount of olives Matthew 25:31-46
We talked about service and then we did service for a sister in the ward who needed help moving.
"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Wednesday- No scriptural record
The main idea on this day was that although we don't know for sure what happened on this day during Holy Week we can imagine what Jesus may have done, extrapolating from what we know in the scriptures about His life. I had everyone close their eyes and picture the Savior, and what He did during His ministry. We went around sharing one verb at a time about what the Savior did while He was here "love, heal, accept, teach, preside, bless, obey, sacrifice, etc." Then we went for a walk and took pictures of everything that made us think of Him. Here are some of my favorites:
Thursday- Sacrament and the Garden of Gethsemane
We shared the scriptures where Jesus instituted the sacrament and we played a game where we each thought about one thing the sacrament symbolized and shared and went around and around until we couldn't think of any more symbols. Ryan took notes and so the symbols we thought of are attached... it was amazing what we learned from each other and we invited everyone to read the document during the Sacrament on Sunday. Examples of symbols we thought of:
-The deacons go into the foyers; it’s like looking for the lost sheep
-Small bread; some bigger; some smaller; It doesn’t matter if your sins are big or small. Christ covers you
-John 4:14 Whosoever drinks of the water that Christ shall give, shall have a well of everlasting life springing up in them; they shall no longer thirst
Friday- Jesus is Crucified
We gave a spiritual thought about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and had asked beforehand for everyone's favorite hymn or song about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I instructed everyone not to talk for the duration of the playlist. We listened as we painted our own replica of the tomb (I had also cut out the pieces of cardboard and painted one layer of white beforehand)
The songs were
Oh Lord My Redeemer- Jeff Goodrich
I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus- Emily Brown
The Loneliest Walk- David Osmond
There is a Green Hill Far Away- Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Here is the playlist on youtube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6jRys7OIcYFMYIJY4e7k_6XTkAB6UpuM&si=K5YepNbS9oyAc0JC
Saturday- Jesus teaches in the Spirit World
We attended our ward's Easter activity (I think I also made the mural from all of our photos on this day. I used painters tape to make a Jesus shaped outline and then cut and taped up the pictures on the wall along the edges of the tape, and then I removed the tape.) I think this would have been a good day to do some family history research, think of some family stories to share, and prepare some photos for the activity the next day. It would also be a cool day to go to the temple and do vicarious work if the temple is open!
Easter Sunday- The Resurrection
This activity is the one that I know I want to do every year. We opened the tomb (I had put some photos of loved ones who had passed away inside). In order to teach the children (which this time was only Melody) about our loved ones and ancestors who passed away we took turns holding a picture and "introducing" them to Melody. We shared memories and our feelings about them and in the end we shared our testimony about how we will be with them again because of Jesus Christ. We had a celebratory dinner where we ate Shepard's pie (no meat) and dishes that may have been eaten in Jesus's time(inspired by videos on youtube including this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBDPbuhBdiI). We also exchanged gifts centered on Jesus including paintings of Him, coloring books, temple clothes, books, and other things (the gifts were also in the tomb).
We referenced the Holy Week scripture study on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' website https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2011/04/easter-week?lang=eng
and a scripture study that a sister in our ward made but I don't have that one anymore.
The Symbols of the Sacrament: Hannah, Angeles, Alex, Ryan (in that order)
Christ’s Body and Blood
Putting others before yourself
Sacrament Sheet is like covering a body
Bread is a physical healing and Water is a Spiritual healing
Renewing Covenants
How Christ’s atonement is free because of how cheap bread and water is
Breaking of bread is like Christ’s broken body
Eating is taking Christ into ourselves and becoming more like Him; you are what you eat
Continued hope for the future because partaking of the atonement is a desire to change
Readily available to all. Christ’s miracles are for all.
Prayer is by the Spirit because the were given by the God.
We can be sustained by bread and water
We can help pass it to others; we didn’t make it, but can still offer it to others
We take sacrament when all are together; even when noisy children are there
Taking it with your right hand; being on the right hand of God
Bishop takes the sacrament first; We wait on him like we wait on the Savior
Comments
Post a Comment