Our Holy Week

UPDATE: Please Follow This Link
to my updated, all inclusive LENT IDEAS POST!

UPDATE: Please Follow This Link
to my update, all inclusive HOLY WEEK & EASTER POST!

I am so thrilled that Holy Week 2011 is coming in just a few days. Here are some of the activities we have planned.        

Palm Sunday: Have A Parade for Jesus!
Here’s a link to an illustrated printable story of Palm Sunday.
We plan to try some palm weaving, and have a mini parade for Jesus.
Make a hands palm tree like we did last year?
St Brigid's Cross from palms - click here!




The Palm Sunday Song Words by Harrison Woodard 
While waving palms, sing to the tune “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain” Note: The words in parentheses may be spoken, shouted, or omitted.

He’ll be riding on a donkey When he comes (Praise God!)
He’ll be riding on a donkey When he comes (Praise God!)
He’ll be riding on a donkey, He’ll be riding on a donkey,
He’ll be riding on a donkey When he comes (Praise God!)
Oh, we'll all go out to meet him When he comes (Our King!)
Oh, we'll all go out to meet him When he comes (Our King!)
Oh, we'll all go out to meet him, We'll all go out to meet him,
We'll all go out to meet him When he comes (Praise God! Our King!)
We'll be waving our palm branches When he comes (God’s Son!)
We'll be waving our palm branches When he comes (God’s Son!)
We'll be waving our palm branches, We'll be waving our palm branches,
We'll be waving our palm branches When he comes
(Praise God! Our King! God’s Son!)
We’ll be shouting out “Hosanna!” When he comes (We’re Saved!)
We’ll be shouting out “Hosanna!” When he comes (We’re Saved!)
We’ll be shouting out “Hosanna!”, We’ll be shouting out “Hosanna!”,
We’ll be shouting out “Hosanna!” When he comes
(Praise God! Our King! God’s Son! We’re Saved!)

Holy Week Mon-Wed:
We will watch inspirational portrayals of Jesus in The Passion of The Christ [For ages 10?-100] and The Animated Passion [For ages 0-12 and families]. Also for the kids on the true meaning of Easter: Veggie Tales 'Twas the Night Before Easter and An Easter Carol. Both available on Netflix Instant Movies!   


    

Holy Thursday:
We will eat our Sweet Unleavened Bread (click for recipe) and grapes for a meal, while my husband reads the passage of The Last Supper. And we may wash each other’s feet according to scripture.
 

Good Friday: A Sorrowful Mysteries Rosary is most appropriate, along with The Stations of the Cross for Children (Activity below ages 2-6).

This stained glass cross suncatcher idea came from the blog: Ten Kids and a Dog found via Catholic Icing's Holy Week linkup.

Preschool Activity: Stations of the Cross matchup lapbook found at Catholic Icing. My toddler and preschooler love this activity, and it's been a fun way to teach them The Way of the Cross at home.

The stations images are not available online any longer. For my older kids, I made Stations of the Cross Coloring Sheets using the lovely artworks of GospelGlass.com as inspiration. You can find it here:

 
Funny thing, these little circles (cut and laminated) fit perfectly into this cap from a mailing tube I got once. They are perfect for matching up to the Stations lapbook.  


  Last year JoAnn’s had this wonderful cross to hang on our front door. It speaks to what we believe Easter is about, that being Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. Spring bunnies and candy are no comparison. I think more people need to see signs of Christ rather than Spring – just as at Christmas we have the Nativity displayed rather than Santa and presents. Our focus can be so easily lost.






Here's A Link to Last Year’s Cross Activity.





Holy Saturday: We will take our crown of thorns, with thorns removed by good deeds, and paint it with bright colors and glue on flowers.



We will also discuss waiting, anticipation, and uncertainty. Link for parents. The "Bean Good" sacrifice beans and big deeds toothpick thorns have been replaced by these crosses (purple + paperclips found at Office Depot). I will tell the kids that all those sacrifices are a way to "Carry Our Cross" as Jesus did.


Color a Paschal Candle
Make a Christ Light stained glass candle holder
Paint a Paschal Candle for Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday: Our Forever Tree will be empty of the Jesus Tree scripture cards, so we will begin the 50 Days of Easter with hanging Eggs from each hook. Each egg filled with a scripture passage and a treat.


At the Dollar Tree I bought 3 packs of plastic eggs (so I’d have 50), eggs with holes in the top to add colored floss for hanging. I then added daily scriptures and a treat. [2011 Printable daily scriptures to include click here.] Keep in mind these readings are for this year. Write a number on each egg to easily find the correct scripture. Finally I hung them on our Easter Tree.