What do you do to make Easter meaningful?

[liz]

We've got kids ages 10-21! -- and I want to really bring home the true meaning of Easter. Any ideas?

Also, if you've been at church all morning, what do you have for a nice lunch??

Thanks!

[mellifera]

was to practice Lent. Or do you say participate in Lent. At any rate, we're Protestants with a few close Catholic friends and decided that Lent was something we wanted to do. We included readings from the Gospels with giving up something and looked on it as a kind of fast. Because of the readings, they are getting a lot more of the back story of Easter, and because Easter will be the end of the fast, the celebration part will hit home a bit more clearly (I think).

Obviously you can't do Lent this year if you aren't already doing it, but you could do some readings/discussions with your kids before Easter.

[PariSarah]

was to practice Lent.

:iagree:

This is the first year in a long time that we haven't practiced Lent (our current church is wonderful in every way, but the liturgical calendar just isn't there), and I feel so unprepared and uninvested in Easter.

I won't ever do that again.

I mean, you know, Easter will be Easter no matter how I feel about it, and I'll have a grand old intellectual affirmation of the importance of Christ's resurrection, no matter what my emotional investment in the day is. But, you know, it's really nice when you feel what you know. Not necessary at all, but very, very nice.

[liz]

When the girls were really young - about 3 and 5 years maybe. I was reading the Bible story aloud to them - just portions each day - and when I came to the part about how they were so CRUEL and disrespectful to Jesus (you know, the slaps in the face, etc.), I just burst into tears! I think that probably got the point across quite nicely since they seldom see Mommy cry!

However, now they are older. We are reading a chapter or two of John each day and will be at the resurrection on Sunday.

I think what you two are saying about Lent is that, basically, there is value to planning Easter activities in advance and getting our minds centered EARLY on what is important. (But that is so hard with home-schooling, I think -- because the schooling and live take up most of my mind!!!)

[Tina]

Easter service at church, and sometimes the Wednesday night Lenten services, tho they haven't worked out for us this year. The best year was when I read Vinegar Boy out loud to the kids. Put you right with Christ in the last days, and really moved us. Just thought of this again today, but the book never got returned when I loaned it out. Time to get another copy. :)

[liz]

I remember reading about that book somewhere. Is it too graphic? I'd love to read it to the family next year --- but I don't like anything too "gross" - gives me nightmares!

[percytruffle]

:This is the first year in a long time that we haven't practiced Lent (our current church is wonderful in every way, but the liturgical calendar just isn't there), and I feel so unprepared and uninvested in Easter.

I know what you mean. Having grown up and worshipped into my 30's in an Episcopal church that was full of liturgical beauty and church calendar celebrations, it is a struggle for me now to become fully a part of our new denomination. I love the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, but I so miss the church year. There is such preparation for and meaning in each celebration. I miss Lent and Advent very, very much.

Anyway, we do have a tradition in our family that we do most years at Easter time. We make Pysanky, Ukrainian Easter eggs. There are pics and links up at my blog if anyone is interested.

One year we baked the empty tomb cookies that you leave in the oven overnight without opening the oven door. The next morning you take them out and the insides of the cookies are hollow.

We usually read the resurrection story at the Easter dinner table. I type it up in parts for each person to read a section.

Often on Good Friday we watch "Jesus of Nazareth".

For food after church we usually have a big breakfast type meal with eggs and a breakfast meat and sweet rolls. Then, later in the afternoon we have our Easter dinner. Breakfast before church is, um, candy. :D

[liz]

That gives me a few more ideas. I don't think even my kids would let us getting away with just eating candy for breakfast!!!! - tho they'd love the thought of it! But it might be fun to have a big brunch for lunch! - we seldom do that on Sundays. :) (And we need a calm morning, since my husband will be preaching the Easter service.)

Watching an Easter-type video could be very good, too.

Thanks for the thoughts?

[Cindy in the NH Woods]

I have been using a beautiful Lenten devotional called *The Lenten Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for Christ's Death and His Resurrection*, by Dean Meador Smith (Abingdon Press). I was going to make a hanging canvas quilt block shaped cross using Christian symbols from the life of Jesus. Oriental Trading has the canvas blocks that you can decorate with fabric paint or whatever you like, and then you just tie the blocks together with colored ribbons. We didn't get to this this year, but who knows? Maybe we will tomorrow!

In the past we have made faux stained glass out of picture framed glass using lead lines and shapes, and glass paints. Any good craft stores would have supplies for this.

Yesterday, we made pretzels from Alton Brown's recipe-- thanks again for whoever posted about them. Man, were they good. :thumbup:


Also, as already mentioned, Zefferelli's Jesus of Nazareth is so incredibly powerful. My nine year-old wasn't ready for the crucifiction scene yet, but my 16-yr-old and 10-yr-old sobbed right along with my dh and I. I so need to be reminded of Jesus' love, and what the cross signified for Him and for me as His disciple.

Have a blessed Easter everyone!

Cindy

[liz]

I haven't got my act totally together yet, but you've given me some great ideas to consider - for this year and next year. :)

Have a great Easter!

HE'S RISEN INDEED!!:)

[CookieMonster]

Never have, and I probably never will.

But I make Easter special several ways. First, I am sure to read the Easter Story with my children, several times, over the course of several weeks. Secondly, on each special day I make mention of it and we do an activity that relates to the day (Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday). And, we attend all the services: the normal Sunday services we always attend and the Good Friday service. And I try to do something a little special with the meal. This will be easier when I no longer have a toddler or baby on hand. :) I don't do anything big, but I try to make it a bit special.

When the kids get older, I'm sure I will have them listen to sermon series on Easter in the weeks leading up to it. We may even do in-depth Bible teaching and themed devotions during this time.

We also do Resurrection Day baskets. In one way I am making this special simply by what I don't do. I don't have any bunnies or eggs or Peeps. The Easter basket is a special gift to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. They are given by Dad and I, not a mythical bunny. They inherently have more meaning that way.

HTH