|
|
|
 |
Life Ways "AT HOME WITH THE EASTER SEASON"
by Diane Crosby Lent...Easter...Pentecost. What very important seasons in the Christian year! Yet, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are often difficult concepts for children to grasp. Activities done at home can help children begin to celebrate Lent, Easter, and Pentecost with more understanding. Lenten Projects of Service 1. Guide family members to pray about the spiritual aspects of life that God would have them work on in the upcoming Lenten Season and during the year. For children, some possibilities might include sharing with playmates, being faithful to saying their prayers before they go to bed, or reaching out to the needy. Then have the older children write a letter addressed to themselves concerning this spiritual work they intend to carry out during the year. Parents should write their own letters, too. Younger children can draw a picture of how they envision themselves working on their spiritual growth. When the letters are completed, each person should insert it in an envelope addressed to himself or herself. Keep the letters in a spot that will guarantee they will be found again next spring. (You might keep them with income tax records or special Easter decorations.) Stamp and mail them next spring for a special spiritual blessing. Everyone can discover how they have grown during the year. 2. During the season of Lent, save money by serving meatless meals. Leave a special bowl on your dinner table in which to place the money saved. When Lent is over, this money can be given to a needy individual or donated to a nearby mission. You may also find great spiritual blessings in inviting someone less fortunate to dinner at your home. Enjoy a good meal together and some family fun. 3. Often we speak of doing things for others but never quite get around to it. Help children learn to serve others from an early age by involving them in a project using special construction paper crosses. Children can cut out their own crosses. Every time they do a good deed or keep a Lenten resolution, they can place a star sticker on the cross. See if they can cover the cross with stars before Easter arrives. Or have them cut a cross out of white paper. Each time they do a good deed or say their prayers, they can shade a small section of the cross with a color crayon. If they use a different color each time, the cross will look like a stained glass window. RECONCILIATION 4. Go as a family to the sacrament of Reconciliation, preparing for confession with a special service celebrated together. While at your parish church, make the Stations of the Cross together as a family. Make sure your children understand beforehand the story of Jesus’ passion and suffering. Pray together at each Station. 5. Also during Lent, decorate your home with palm leaves and branches. Young children can help, and you can explain to them the significance of Palm Sunday (see Matthew 21:1-11). EASTER ROLE-PLAYING 6. The Easter story is certainly the foundation of the Christian Faith. Yet, this is a difficult story for young children to understand. They will enjoy and learn from a simple play you can perform with their dolls. Collect several small dolls from the children’s play things. Let the children decide which doll will play which part. Basing yourself on references from the Gospels, move the dolls to show the action in the resurrection story. Use a bowl and a large rock (or small pillow) to signify the tomb. Or, instead of using dolls, you can read the scriptures aloud, while the children role-play the parts. 7. Have the children act out scenes from the resurrection account in Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-49 and John 20:1-31. EASTER AND NEW LIFE 8. Easter comes at the time of year when God renews the earth with new life. Something as simple as planting a seed in a cup and placing it on the windowsill can help children see the lesson of rebirth. Explain to your children that similarly are we "born anew." Older children can experience this same lesson by planting a more elaborate garden of flowers or vegetables. Some of God’s best lessons lie in the nature that surrounds us. 9. Bake a special Easter bread with your children, using the following recipe: TWIST COOKIES 4 1/2-4 3/4 cups all purpose flour In a saucepan heat milk, 1/2 cup sugar, shortening and salt until shortening melts, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Place yeast in glass bowl. Add 2 tbs. sugar and 1/2 cup lukewarm water. Mix until dissolved. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place 2 cups of flour in large mixing bowl. Add liquid ingredients, yeast, eggs, and lemon peel. Beat at low speed for 1/2 minute. Add enough of remaining flour by hand to make a moderately stiff dough. Turn out on floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes). Shape into ball. Place in greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until ball doubles (1 1/2-2 hours). Roll dough to two 15x12 inch rectangles. Cut into 24 strips each 15" long and 1/2" wide. Roll strips until smooth. On lightly greased baking sheet weave two strips together—one over the other—into the shape of a cross. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Frost while warm (glaze directions: Mix 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 tsp. vanilla flavoring until well blended.) Decorate with sugar sprinkles. Makes 24 crosses. 10. Include the children in ministering to others by taking them along to deliver a potted lily to a shut-in. Children may also enjoy dying eggs and bringing them to a nearby orphanage. JESUS IS ALIVE 11. The following activity is an excellent way to tie in the meaning of Easter with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Create a clothes hanger mobile by writing the following phrases on the front of paper strips. Write the language of the phrase on the back of the strip. Attach the strips to the hanger with yarn. Older children can make small posters of these phrases to display in your home. This activity leads into the concept that people speak different languages while worshipping the same Lord. The phrases are: THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12. Using a favorite sugar cookie recipe, bake enough cookies for each family member to have seven.. Use candy beads to decorate the cookies with the initials of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit ("P" for piety, "U" for understanding, "W" for wisdom, "F" for fortitude, "K" for knowledge, "C" for counsel and "L" for fear of the Lord). 13. In each of seven small boxes, place a piece of paper with the name of one of the gifts mentioned above written on it. Wrap the gifts in plain white paper. Younger children may want to decorate the gifts with spring flower drawings. On each of the seven days leading up to Pentecost, the family will unwrap one box and discuss the meaning of that particular gift. 14. Call the family together and distribute strips of blank paper to each member. Review some of the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All family members write down two fruits that they see in each of the others. Then, starting with Dad, everyone reads aloud the gifts that are characteristic of Dad. Go around the table doing the same for each member. This activity affirms each family member and shows appreciation for each individual’s special gifts. The Church’s Birthday 15. Since Pentecost is the birthday of our Church, bake a cake and sing "Happy Birthday." Frost the cake with white icing, and anchor candles in red lifesavers. Prior to cutting the cake, read the account of the first Pentecost from Acts1:7-11. Then sing together: Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And in our hearts take
up thy rest. Consider the importance of the Easter season. Take time this year to explain what you believe to your children. The message of the season will ring louder in your heart as well. For related reading, check out:
Copyright © 1999-2003, Daughters of St. Paul. All Rights Reserved.
|
