Holy Week and Easter Celebration for Families of Many Configurations
by Lia Icaza-Willetts

During Holy Week, we reflect on the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ. Holy week begins on Palm Sunday, when we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem -- leading to the crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday.

This is a time to share our faith with our families and friends by observing Holy Week.

Preparing for Holy Week

Get the family together (include children and youth) for a family meeting and ask members of the family to covenant to observe Holy Week. As a Christian family, observe Holy Week by having prayer and devotions together to remember the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Christ.

Designate a member of the family to make or find a symbol that relates to the Scripture of the day (for example, a palm branch, wooden cross, crown of thorns).

Get a cassette of hymns or contemporary Christian music to play during devotions.

Ask each member of the family to abstain from something during Holy Week (give up meat, dessert, candy, chocolate, or other treat).

Prepare a family altar on a table. Every day, place a symbol on the altar. You can set up the altar every day during Holy Week and continue to use it once a week after Easter.

Prepare by reading the Scriptures for the day ahead of time. Find a symbol that relates to the Scripture reading, and add it to the table. At the end of the week, you should end up with eight symbols (such as a wooden cross, a palm branch, a rock, and so on. these could be an object, a drawing, or a picture).

Single People

We encourage single people to take time to be close to God during Holy Week with special acts of devotion. You might want to invite a neighbor, friend, or prayer partner to observe Holy Week with you. You could have your Holy Week devotional together on the phone, during lunch, or at another time.

Suggestions for Observing Family Devotions During Holy Week

Gather with your family. Single people might want to gather with a small group of friends.

Begin by listening to music (Christian music, gospel songs, or hymns).

Pray an opening prayer together:
Loving God , we come to celebrate Holy Week.
We come to listen to you.
We come to ask for forgiveness.
We come to learn from one another.
Clean our hearts and our minds by the power of your Holy Spirit.
Bless our family in this petition.
And help us to walk with Jesus all the days of our lives.
We thank you, and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen

Add a symbol of Holy Week to the altar or table every day and offer an act of service.

Have children and youth read the Scriptures.

Talk about the Scripture reading. Some possible discussion questions include:

• What is the Scripture saying about Jesus?
• What is this Scripture saying about me?

Suggested Readings, Symbols for the Altar Table, and Actions to Take During Holy Week<

First Day — Palm Sunday
Symbol: Palm tree
Scripture Reading: Luke 19: 29-40
Action: Visit older people in nursing homes or in hospitals.

Second Day — Holy Monday
Symbol: The Bible, placed on the altar table
Scripture Reading: Luke 19:41-48
Action: Read together Psalm 51. Family members write notes asking forgiveness of God and one another for wrong doing.

Third Day — Holy Tuesday
Symbol: Bowl with water and towel
Scripture Reading: Luke 22: 1-22
Action: Family members wash one another's feet and pray for one another.

Fourth Day — Holy Wednesday
Symbol: An offering placed on the altar table for the poor and needy
Scripture reading: Luke 22:39-62
Action: Family members offer love and kindness to all the people they meet during the day.

Fifth Day — Maundy Thursday
Symbol: Bread and grape juice
Scripture Reading: Luke 23:1-25
Action: Make this a day of fasting and prayer. Fast during breakfast and lunch; drink water only. Pray a few minutes every hour. Family shares bread and juice at the evening meal. Bring to the church food or money for the poor.

Sixth Day — Good Friday
Symbol: A wooden cross
Scripture Reading: Luke 23: 50-56
Action: Go to a worship service together as a family. Observe a day and night of silent prayers.

Seventh Day — Holy Saturday
Symbol: Picture of a person or family in need
Scripture Reading: Luke 24:1-12
Action: Organize an Easter egg hunt for the children in the neighborhood. Begin by reading the Resurrection story.

Eighth Day — Easter Sunday
Symbol: Fresh flowers
Scripture Reading: Luke 24:1-12
Action: Attend Easter Sunrise Services. Bring a friend ( a college student, a single person, an older person) to Easter Sunday worship services. Also invite the friend to have Easter dinner with your family.

Lia Icaza-Willetts, pastor, First United Methodist Church, Tampa, Florida, previously served as a director of family ministries for the General Board of Discipleship.

(Originally posted in 1998)


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