Observing the Easter Season at Home: Good Friday

Rev. Peter D. Crouch, Senior Vice President of Development, shares ways to help your family experience the journey from Palm Sunday’s parade, to the table and cross of Good Friday, to the empty tomb of Easter. A way to observe Good Friday:

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the[d] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:26-28

On Good Friday, dim the lights in a room (but not the whole house) and light a candle. This will let your children know that you have something special to share with them. Explain to them that everyone experiences moments of sadness, even Jesus. In this story, Jesus was having supper with his friends, called disciples, and he shared that he would always be with them, even after he died. From then on, whenever they ate bread or drank wine (two common foods of Jesus’ time) he wanted his disciples (and us) to remember that he would always love them. Invite your children to be silent for a whole minute. Then give them a hug and tell them that the good news of Good Friday is that Jesus forgives all of our sins – of every selfish thought or hurtful thing we’ve ever done. Even when times seem dark, like this room with the lights dimmed, or when you feel sad, Jesus is like this candle and his light will always shine.

This is part two in a series that continues through Easter. Part three will focus on ways to celebrate Easter with children while remaining at home.