Resurrection Countdown
Focusing our families on the celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death - a celebration that has been wildly under-valued even though this is the single most important event in redemptive history!
Hey Parents!
There is no time better than the present to create purposeful traditions with our kids. We have created a Resurrection Countdown for your families as a tool for you to bring your kids into God’s story. This countdown is similar to advent or Jesse Tree traditions you may be familiar with that lead up to Christmas. In the three weeks preceding Easter (for 2024, this would start on March 10th), each day you read a passage from God’s word together, discuss it with your kids and then hang a simple ornament that relates to the story on a cross. The passages that are given are to promote discussion on the bigger story— why Jesus had to die, what the Old Testament says about the future messiah, and then significant events leading up to his death— and of course the resurrection!! We will spend one week in the Old Testament and two weeks in the New Testament. I’m so excited to have you join me as we prepare for the resurrection with our kids! See the calendar below for the 3 week plan. For a PDF download of the 3 week reading plan, simply click on the image below.
To make this very easy for you, we have created a PDF printable with all the ornaments. Simply print them out, have your kids color them, cut into squares and hang with string or ribbon. They could be printed on card stock or lamented but they wouldn’t have to be. You could either hole punch to tie the string or hot glue it onto the back. Whatever you have on hand! To open a PDF of the ornaments follow the link below. |
Well, the tradition in my family growing up was to take our Christmas tree, cut off all the limbs and turn it into a cross to decorate with at Easter—making the connection between his birth and his death. We then took this idea and decided to use the cross to hang the ornaments on. But your cross could be made out of whatever you choose or simply things that you have on hand (because you probably don’t still have your Christmas tree!). Take two old pieces of wood or two branches from your yard and tie them together to make a cross. A decorative tree you have in your house could work, branches in a vase— even a paper cross on the wall, with taped on ornaments.
Remember this isn’t about having a Pinterest or Instagram worthy cross with perfect ornaments— this is about preparing our hearts, and the hearts of our children for Christ’s death and resurrection. This is about building family traditions that point to Christ and make him central in our homes. This is about teaching the next generation who Jesus is and why he came to die. This is about celebrating with our kids the fact that He didn’t stay dead, but came back to life—and that He gives true life to those who trust in Him.
One thing we have found helpful while reading to the kids, whether it be the Bible or any other chapter book, is that they pay much more attention when their hands are busy. Give the kids a coloring page, some Legos, Play-Doh or Magnatiles while you read (especially the longer passages!) and I bet you will be surprised at how attentive they will be.
Click the link below for ideas on how to celebrate Holy Week — things like a Passover meal geared toward your kids, foot washing, communion, reenacting the events that happened and family activities for Good Friday and Easter!
Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions at hannah@northside-albany.com.
May you have sweet moments with your children as you dive into God’s word together in the coming weeks!
Blessings,
Hannah Mannale
Children’s Ministry Director
Good parenting, which does what God intends it to do, begins with this radical and humbling recognition that our children don't actually belong to us. Rather, every child in every home, everywhere on the globe, belongs to the One, who created him or her. Children are God's possession (see Ps. 127:3) for his purpose. That means that his plan for parents is that we would be his agents in the lives of these ones that have been formed into his image and entrusted to our care.