Color: White (for the Easter)
Theme:
During the Day - Waiting and Preparing for the celebration which begins with....
Easter Easter Vigil (Live Stream starting at 8 pm) - Joy
Today is mostly about waiting and preparing. Our family is busy baking and cleaning and decorating and coloring Easter eggs (and going out for some necessary shopping). We are trying to keep as much of our celebration of Easter intact as we are able to do under the circumstances.
We are planning on dressing up in our Easter best this evening. We will begin our celebration by lighting a small "Easter fire" outdoors right before the Live Stream Easter Vigil Mass. We will have the lights off in the house, and light a special candle when the Paschal Candle is lit at the Easter Vigil Mass. We will then follow along with the Live Stream Mass.
Prayer Cards for Easter:
Watch Live Stream Easter Vigil beginning at 8:00 pm tonight:
Little ones especially will enjoy the Lighting of the Easter Candle (which will look different than in other years, but I'm sure will still be beautiful) and the beginning parts of the Mass, including the Exsultet sung by Fr. Nick. If you look at the prayer cards above ahead of time, you will notice that most of the words come from those first two parts of this most beautiful Mass.
Some Favorite Easter Songs:
Alleluia, Love is Alive (Steven Angrisano)
Christ is Risen from the Dead (Matt Maher)
In Christ Alone
Jesus Christ is Risen Today!
Scripture Meditation with Children:
Gather at your prayer table. Light a candle.
Read Mark 16:1-18
Discussion and Wondering Questions:
Who went to the tomb to see Jesus? What time of day did they go? What were they worried about when they went?
What did they see and hear when they got to the tomb?
What happened?
What did they do next? Did other people believe them when they said Jesus was alive?
Who did the disciples see later? What happened?
What do you think of the story?
Do you think we should celebrate Jesus Rising from the dead? How can we celebrate?
(Can re-read the Scripture if desired.)
Leave some time for a little silence (no need to hurry the children with answers, no need to come up with answers for them - it is good for them to wonder).
Ask if the children would like to say anything to Jesus.
It may help to ask if there is anything they would like to thank Jesus for.
End with a song.
And don't forget to ring your bells outside your house at noon on Easter Sunday!
Again, for those looking for more ideas, don't forget to check out the beautiful Archdiocesan guide: Holy Week in the Domestic Church: An At-Home Guide for Individuals and Families
(PDF will download when you click on the link above.)
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