Celebrating Easter with Your Family

Back to series
By Aimee Riegert, Mary Pope, on April 7, 2020 , ,

Celebrating Easter

For us as Christians, Easter is the most important celebration or season of the year. Easter clearly points out our great sin and our need for forgiveness, God's abiding love for us and the wonder and hope of the Resurrection. As parents, you can explain these cornerstones of our faith to your children using a variety of ways appropriate to their maturity level.
The following are a few suggestions for experiencing a memorable, meaningful Easter season with your family.

A New Testament Seder Supper

One of the greatest biblical celebrations, the Feast of the Passover, is central to both Jewish and Christian worship, and can provide a rich historical and spiritual framework for your family's Easter season.

Showcase for your friends and family the amazing historical continuity and intentionality of God's plan of salvation through Jesus, the "Lamb of God," by hosting a Passover seder meal. Not only does this ancient celebration reach deep into the history of the Jewish people, commemorating their deliverance by God from slavery in Egypt, but Christians believe it was instituted by God to foreshadow the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Today, during a Messianic, Christ-centered seder supper, using the interactive, scripted readings and prayers called the Haggadah or the "telling," the host recounts to guests the ancient Passover story and explains its powerful meaning for Christian believers today.

 

Many wonderful resources and recipes can be found on these websites.

Dr. Joel Woodruff
What was Jesus' Last Supper Really Like?

Ana Voscamp
A Christian Passover Easter Meal

Church's Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ)
Passover Seder

Jews for Jesus
Video celebrating Christ in the Passover

Storybooks and Activities

You can also tell the ancient story in fresh new ways through Easter themed picture books, crafts and activities that tell of Jesus' passion and resurrection, the real reasons for all the excitement over Easter.

As Easter approaches and springtime blooms outdoors, fill your home with symbols and words that call to mind not only the natural new life of spring, but also the supernatural. Books for children of all ages tell of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, His passion and resurrection, and are a perfect choice for story time in the weeks and days before Palm Sunday and Easter. Here are a few that we especially like:

 

Easter Bunny, Are You For Real?
by Harold Myra

 

What is Easter?
by Phil Vischer Christian

 

The True Easter Story
by Ray Vander Laan (That The World May Know)

Also, as you peruse the store aisles filled with colorful eggs, baby animals and budding flowers, joyfully remind your family of the Christian roots of all the festive splendor. Spend some special time in Easter-themed family scripture studies and decorate your home with colorful hand-made Easter crafts. Here are a few ideas to try:

 

Holy Week Wreath Craft Kit
Make an inspirational foam wreath for Holy Week leading into Easter and the Resurrection!

 

100+ Ideas for a Christ-Centered Easter

 

10 Ways to Teach Kids About Easter: Hands-On Activities & Books


Palm Sunday Scene Set
These resin figures depict the Triumphal Entry of Christ. Display Palm Sunday equivalent of a Nativity Scene during Lent, Holy Week or Easter on your mantel, buffet table or as a centerpiece.


Last Supper Scene Tabletopper
Teach VBS and Sunday school students the important story of the Last Supper with this beautiful scene! This realistic scene captures those last important hours of Jesus' earthly life prior to his crucifixion.

 

Easter Resurrection Scene Set with Story Card
This inspiring, hand-painted scene captures the miracle of the Resurrection. This set makes a great Easter display or table decoration!

 

"He Lives!" Finger Puppets
All eyes will be on your fingers when you wear these finger puppets to act out the Easter story and other Bible stories!

 

Resurrection Eggs
The Resurrection Eggs offer children a wonderful hands-on resource to learn about Jesus' Resurrection Story.


Resurrection Garden
A fun project to do for the family is to plant a Resurrection Garden that will bloom just in time for Easter! Follow these simple directions to build your own!

We Have So Much to Celebrate

This Easter season, in countless creative ways, you can remind your family that, while the rebirth of the earth after the long dark winter is indeed cause for celebration, the spiritual rebirth won for mankind by Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God, is infinitely more marvelous! In fact, it is at the very center of our Christian faith, as the Apostle, Paul, states so powerfully in 1 Corinthians 15:14-19:

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead... And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Whether you choose to re-enact the ancient story with a Passover seder meal or bring it to life through books and crafts, make the Resurrection of Jesus the focal point, not only of your springtime, but of your family's whole outlook on life.

Aimee Riegert

CSLI Fellow

Aimee Riegert, CSLI Fellow, earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and foreign language studies from Southern Methodist University. In addition to supporting various national security efforts in Northern Virginia, she has worked as an itinerant high school math teacher and drama coach, and has served in women’s ministries, praise teams, on the adult support team for Young Life and as a “mentor mom” for MOPS International ministries, as well as English instructor in several ESL programs in Japan. She is a graduate of the C.S. Lewis Institute Year One Fellows Program.

 

 

COPYRIGHT: This publication is published by C.S. Lewis Institute; 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 301; Springfield, VA 22151. Portions of the publication may be reproduced for noncommercial, local church or ministry use without prior permission. Electronic copies of the PDF files may be duplicated and transmitted via e-mail for personal and church use. Articles may not be modified without prior written permission of the Institute. For questions, contact the Institute: 703.914.5602 or email us.

0 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 0.00 All Booked 21934 GLOBAL EVENT: The Adventures of Eustace Clarence Scrubb (CSLI-Atlanta & CSLI-Chicago) 7:30PM ET/ 6:30PM CT https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-the-adventures-of-eustace-clarence-scrubb-csli-atlanta-csli-chicago-730pm-et-630pm-ct&event_date=2024-04-18&reg=1 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr 2024-04-18
Next coming event
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

GLOBAL EVENT: The Adventures of Eustace Clarence Scrubb (CSLI-Atlanta & CSLI-Chicago) 7:30PM ET/ 6:30PM CT

On April 18, 2024 at 7:30 pm Virtual Online Event
Register

Experience a Transformed Life

, ,

Full details Get Directions

Print your tickets