Do you have special memories from your Holy Week celebrations?

I have an array of Holy Week memories that unfold like flowers in my mind. May I share a few with you? Perhaps one or two may trigger memories of your own or give you an idea for creating a new memory.

As a mother with young children, Holy Week was an extra special week of celebration and meaning. On Palm Sunday, our church’s children and Sunday School teachers paraded through the sanctuary aisles waving palm branches, while the congregation worshiped Jesus in song. Various emotions were felt during that service!

During the week at home, our family would use Resurrection Eggs and Benjamin’s Box (Carlson) as ways to reinforce the meaning of Easter and what Jesus went through in order to be the sacrifice for our sin. There was childlike excitement in anticipating what was in each plastic egg, then correlating each symbol to the scriptural account of the week’s events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection.

When the children were older, we held a type of Seder presentation on Maundy Thursday. What a spiritually powerful dinner time that was as we discussed various Passover symbols, telling how each points to Jesus as the Messiah. (Focus on the Family provides wonderful family-minded activities for this and all of Holy Week.)

On Good Friday, we listened to S.M. Lockridge’s powerful monologue ‘It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming’ and attended a somber service at church. A Stations of the Cross walk-through was a poignant way to personally contemplate the price Jesus paid for each one of us.

On Easter Sunday, excitement bloomed in celebration of our Savior’s resurrection! We savored S.M. Lockridge’s exuberant monologue ‘That’s My King!’ During a special meal, the Resurrection Egg at each person’s place setting prompted a recall of the events of the Holy Week. Getting all dressed up for a special church service where traditional hymns and choruses were song is a memory that brings a smile to my face. And, my favorite saying was exchanged with others…

“He is risen!”

“He is risen, indeed!”

Have a joyous Easter!