Today I’ve been scribbling Easter notes on a pad of paper while the kids finish up their schoolwork. Lydia is demanding we get started on our Resurrection Day activities like yesterday. I said, “Well, we might do a few different things this year.” She said, “Different? Like what? Should we do two things today since we didn’t do anything yesterday?” She’s so excited she doesn’t want to miss anything!
I was really inspired by an Easter-themed podcast this week on Focus on the Family. They interviewed Phil Vischer (one of my heroes) and he said he wishes Easter could be the Superbowl of holidays instead of Christmas. After all, isn’t Easter what Christmas is all about? Christmas is simply the beginning of the story while Easter is THE story!
He suggests one way to elevate Easter is simply celebrate Holy Week. That way you’re not just celebrating Jesus’ death for 30 minutes on Good Friday and His resurrection 2 hours on Sunday morning–but you’re leveraging the whole week to focus your eyes and heart on Jesus.
So, today, I set out all our Easter-themed books and our kids’ Bibles so we can read them several times during the next two weeks. I pulled out our Easter DVDs and tried to get a handle on what activities we can do each day to correspond with Holy Week. I’m not really sure how it will all go down yet, it will probably just be a grab-bag…pick out an activity and just do it!
OK, along with all this semi-planning, I’ve got a few new resources I want to incorporate and share with you.
Numero Uno:
First is What’s in the Bible?’s newest DVD, Jesus is the Good News. Here is an 11-minute video with clips from the new show to explain the the exciting, amazing, heart-pounding reason for Easter. Stop and watch this:
{if you can’t see the video, click here to watch.}
I just can’t get over how much I love that. Especially that part of Jesus taking our sin. *whew*
Along with Jesus is the Good News, they’ve produced a Jesus and Me Journal. It’s not specifically for Easter but it’s perfect for Easter. You and your kids make a journal together (with coloring sheets and worksheets they’ve provided) to introduce your kids to a relationship with Jesus.
I read through the whole thing yesterday and I really like it. I think Asa is too young for a lot of it but if you are in the place where you think your kids are wanting to really make a decision to follow Christ, but you don’t know what to say or how to lead them, this is an excellent tool. There are even special videos on the website just for those who buy this book.
I really can’t say enough good things about What’s in the Bible?. Not just because of the puppets or the humor or whatever–but because of their deep, true heart to bring kids to Jesus. This DVD and journal isn’t just something they made to sell. They are reaching kids and families for Jesus. I just love it.
Dos:
One of the DVDs I pulled out is one we got as a gift last year. We watched it after Easter so I don’t think I ever told you how much we loved The Rock That Rolled. This is part of the God Rocks series. I’m a semi-fan of God Rocks. Have you ever seen it? It’s this weird DVD series where these young adults are in a band and then they turn into cartoon character rocks who are in a band. I don’t get that part, but the cartoons are fun, the music is great and the messages are right from the Bible. I just feel like it’s trying a little too hard. Know what I mean?
Anywhoo. The Rock That Rolled is my favorite from God Rocks. It’s the story of the rock placed in front of Jesus’ tomb and since we only watched it once last year, I can’t wait to watch it again! It’s a really great story.
Tres:
I made a Holy Week playlist (an idea from my friend Janna at Mustard Seeds). I wanted kid and non-kid songs. Go ahead, click the graphic below and listen!
What’s your favorite song/book/dvd/resource that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus? I’d love to know about it!
Have you checked out the new game “Resurrection Clue” from Kidology? http://www.kidology.org/store/catalog.asp?item=4614
Cool! I need to look at it closer. 🙂
a
The following songs by Andrew Peterson are amazing and inspiring, and often bring me to tears: Rise and Shine (on Carried Along CD) and High Noon (on Love and Thunder CD).
Also, Andrew Peterson, again, Behold the Lamb of God (from the CD of the same name). Can you tell I’m a huge AP fan?
I love Behold the Lamb of God. Adding that one now…
a
Thank you!!! Great list as always! We’ve also been reading The Legend of the Three Trees — you mentioned that before, right?
Yes! It’s one of my faves!!
a
I would love to know your thoughts after you watch the whole “what’s in the bible” DVD. I bought it because I think it sounds fantastic, but I haven’t watched any of the others and I learned after I bought it that it’s geared more towards older kids. My son just turned 4, so I’m not sure he’s ready for that. I am struggling with knowing how to explain everything to him in an age appropriate way, and I’m not sure if this should be one of my “tools” this year, or if I should save it for when he’s older. The Veggie tales Easter videos I saw were more about bunnies and eggs- although I know they address the real meaning of Easter too, I’m afraid those details would get lost for my little guy. Just wondering what you think about using this video with younger kids.
Oh, I definitely think Whats in the Bible? is for older kids. It’s not a preschool show. (I know I wrote about it here somewhere…)
It really depends on your child. I let Asa (my 4yo) watch the above video and altho’ he watched it, I don’t think it affected him like it did my 7yo. When my daughter (more sensitive and my first born) was 2, 3 and 4, I was more “protective” of how I showed her things about Jesus’ death. We looked through cartoon storybooks and talked about it in very general terms.
Did you sign up for my Easter newsblast? Because one of the days talks about how to talk to your kids about the crucifixion–but basically, I think you can talk about it in general terms with even little kids because they only understand it on their level. My son understands hammers and nails thru the lens of Handy Manny and his plush tool kit. He doesn’t understand the horror that Jesus experienced with nails. So, even when I tell him Jesus was nailed to the cross, he only sees it in his 4yo way.
I think the main idea is to introduce him to the MEANING of all of it–Jesus died on the cross because he loves us! He died in our place because He loves us! We’ve done wrong things and he’s done none!
Here’s my only caution (and it’s just a personal thing, not the gospel truth), I don’t want to introduce Easter/Resurrection (for the first time) my kids to books/videos that say, “Look at these bunnies! Eggs! Chocolate! Oh, yeah, and Jesus.” I want Jesus’ story to be FIRST and then use those other things to help show meaning or to be an object lesson. Does that make sense?
Email me again if you wanna talk more about it: amanda at ohamanda dot com
That makes perfect sense, and that’s what I was thinking with the other Easter videos I looked at. I ‘m afraid that all my son would see would be the candy and the bunnies, even thought the real story is there too. We’ve never really talked about the Easter bunny (he gets a basket from his grandparents, but that’s it) and we got Ressurection Eggs last year, so I just want to keep the focus on Jesus- he’ll get the other stuff elsewhere. I’ll save the What’s in the Bible video for later. Thanks so much for your reply!
Hey Amanda! Thank you for the great Easter ideas! My kids are 5 and 3, so I’ll share what they love at their age levels. Our favorite song right now is Christ Arose! I love hymns, but we are actually enjoying the version from Favorite VBS Songs for Families vol.5 version. It gets you rocking around the house! (Love the playlist idea so much by the way!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI9xUY8mOyw
I feel like you and your friends have shared so many great books that tell the Easter story–so I won’t repeat those! But we love a sweet little book called Miss Fannie’s Hat by Jan Karon. It is about a sweet old lady who donates her favorite hat to a church auction to raise money to fix it up for Easter. She ends up giving her favorite hat, and you have to read it to see the ending! I won’t tell! Just so sweet!
And as far as DVD, we do really love The Story of Jesus for Children from the Jesus Film Project. And I believe you can watch it right from their website too. I really thought it might be way over my kids heads, but because it involves children telling the story of Jesus–it really kept their attention, and they have asked to watch it again this year. Great! Here is the link:
http://www.jesusfilm.org/film-and-media/watch-the-childrens-film
Thanks so much for your ideas, and ministry! So fun to celebrate Easter with you!
Love your playlist recommendations! I found a nice version of “Jesus Paid It All” while making our own playlist… And I have to recommend “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” by African Children’s Choir (album: Devotion). Their energy and enthusiasm is infectious; this has been my kid’s all-time favorite song for years! Thanks again for sharing your family’s journey. I’m inspired to grow Easter into Superbowl of holidays within our own home.