Easter in lockdown

[kelliewellie]

How are you making Easter special this year? I don't want this weekend to become like every other weekend in lockdown. I have a 3 year old and 6 year old who are getting really fed up with lockdown. Easter is a special celebration for us and we normally spend a lot of time with church family and have special children's stuff going on. I am at a loss when it comes to what to do this weekend

It's going to be crap, isn't it.

I am planning to watch a lot of services, either on TV or I think our church is going to do some by zoom.

I'm Catholic, so I'm going to follow ideas from our liturgy.
Washing each other's feet tomorrow.
Children's version of stations of cross on Friday. Also prayer around a cross.
Fire pit and candles on Saturday after dark.

Easter egg treasure hunt on Sun. I usually don't do this because our church egg hunt is so good.

Ideas I'd love to do, but won't manage to persuade my pre-teens and teens...
Decorate for Easter, make egg shaped bunting.
Paint a stained glass cross window with washable paint mixed with dish-wash liquid. (The idea is on all my catholic mum's Facebook groups)
Read the appropriate bible stories together.

Thanks for replying and for the ideas! I'm going to be watching the live stream service from my church tomorrow and Sunday. I'm not Catholic but I might look into the stations of the cross and feet washing! We are having communion tomorrow with church and providing our own bread and wine!

The washing of the feet is from John 13.
Read the story, or from a children's bible if you have one. Then take it in turns to wash each other's feet and talk about serving each other.
It can get messy, might be an idea to do it in the bathroom or outdoors, but the kids love it!

Stations of the cross is basically a prayer exercise reflecting on Jesus' journey to his death. Starting with Pilate sentencing him to death and finishing with him being laid in the tomb. Traditionally there are 14 things (stations) we remember. Most are biblical, some come from tradition, or just we know historically that it would probably have happened like that.
There are loads of versions, so if you're googling, try something like "stations of the cross with kids" or "for children". And feel free to adapt it.

You could have an indoor egg hunt- or in the garden, Easter crafts, make an easter cake, decorate a spring table, plant some seeds.

I don''t do anything christian at eatster, but it is still a fantastic time for children.
My third favourite festival of the year!!

We will see our church's Facebook watch party. After lunch we will do some colouring in, of Christian pictures/Bible passages etc, whilst listening up uplifting worship music. Easter egg hunt too.

We don’t do anything religious but Easter is one of my favourite holidays. We’re usually abroad on a city break for the long weekend but this year we’re obviously at home. Time for eating in the garden with lots of good food, loads of Easter eggs and too much wine.

Parker231

Sounds lovely!

We have a very pagan easter time here! Lots of fun, baking and eating nice things- often a BBQ if the weather is good enough!

We've been joining in with some streamed Facebook services, and our church is doing a Zoom service on Sunday.

Today I drew three crosses on the top of our rainbow in the window. And we'll be reading the passion narrative (John's Gospel, chapters 18 and 19), closing our eyes and imagining ourselves into it and asking God to speak to us.

V sad as I live alone, and normally would have all the family up to my house, a wonderful Easter service at our village church, a big roast lamb meal, choc eggs, a walk in the hills (I’m in rural Scotland). Instead I’ll be watching our minister’s Youtube channel for her recorded service from the empty church, while I’m stuck at home recovering from covid infection. At least I’m out of hospital and glad to be alive, and have a nice garden to sit in. I think we all need to count blessings, and remember that Jesus Himself suffered a far worse Good Friday than anything we are currently moaning about!

I'm so sorry Babdoc, that sounds really hard. I'm also struggling this year as I'm in shielded isolation so can't even eat with my family, though we might eat outside in which case I can if I sit a few metres away :) Our church is very active on FB live, YouTube etc and has been so sustaining in this time. In fact, for me it's been a real gift because I have had so many Easters housebound before but with none of this, and this time I feel in the centre of it all because I can still join and worship with my community which is incredible. We've had a lovely all age Good Friday service this morning and reflection this afternoon, we have another service tomorrow - a kind of reflection on lament, and then big sunday celebration on FB live together. It feels so profound, that we're out of the building yet still celebrating this event that changed history together. I think churches have learned a lot from this and hopefully ongoing will be generally more accessible for the disabled and housebound which I am glad about.
I pray for moments of joy in your Easter, Babdoc.

I am going to watch a service on my laptop. Our pastor is on Facebook and will be doing a service tomorrow virtually. I will join in. I have also made a Simnel cake to eat tomorrow as well. I will also read the Bible tonight with the kids and then reflect on the spiritual meaning of Easter too.

I hope you are feeling better Babdoc and have decent weather to enjoy your garden. I am also from rural Scotland although I moved for work many years ago. Even after all this time I still miss the peace and quiet, even the drizzle. I love spring time and watching nature wake up from winter, especially seeing the leaves unfurl on the trees.

Watched a very paired down Easter vigil. Very strange, but nicely done.