Calendar and Information
Candlelight, Reading, & Worship (Sundays)
Each Sunday evening is set aside for for reading, candle lighting, and worship. Each reading begins with a few sentences that summarize the thought for the day. All the rest is Scripture—letting God speak to us directly from His Word. Seven candles symbolize Jesus, the Light of the World. There is one reading for each Sunday, one for Good Friday, and one for Easter. After the reading, the family can sing the selected hymn.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5
On the first Sunday, all seven candles should be burning as you begin the first reading. Bracketed instruc- tions within the reading tell you when to snuff out one candle. On the second Sunday, six candles burn as you begin reading, and you snuff out one of them when instructed, and so on. On Good Friday, the last candle is extinguished. Then on Easter, there are instructions within the reading to light all seven candles.
The seven candles symbolize the Light of the World. As we move through each Sunday, the candles are snuffed out one by one, until all are dark on Good Friday, when Jesus died and the earth was covered with shadow. Darkness apparently had won. The Light of the World had been extinguished. It was finished.
But NO! Easter brings resurrection! Life! Return from death! The Light has won and all the candles burn as we praise him—the Light of the World, the Bright Morning Star, the Glory of God!
We are going to create a candlelight centerpiece for our Easter table to use for these readings. Each center- piece will be unique to each family. Create your centerpiece by filling a vase, tray, or large bowl with sand, rocks, moss, or other filler. Place seven candles in your container. Add in spring and Easter elements such as butterflies, flowers, a cross or eggs. Your centerpiece can be as simple or fancy as you prefer.
A Note on Hymns:
The seven candles symbolize the Light of the World. As we move through each Sunday, the candles are snuffed out one by one, until all are dark on Good Friday, when Jesus died and the earth was covered with shadow. Darkness apparently had won. The Light of the World had been extinguished. It was finished.
But NO! Easter brings resurrection! Life! Return from death! The Light has won and all the candles burn as we praise him—the Light of the World, the Bright Morning Star, the Glory of God!
We are going to create a candlelight centerpiece for our Easter table to use for these readings. Each center- piece will be unique to each family. Create your centerpiece by filling a vase, tray, or large bowl with sand, rocks, moss, or other filler. Place seven candles in your container. Add in spring and Easter elements such as butterflies, flowers, a cross or eggs. Your centerpiece can be as simple or fancy as you prefer.
A Note on Hymns:
O come let us sing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our Salvation. Psalm 95:1
Whether they are familiar tunes or songs you have never heard, I hope you are invited into a time of worship and celebration as we prepare our hearts for Easter. As you share these songs with your children, I hope that they will make their way into your family’s annual Easter traditions as you create treasured memories with one another.
Listening to these songs again and again throughout the week will impress these truths upon our hearts and minds. Repetition and music are both wonderful learning tools. The lyrics are included at the end of each reading.
Listening to these songs again and again throughout the week will impress these truths upon our hearts and minds. Repetition and music are both wonderful learning tools. The lyrics are included at the end of each reading.
Prayer (Tuesdays)
Each Tuesday is set aside for prayer. Praising God for who He is, offering confession, offering supplication, offering intercession, and giving thanks. This time is set aside to focus on teaching our children how to pray.
Consider making a “prayer jar” with a list of prayer prompts on pieces of cardstock or popsicle sticks. This can be helpful to give your children ideas of what they can be praying for. Each person can pick one from the jar and spend some time praying together.
Praise - worship of God, His character and works
We your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise You forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your Praise.
Psalm 79:13
Confession - believers are told to confess their sins to God
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Supplication - asking God for something, generally for the person praying
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a snake; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9–13
Intercession - praying for others
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Giving thanks - a prayer of appreciation for blessings and worship of who God is
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Consider making a “prayer jar” with a list of prayer prompts on pieces of cardstock or popsicle sticks. This can be helpful to give your children ideas of what they can be praying for. Each person can pick one from the jar and spend some time praying together.
Praise - worship of God, His character and works
We your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise You forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your Praise.
Psalm 79:13
Confession - believers are told to confess their sins to God
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Supplication - asking God for something, generally for the person praying
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a snake; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9–13
Intercession - praying for others
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Giving thanks - a prayer of appreciation for blessings and worship of who God is
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Prompt ideas:
|
missionaries
orphans wisdom those who are sick |
those who do not know Jesus
widows the fruits of the spirit your city/state/country |
family or friends
your church an obedient heart to see & love others as God does |
Study & Activity (Wednesdays)
Each Wednesday is a passage of scripture to study and an activity to further impress it on our children’s hearts. Exposing our children to the words of God, straight from the Bible has tremendous value. Even if they don’t quite understand all of the text yet. Things like sin and death, animal sacrifice, and Jesus’ own death are sometimes hard to discuss. But in order for them to fully understand the whole of the gospel, and the importance and joy of the resurrection, these truths need to be made known to them.
Please feel free to make these lessons your own, adapting them to your children’s hearts. You can easily adjust the lessons to the ages of your children. Leave things out, or dig deeper in. Also, please feel challenged to walk through what may seem uncomfortable for a time, to grow in our understanding of what is eternal. Feel free to do all or none of these activities, add to them or subtract from them.
Please feel free to make these lessons your own, adapting them to your children’s hearts. You can easily adjust the lessons to the ages of your children. Leave things out, or dig deeper in. Also, please feel challenged to walk through what may seem uncomfortable for a time, to grow in our understanding of what is eternal. Feel free to do all or none of these activities, add to them or subtract from them.
Act of Service (Thursdays)
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:13-14
Each Thursday is set aside for your family to complete an act of service. We worship God when we reach out to serve other people. It is one of the plainest expressions of love that we can see in Scripture. This is because we are giving ourselves to one another–which is the most valuable thing we possess. Do you see the image of the gospel in serving others? What a privilege to be a part of it! The ultimate reason that we serve others is because Jesus was the ultimate servant. He knew that He would be betrayed, and yet He washed the feet of the disciples, even Judas who would betray Him.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
God has gifted each of us with unique gifts and abilities to help others.
Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. Philippians 2:4
Offer your time, talent and treasure by:
- donating gently used items to a shelter or pregnancy center
- making a homemade card and taking it (along with flowers) to a friend or family member
- taking a meal to a sick, busy, or hurting family
- giving your grandma, aunt, cousin, or friend a call to say “hello”
- serving in a ministry at your church
- pushing your neighbor’s trash can back up to their house after trash day
- caring for a friend’s children one afternoon or evening so they can go on a date
- doing someone else’s chores in your household
- giving an extra offering to a missionary, ministry, or your church
Feasting (Saturdays)
Recipes are included each week, to make as a family on Saturday to enjoy with a family meal Saturday or Sunday. Baking as a family is a great opportunity to slow down and savor the season, and to create traditions our children will treasure for years to come.
- Capirotada
- Pretzels
- Zucchini Bread
- Sugar Cookie
- Bird Nests
- Seder
- Hot Cross Buns