Holy Week at Home

For many families, attending church on a weeknight is challenging, to say the least. School, sports, lessons, orthodontist appointments – schedules continue, even in Holy Week. For families who will not make it to church between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, here is a simple at-home observation, in the style of Godly Play, with a suggested script for parents to use each day. Families can walk to the cross all at once, in about 30-40 minutes, or take 5-7 minutes daily throughout the week.

Recommended Materials:

• Palms or other green leaves and a donkey figurine (as from a nativity set) or picture.
• A small table or stool or tray or even a small plate, and some money.
• A bag (cloth if possible but even an envelope would work) of 30 nickels, dimes, or quarters (silver coins).
• A bottle or jar of essential oil or scented lotion.
• A pitcher of warm water, a bowl or basin, and a towel for each member of the family.
• A cross, 1-3 house plants, paper, and markers/crayons/colored pencils.

As a family, you might sit together in a circle on the floor or around the kitchen table following a meal. Keep a central space in the middle for the items you will use to tell the story. Once you’ve told the story, pass the items for that day around, letting children hold and experience them.

Palm Sunday

Give each child a palm, and hold the donkey in your hand.

On Sunday, Jesus and his friends arrived in Bethany, outside Jerusalem. He told two of them to go and find a colt—a small horse or donkey—to take him into Jerusalem. When he rode through the gate in this modest way, people crowded around and shouted ‘Hosanna!’ and laid palm branches in his path to show him honor. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt and not on a great horse, to show the people that he was a different kind of king from any they’d known before this.

Holy Monday

Set up your little table/stool/tray or plate with money on it.

On Monday, Jesus and his friends went to the temple. He saw people everywhere exchanging money instead of worshiping and learning, and he became angry. He flipped over the tables where they were buying and selling and said, “It is written, this temple shall be a house of prayer for all nations, but you’ve turned it into a den of thieves and liars!” The chief priests heard this and were upset. They began to watch for an opportunity to capture Jesus.

Holy Tuesday

Pick up the bag or envelope of coins, jiggling it a bit so they jingle, before passing it around your circle.

Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, knowing that he had made some very powerful people very angry, went to the chief priests and asked, “What will you give me if I help you to capture him?”
They answered, “30 pieces of silver.”
And from that moment, Judas began to watch for his chance to hand Jesus over to them.

Holy Wednesday

Hold the bottle of essential oil or lotion in your hand. After the story, let everyone smell the oil or lotion, and take turns rubbing a small amount gently onto one another’s hands.

Jesus went back to Bethany, to have dinner with his friends. While they were at the table, a woman broke open an expensive bottle of perfume and poured it on Jesus’ body. Judas was angry, “That expensive perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor,” he scolded, even though he didn’t really care about the poor. But Jesus said, “The poor will always be with you, and you will always need to care for them. She has done the right thing, caring for me at this time.”

Maundy Thursday

Place the pitcher of water, bowl or basin, and towels near a chair for foot washing.

On Thursday, Jesus and his friends gathered for the Passover meal. They were all surprised when he tied a towel around his waist and knelt down, then washed their feet, each of them in turn. “I give you a new commandment. As I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Everyone in the family take turns, so all have their feet washed, and all have a chance to wash someone’s feet. 

Then he told them, “One of you here will betray me.” Several of them asked, “Is it I Lord, who will betray you?” because they couldn’t imagine it. But Judas knew and left quietly.

Good Friday

Place a few plants in front of you.
Hold a cross in your hand, or if it stands, place it in front of the plants and hold your fingers gently on it.

Jesus went to the garden to pray. He knew the time had come, and was afraid. “Please Father, if it’s possible that I do not have to drink from this cup….but, Your will be done.” Jesus trusted in God, even in his fear.
Judas brought the soldiers to the garden, and they took Jesus away. All night he was questioned and treated cruelly, and in the morning they gave him a cross and made him carry it to the hilltop. Some of the people were mean and angry, but some of them felt bad, and a few even helped him. 

The soldiers nailed him to the cross. The earth trembled when Jesus died. They brought him down and put him in a tomb.

We know this is not how the story ends, because Easter is almost here. But today, we remember that Jesus died to prove that love will always be stronger then hate.

Pass out the paper and markers, crayons or colored pencils.

What would you like to write or draw as a message to Jesus, tonight?