Six New Things – Easter Special
Six New Things will take a week off during Holy Week, but just to be sure you’ve got everything you need, here are our top picks for these High Holy Days:
One
Our own Rev. Emily Meyer’s Go Out with Joy Holy Week liturgies are free, downloadable, interactive, adaptable to in-person gatherings or at-home use, and outdoor friendly. Find a Leader’s Guide and share the Family Guide for the whole set, or utilize specific parts and pieces for Palm Sunday (Leader / Family), Holy Week Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; Maundy Thursday suggestions; Good Friday (Leader’s Overview) – Stations of the Cross; the Easter Vigil (Leader / Family); and Easter Morning (Leader / Family).
For other full liturgies, liturgical elements, or inspiration, see our Worship: Lent & Easter lib guide.
Two
For something completely different, check out Michel Le Gribble’s Holy Week Yoga Devotions, including Palm Sunday, The Three Holy Days and Resurrection Sunday. If they’re going to be different, why not let them be really different??
For other ways to get everyone engaged, see Beaming Books’ two helpful Holy Week blogs: How to Talk with Your Kids about Good Friday and Tips to Celebrate Easter’s Spiritual Meaning with Kids.
Three
Get everyone involved with the celebration with an Easter Pageant. Our favorites are Illustrated Ministry’s Virtual Easter Pageant; Rev. Elsa Cook’s This Year: An Easter Pageant for a Pandemic Year or the Easter Pageant based on Glenys Nellist’s new book, ‘Twas the Morning of Easter.
Find additional ideas for including young ones in Holy Week observances and celebrations, including Easter children’s books and a video, in our Faith Formation: Lent & Easter lib guide.
Four
You know you can’t go wrong with Illustrated Ministry fabulousness: They’ve got something for just about every day of the week – and more for Easter. Don’t miss their Stations of the Cross worship video; Illustrated Resurrection Set, a Virtual Easter Pageant and an Easter Worship Video – and coloring pages, and…
Five
The Work of the People creates evocative films for every occasion. They’ve curated a rich list for Holy Week, including Scattered Palms; a Psalm 118 Inspired Liturgy (for Palm Sunday or Easter Morning); Come and Take and Eat (among a long list for Maundy Thursday); The Old Story and Fruitful Darkness (among a long list for Good Friday); and Easter/Resurrection films.
Six
Fill out any Easter Morning with this gorgeous recording/video of Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, from the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. It doesn’t get better than the best musicians from around the country all in one recording!
We’ll be back with an extra dose of Six New Things on Monday, April 5, 2021. Have a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter!!
