20 April 2025
Bible readings for today
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CollectAlleluia!
God of new beginnings, your resurrection brought darkness into the fullness of your light; shed that light into the dark places of our lives, that we may grasp the promise of eternity and live as your resurrection people, created, redeemed and empowered through you. For you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen |
Jesus is alive! (John 20:1-18)
The aim of today is to understand that Jesus rose from the dead and brings us hope of new life in him, and that something happy and wonderful can come out of something very sad.
Intergenerational ServicesIntergenerational Services from Scripture Union
Printable Easter Holiday resourcesThe Children's Mission (children's ministry in the Salvation Army NZ) have some great printable resources, including an Easter booklet - perfect for printing out for visiting families, or including in Eater isolation packs.
Wrapping the CrossWrapping the Cross is a powerful visual way to tell the Easter story, as the cross is wrapped up in clothes on Good Friday, and revealed on Easter Sunday. You may need to adapt the story if greater sensitivity is needed (like young children).
Worship ResourcesThe Church of Scotland have some worship resources for today
Transformation
I wonder questions
Easter BubblesLast year, Strandz put together some 'Easter Bubbles' resources to help families navigate the Easter story at home. This would be good for those families who cannot join in the Easter celebrations this year, and who want to do something at home.
Easter Egg Relay RaceThis is a great game for people of all ages; children and adults can both be accommodated easily.
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Visio LectioA beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission.
Download Terms of Use Gospel ReflectionsThose who preach have the odd situation in Holy Week where they need to prepare a sermon for Easter Sunday while they themselves are walking with Jesus through the betrayal, torture, death, and emptiness of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. So, for those people, here are some insights from Kelvin, Jan, Michael and Peg to help you along! For those who watch this just for interest, bless you - but maybe wait until Sunday to view it rather than flipping through the story to the final page too quickly!
Hand printed crossThis activity could be done on a large sheet of newsprint paper, to include everyone's handprints on the one sheet, or each child could have their own smaller piece of paper to make a cross. It could be done as described, with the hands forming a cross, or in reverse, with the handprints providing the background to a white cross (as per the pictures below). Craft idea was taken from this website
"PAINTED HAND PRINTS: Spread some paint on each child's one hand and let them place their painted hand print on a poster board and all the hands need to be in a formation of a cross when the prints are completed. When I did this activity, I did these cross-formation-hand-prints on our class room wall for decoration. The kids loved it and enjoyed it for years!" Papier Mache TombsNote: These tombs take a long time to dry. If possible, children should take them home still wet on their paper plate. Those that are left will be dry by the following week.
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