18 April 2025
Bible readings for today
Liturgical colour: WHITE / GOLD
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CollectCrucified saviour, naked God
you hang disgraced and powerless. Grieving, we dare to hope, as we wait at your cross with your mother and your friend. |
Good Friday
Good Friday - one of the hardest and saddest days to experience and unpack for kids. We need to think intentionally how we can accomodate all ages in our Good Friday services.
Inputs for LeadersGood Friday can be a tricky one to engage the kids in such a sad part of the gospel story. Some questions to think about:
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Good Friday for Under 5's (Parenting for Faith)
How can we share what happened on Good Friday with our youngest children? We know that one of the things parents are sometimes worried about is when is it appropriate to tell their child about Jesus’ death. They need to know about it, otherwise the story of the Bible doesn’t make sense, but it is a hard story and can be upsetting. So here are some pointers to help you decide what to tell your small person about Good Friday. Good Friday for Kids - Meaningful Metaphors (Ministry Matters) ...This incredible, wrenching story is at the heart of our faith, and thus we’re called to share it. But how do we share it with the children in our midst in a way that helps them to hear the Good News and grow in the love and knowledge of God? [Keep reading here] 
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Intergenerational WorshipA collection of resources and ideas, written and compiled by Rev Katherine Ruhl Intergen Australia. Bible references: John, Psalm
Or this Combined Easter collection of resources and ideas, includes Palm Sunday (as above) but also resources for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Intergenerational Candle Litany for Good Friday
(Start with 7 candles lit) When we hate or are unkind to each other, the world becomes a darker place. (extinguish one candle) Jesus taught us to love each other. When we want everything for ourselves, the world becomes a darker place. (extinguish one candle) Jesus taught us to share with others. When we scare or bully others, the world becomes a darker place. (extinguish one candle) Jesus taught us that love is better than fear. When we are jealous of others, the world becomes a darker place. (extinguish one candle) Jesus taught us contentment. When we lie, the world becomes a darker place. (extinguish one candle) Jesus taught us honesty. People’s hatred, greed, selfishness, jealousy, and dishonesty placed Jesus on the cross. (extinguish one candle) For Jesus’ friends the world seemed like a very dark place. In the darkness, Jesus said, “O God, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (extinguish one candle) — from Called and Shaped by Jesus: Lent-at-Home 2011 written by Elsie Rempel, and published by Mennonite Church Canada. Posted on the Leader Online website. 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).
Prayer StationsFantastic Set of Prayer Stations (One Friday) that can be adapted for all age settings. We love the watercolour images, and themes of judgement, disloyalty, and hopelessness. They are available to download here (sign in needed)
St Michael's Newlands ran these stations recently, with a couple of additions of their own, and gave each person a card to take around as they explored each station, collecting a small sticker along the way. The stickers spelt out 'Not the end' when they were all collected. 
Five Creative Prayer Stations (Flame Creative) that tell the story of Holy Week. Includes questions to think about and a script for taking a group of children around the stations. (Flame Creative).
Here's another idea for a prayer station (from Flame Creative) that is cheap, easy and very kinesthetic for those children who like to use their hands when praying. This could be easily adapted to an intergenerational space using a larger board and nails.
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Telling the StoryChildren's Stories - Not the End!
The story of Good Friday can be a difficult one to tell to children in a way that is not disturbing, and is meaningful to them. One way to do this can be to use a story with concepts they will understand that can be related to some aspect of the Easter story. Well known children's stories have moments of peril and normally end with a happy ending. Chose a story that would work for your children and your context, and consider telling the story and stopping at the sad part. Close the book and wait for the children to realise that the story doesn't end that way. Try these:
Alternately for some excellent books on Easter for kids try:
Kisses and Crosses (BRF Ministries) Red String Storytelling (Bible Society NZ) A Simple Retelling of the Easter Story for younger ones (Rev Teri Johnson-Frow, St John's Johnsonville) You will need - yellow balloons with happy faces, blue balloons with sad faces, Give each child one of each and ask them to help you tell the story by holding up the balloons that express how people were feeling at each bit of the story. Today some bad happened. Today something sad happened. Today something mad happened. Today Jesus died. Jesus friends were very sad. Jesus was gone. No more stories. No more healing. No more amazing things. No more being friends with Jesus. It was bad. It was mad. It was very very very very sad. But Jesus friends had forgotten something. They had forgotten that Jesus was the son of God. They had forgotten that he was the king of amazing surprises. And he had an amazing surprise for them. It was the best surprise ever. A surprise that was amazing. A surprise that was astounding. A surprise that was incredible and wonderful and simply the best thing ever. (are you ready?) Jesus was alive again! His friends couldn’t believe it. Maybe they imagined it? Maybe they dreamed it? But it was true. Jesus was alive again! Lots more stories. Lots more healing. Lots more amazing things. Lots more being friend with Jesus. Hooray! Do you know that Jesus loved his friends so much that even death couldn’t take him away from them? And he loves you guys that much too. Good Friday for PreschoolHere are some ways you can invite your preschoolers to play their way into some of the themes of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Share the Story: Check out resources in the 'Telling the Story' section of this page as many are suitable for preschoolers. Playdough: Try these Easter playdough mats from FlameCreative. Happy face, sad face: Make double sided masks out of paper plates, or blow up balloons and draw different emotion faces on them. Things to chat about: What makes you happy and sad? How did Jesus friends feel? Surprises: Play with a jack-in-the-box or a game like Buckaroo where there is an element of surprise. Talk about: What is it like to be surprised? What surprises have you had? Are they good? bad? Alive again! Play the 'sleeping giant' game with the kids. Talk about Jesus being dead and then alive again. Group Art project: (Sunhats & Wellieboots) - Tape resist cross art Wrap a body gameTell the Easter story as you wrap a volunteer in toilet paper or similar. The fun is “breaking out” of the wrappers with resurrection life.
Instructions As the storyteller recaps the major elements of the Easter story leading up to Resurrection Sunday, someone wraps a volunteer at the front with toilet paper (like a still and standing Egyptian mummy). When the storyteller gets to the part of the story where the stone is rolled away and Jesus comes back to life, the ‘mummy’ explodes with life and the paper is torn as they move their limbs. The risen Jesus volunteer can run though the church while everyone cheers. Interview the mummy: • How did it feel being wrapped up as dead; what were your thoughts and sensations? • What was it like to break out again? • What have you discovered about Jesus’ death and resurrection from acting this out? Cross crafts
Art in LentIf you want to mark Lent in a simple rich way, how about creating a space where your kids can spend some time with Jesus-related art. Try these questions or make up your own. Think about offering resources for kids to make art too.
The Risen Lord by He Qi (More Easter Paintings by He Qi here) 
Printable resources
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