Celebrating Holy Week (Days 5&6)

Maunday Thursday

Maundy is a word that has latin roots for command. At the Last Supper, what did Jesus command his disciples to do?

John 15:12

Learning can take shape in many different forms. For Thursday I asked my kiddos what they would want for their very last meal on earth.

I'm happy to say it wasn't hot dogs. It's a Greek lemon soup I make and they all agreed on it.

During dinner we had the opportunity to say things to each other if we knew it was our last meal together. It wasn't much different from what we always say to each other- I love you so much!!

HERE is the Bible Video of the Last Supper

Good Friday 

Death is a hard thing, so how can it be called good?

What were the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion? 

We went to the cemetery and cleaned the graves of my son, mother, and grandfather.

It was a lovely spring day with my lovely children.

I'm very grateful for the small things we did to try to remember the last week of The Savior. I felt happy and peaceful. I just pray my children can develop testimonies of the truth of who Jesus Christ is and all He did for us, because He loves us.

Celebrating Holy Week (Days 3 & 4)

Holy Tuesday

It's a good reminder that nothing is exactly set in stone when it comes to SPECIFIC days of Holy Week. We're going off a general layout of what happened in The Savior's life, so the importance is studying what happened, not necessarily the day of the week.

We did a couple reader's theaters on 3 parables Jesus taught in the temple. You can print them out for home use and other non-commercial purposes.

Spy Wednesday

John 12:3-5

Judas Iscariot was a beloved apostle of The Lord. I can't comprehend his denial of Jesus. Of his great betrayal. Of his love of money over His Savior.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the story of Mary who (before Spy Wednesday, before Palm Sunday even) anointed The Lord's feet with spikenard.

I chose this scripture because it compares the attitudes and hearts of those to Jesus. 

Are we willing to consecrate all or do we love money more than anything?

Here is a link to more information about the story

What types of spys are we willing to be today?
The type to give secret service?

Or the "spi"teful type with unwilling hearts?

I challenge you to 3 acts of service today where you give all the energy of your heart!

Celebrating Holy Week (Days 1&2)

Holy Week is a time to remember the final week of The Savior's life on earth.

If we had one week to live, what would we spend our time doing?

Did The Savior do what He wanted or what Heavenly Father wanted?

For each day we have a scripture we look at.

We also have a crown of thorns (grapevine wreath with wooden toothpicks) that we use to remember The Savior. Others were so cruel to Him, but not us!! We are kind and we love The Lord! When someone does something kind we take out a toothpick.

I like simple. But meaningful.

Palm Sunday we talked about what we would do if The Savior rode into our town.

How would we feel?

What could we offer to Him?

HERE is a really interesting article about Palms

(I printed out a couple of examples of what different palms looked like.... we thought it was interesting they would burn palms in times of war- that's how important they were!)

HERE is the video of Jesus' Triumphant Entry to Jerusalem

HERE is a must read for additional insight

We also drew palm leaves and wrote things we could offer/do in special remembrance of Jesus this Holy Week.

Holy Monday is the day Jesus cleansed the temple for the 2nd time.

Is the temple a bank, grocery store, and zoo all in one convenient spot?

Why would Jesus be so upset?

What is respect and reverence?

While our home isn't a "den of thieves" what can we do to be more honest this week?

Also, when we clean this week can we have positive attitudes and be grateful for the opportunity to clean?? 

Is it possible to be prayerful while we clean?

Each day we also REVIEW what we learned from the day before. 

What stood out to us? 

What feelings did we have? 

Why is it important to know these things about Holy Week?

A Few Easter Ideas

I know everyone is on pinterest and has probably heard of these ideas. But just in case, I'd thought I'd share.

I'm not super big on having long, drawn out activities with my 4 year old and toddler. I don't mind having "moments". I love simple, and my sanity.

On the first Family Home Evening of the month, I introduce 1 or 2 songs about the resurrection with visuals or motions. This month we sang, Did Jesus Really Live Again? (CS 64) and Easter Hosanna (CS 68). Then, on our drive to school we sang these 2 songs each morning.

 

We took some white flowers and talked about how Jesus is a perfect person, who never sinned, and lived a completely clean life.

 

Because He loved us, He knew we would need help getting back to Heavenly Father. He "took upon" Himself our sins, just like the white flower takes the red water upon it's petals.

 

Mosiah 15:8-9, "And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men—

Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice."

 

I hung some Gospel Art pictures and we reviewed the story of the last week of Christ. We took a grapevine wreath and put toothpicks in it.

 

Many people were cruel and mean to Jesus. Sometimes our choices are bad, and that hurts The Savior. He wants us to choose the right and be kind.

 

So throughout the month, when someone does something nice for another family member, they are able to take out a thorn.

 

 

Our glow in the dark egg hunt is always a favorite. I take eggs and put glow sticks inside. When it is dark out, the kids get to go and get them!!

I usually have a few scriptures in some of the eggs to:

Psalms 27:1

Isaiah 60:19

John 8:12

Ephesians 5:14

2 Nephi 10:14

Ether 4:12

D&C 6:21

 

This year we also did this fun Resurrection Hunt found HERE.

 

Happy Easter!!

My sweet bunny!!

Photo by Alicia Lyman

 

Hello all!! Just wanted to re-post some Easter ideas!!

 

Easter Reading Chart... you can get it HERE on scribd.com or just email me and I'll send you the pdf version.

 

 

He Is Risen Trivia Game... you can get it HERE on scribd.com or again, you can email me!

HERE is a link to see the questions better hopefully.

 

Also, an idea for a fun Easter Singing Time....

 

Easter Tree Singing Time Activity

Have child choose a numbered egg hanging from the tree. Sing a song a certain way, according to number.

Ways to Sing

1.     Sing with 2 fingers bent like bunny ears behind your head.

2.     Sing with arms out front, fingers intertwined, like you are holding a giant Easter egg

3.     Uh-oh! Spring pollen is making you sneeze! Hold your nose and sing.

4.     Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Instead of words, sing with a cheep!

5.     Make a butterfly. Link arms with a neighbor, use the other arm to flap your wing while you sing.

6.     Hidden egg… sing loud or soft to direct friend to find an egg.

7.     Flower pointer… primary friend uses flower to point to what side of room will sing.

8.     Sing while moving your cottontail.

9.     Sing while moving a pretend basket in your hand to the rhythm of the song.

10. Have a person up front painting an Easter egg in the air with their pointer finger. Children mirror how that person paints. So if they do zigzags, so do you! If they do dots, so do you!!

LDS Scripture Reading Chart - Easter ABC's The Savior's Resurrection

What a wonderful time of the year!! My children really enjoyed reading THIS CHART from The Friend during the Christmas season. I saw THIS great Easter Scripture fill in, also from The Friend but was looking for an actual chart. So I made one. This is for personal/family use only, please do not use for commercial purposes. If you don't have a scribd.com account, I'd be more than happy to email you a PDF version.

lbumpasl (at) aol (dot) com

 

                       Happy Reading!!!

 

 

Easter ABC's, An LDS Scripture Find Chart

Resurrection Eggs

Image courtesy creative commons image license flickr.com by kanspice 2000

You can buy these online for $14 or make them for $1 or less. There are lots of ideas out there, but this was the first one I googled and liked from teachkidsthebible.com. (I don't support or endorse this website, I know nothing about it, just citing where I got the info) This is a great activity for FHE or to give as simple gifts to a special child.

First, number your plastic eggs with permanent marker. Then fill with the items listed and hide. Let children find and go over the story of Jesus and His resurrection.

Egg Number 1

Message: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches.

Passage: Matthew 21:1-11.

Item: A small plastic leaf or a piece of a palm branch or a blade of grass.

Egg Number 2

Message: Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.

Passage: John 12:2-8.

Item: Cotton ball with perfume on it.

Egg Number 3

Message: Jesus ate the Last Supper with His disciples.

Passage: Matthew 26:17-19.

Item: A small piece of cracker to represent the passover bread.

Egg Number 4

Message: Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Passage: Matthew 27:3.

Item: Three dimes

Egg Number 5

Message: Jesus carried His cross.

Passage: John 19:17.

Item: A toothpick that is cut and glued in the form of a cross. (Or twist a pipecleaner)

Egg Number 6

Message: Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.

Passage: John 19:2.

Item: A small thorny branch or a single large thorn

Egg Number 7

Message: Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.

Passage: John 19:23.

Item: Miniature dice

Egg Number 8

Message: Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.

Passage: John 19:18,37 and John 20:25-29.

Item: A nail or push pin

Egg Number 9

Message: They gave Jesus vinegar mixed with gall on a sponge to drink.

Passage: Matthew 27:34.

Item: A q-tip or small sponge

Egg Number 10

Message: Spices to prepare Jesus for burial.

Passage: John 19:40.

Item: a few whole cloves or other whole spices. (I used a tea bag)

Egg Number 11

Message: The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away.

Passage: John 20:1.

Item: A small rock.

Egg Number 12

Message: The tomb is empty. He has risen!

Passage: Luke 24:6.

Item: Nothing

Keeping Christ in Easter - Family Traditions

Image courtesy Creative Commons License on flickr.com by kassandrapoised April 2007

I receive lots of friendly emails from people. What a ray of sunshine you all are!! You restore my faith in mankind and I hope that God will bless you forever for the kindness you've spoken to me. I really don't deserve it! After I pray God gives me ideas and I write it down. He does all the hard work!

Of recent, I received an uber polite email from Sister Frost. I'm not sure where she's from but if I had to guess I'd say the motherland, dear Great Britain. She was just so proper and well-spoken. She is looking for thoughts and ideas for new family traditions she can start to make Easter more meaningful.

Melanie, who runs sugardoodle.net has an exceptional page with different ideas for Easter. Click here to see. In fact, I saw one on having a candle lit dinner that I'm going to try this year! You really cannot get better than this assortment and gathering of ideas found on her site. Isn't she wonderful? She really reminds me of someone who emulates the Savior gathering resources so our homes can be happier places.

Additional Ideas

* In the April Ensign 2009 on page 40 starts an article called "He is Risen". Take a jar and cover it with gray clay, making it look like a rock tomb. Make the lid into a rock. Cut out the scriptures and pictures from this article and put them in a jar. There are 20 pictures/scriptures total. They are short scriptures, perfect for young children. Along with some of the pictures, add small service projects that can relate to that scripture or picture. A week or two before Easter have your child draw one or two out each morning. Display the pictures where they can be seen. Plan so that on Easter the jar will be empty (just like Jesus' tomb) but our hearts aren't because we served others and read our scriptures!

For example: The picture "He is not here" Scripture Matthew 28:6 - Make a loaf of bread to take to someone. The picture "Easter Morning" Scripture John 20:16 - gather some flowers or do a flower art project to give to someone (When I see the picture it just makes me think of beauty, beauty makes me think of flowers... could there have been a more beautiful moment in history?). The picture "The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre" Scripture John 20:3-4 - Run up and down your neighborhood block dropping off pass along cards of the Savior in mailboxes. The picture "Feed my Sheep" Scripture John 21:16 - make a pizza and salad to take to a family. Ask your children what does the picture or scripture make them want to do for someone?

* I made a chart for my little ladies with all the commercial aspects of Easter and how they relate to Christ. The pictures are simple and the words too. I titled it "When I think of Easter I think of My Savior". I have a picture of the Easter Bunny with the phrase, The Easter Bunny shares and gives just like Jesus shared and gave His life for me. Another picture is of an Easter basket with the words Easter baskets are open just like the open and empty tomb of Jesus. I have about 5 pictures and phrases total. My daughter's favorite is a picture of baby chicks with the words Baby chicks, baby bunnies and duckies... who gave us all our animals? Jesus! We go over this every other night and I have it posted next to the GAK picture 233 of Mary and the Resurrected Lord (Although He wasn't quite fully resurrected yet... the whole "touch me not" bit)

* Easter Caroling. I mean... why not? There are some great Easter songs and a lot of elderly people out there that need some happiness in life!!

* Our family is Greek. Out of the 8 brothers and sisters that came from Cephalonia, my Yaya was the eldest. My mother and father are the only LDS members. What is my point? Oh how I babble so. We have the tradition of dying some eggs deep red. To remember the blood of Christ. We then crack it against other people's eggs, which really doesn't have to do with Christ, but it's fun.

* Paper Palm Leaf and Clothes count down. Have a picture of Christ on the donkey your children can move each day towards the empty tomb. On the palm leaves and clothes have scriptures or small acts of service you can do as a family each day.

* I know that in the Jewish religion, for the celebration of Passover Seder Feast an empty chair is left for the prophet Elijah. Why not leave a chair empty for the Savior at your Easter dinner? Jesus and the Holy Ghost are always welcome in our homes and are very much needed so! At dinner you could talk about things you would ask the Savior, share favorite stories of Him and discuss what it will be like when we are all resurrected. You could even have a box with questions to draw from and answer as you eat, all of course relating to Jesus.

* I also think that visiting the grave of a loved one could not be more appropriate than doing so on Easter.

Soooooooooo Sister Frost, I hope this could be of some help. Really, the site to check though is sugardoodle.net! Happy Happy Easter!! You have one blessed little daughter to have a mother so caring and concerned for her spiritual well being. If only all the mothers in the world could be so impressed and motivated to teach their children of our Savior!!

April 2009 Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Photograph by Andy Caulfield/Getty Images O Cristo Redentor Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Monthly Theme: Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live with my Heavenly Father again.
Monthly Scripture: "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

Also the * indicates an idea. All the ideas aren't meant to be used in one sharing time necessarily. Pick and choose as you are inspired.

Week 1 In the premortal life, I chose to follow Jesus Christ.

* You can't get much better than this. The key is adapting for a 15 minute time period!

* Hold up a picture of a dark cave and a picture of a meadow of flowers. Where would you choose to go, in the darkness or light? Hold up a picture of some junk foods and then a picture of a nice pasta bowl and big salad. Which would you choose for dinner? Some choices are better than others no matter how tempting. Following Christ and not Lucifer is the best choice we made and can continue to make!

Have the children fold a piece of paper in half. Have them draw or write about the choice we made to follow Jesus on one side and what happened to those who didn't on the other side.
You can make an example picture yourself beforehand to give them a start. Then have them share!!

* Call up 5 children at a time to stand up in front of the primary. Have those sitting quietly look at the faces of the children standing for 10ish seconds. Have those standing return to their seats. Invite 5 more to come up. Repeat as much as you like. Did everyone see the faces of each other?

Read Abraham 3:22-23 "Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. "

Bear testimony that the children whose beautiful faces we looked at, and all the faces in this room are those noble and great ones who stood for Christ in the premortal world.

*Read the following. “When the great War in Heaven was fought, Lucifer, the son of the morning, came forth with a plan that was rejected. The Father of us all, with love for us, His children, offered a better plan under which we would have freedom to choose the course of our lives. His Firstborn Son, our Elder Brother, was the key to that plan. Man would have his agency, and with that agency would go accountability. Man would walk the ways of the world and sin and stumble. But the Son of God would take upon Himself flesh and offer Himself a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all men. Through unspeakable suffering He would become the great Redeemer, the Savior of all mankind” (Gordon B. Hinckley, in Conference Report, Apr. 2002, 107; or Ensign, May 2002, 90).

Hide keys around the room. Attach questions or scriptures having to do with Christ or agency. We made a good choice in the premortal world and will continue to follow the key to Heavenly Father's plan...our Savior!

* These are ideas related to the premortal existence that might be of help. They are under Week 2 I lived with Heavenly Father before I came to earth in the post.

Week 2 I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior.

* In Teaching No Greater Call pg. 161 it says, "Buzz sessions are activities in which learners are divided into small discussion groups. The groups talk about assigned topics and then share their ideas with the others. You can use buzz sessions to give a large number of people the opportunity to participate in a lesson..." The manual also talks about how to conduct one, so dust it off and take a look.

Questions for a buzz session for this week's topic could include: What are the things I need to do daily to gain a testimony of Jesus Christ? Where are places I can go to strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ? Who is a good example that helps me have a testimony of Jesus Christ and why? How can I help others strengthen their testimony of Jesus Christ? What is a testimony and how does it feel?

* Write down testimonies. Have them take it home to put in a journal or bind them together to make a book for your branch/ward missionaries to share with investigators. (This can also fill a faith in God requirement)

* Did anyone ever do the MTC training center where you volunteer to be investigators? Well why not bring it to primary! Have the branch/ward missionaries come in and briefly explain why a testimony of Christ is important on a mission and in life. Break up into small groups. Have some children be missionaries (no tags... that's in one of the handbooks) and the others investigators. Have a few questions for the investigators to ask and have the primary missionaries practice bearing testimony of our Savior. Then switch roles.

D&C 84:61-62 "For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you. Therefore, go ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature."

* "Personal testimony is confirmed to us initially and is reaffirmed and enlarged thereafter through a harmonious combining of both the intellect and the spirit." (Boyd K. Packer "Reverence Invites Revelation" Ensign November 1991, p.21) This quote makes me think of the visual of a sunrise. At dawn the sun peeks through the sky, we know it's there. Then the morning breaks and our eyes and bodies/senses can again confirm the sun is up, until finally at midday the sun fills the sky and there can be no question that the sun has lit up our lives completely.

Week 3 My family and I will be resurrected.

* Have a teacher or another adult come to the front to help. Tie their hands together. What does that feel like? Can they do as many things with their hands tied? Mosiah 15:20 "But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead." Cut the string. The teacher's hand is free now. How does that feel? The resurrection gives our families hope and happy feelings.

* Ezekiel 37:1-14 is a very visual scriptural story/reference on the resurrection. It would take a lot of preparation but this would make for a great felt board.

* Have pictures of a few different families displayed. One family tries their very hardest to do things that are right. One family only has children that go to church and read the scriptures. One family yells at each other and sometimes even push each other. Which family will be resurrected? 2 Nephi 9:22 "And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day." ALL the families will be resurrected.

* If you have a smaller primary, you could pass out wooden picture frames for the children to write scripture references about the resurrection. They could go home and put pictures of their family to remember that they will all be resurrected.

Alma 11:43-44 "The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

* Have something simple broken. Fix it with superglue. The resurrection will put the body and the spirit back together. Except it's something much stronger and more powerful than superglue because of who made it possible, Jesus Christ.

Week 4 By following Jesus Christ, we will be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again.

* Have the children trace the outlines of their feet. On one foot they can draw and write ways in which they can follow Jesus Christ. On the second foot, give them a picture of Jesus to glue on. Have them glue both feet on a large piece of paper to take home with By following Jesus Christ, we will live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again.

1 Peter 2: 21 "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps

* What would it be like walking in the dark without a flash light all by yourself? Sing Teach Me to Walk in the Light (Hymns page 304). Have a large poster board with a picture of the Liahona and Alma 37:45 "And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise."

Cover the poster board with pieces of black paper. As the children answer questions based on following Jesus and sing songs that are related, etc.... turn off the lights, give them a flash light and let them remove a piece of black paper to discover the message.

* Pass out hymn books and turn to Lord, I Would Follow Thee (page 220) Have them come up with at least 8 different ways to follow the Lord listed in the song. As they find a way they earn a letter. Choose a smaller child who can't read to choose a letter so you can involve everyone. The letters will spell out DISCIPLE. Sing Love One Another (page 308) and listen for the word disciple.

Point out the scripture reference at the bottom of the Hymn 1 John 4:11 but continue to verse 12 also. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." We can get a little glimpse of what it would be like to live with Heavenly Father by following (being a disciple of) Christ and receiving His spirit.

* Bring in a basin, towel and soap. Have children come to the front to hold these items and a picture of Jesus washing His disciples feet. (GAK 226) Briefly tell this story and quote John 13: 13-17

"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

We might not be called to actually clean one another's feet, but we can serve humbly with love. Bear testimony that Jesus Christ set a perfect example for us to follow and in doing so we will be happy and live with Him again.

* For the Senior Primary, in the Topical Guide (In the Bible) are many references with the word "Follow". Direct them to this section and give them 5 minutes to find something they'd like to share on the word follow. Then have them share.