Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Holy Week 2016


We serve a risen Savior!  This year we chose to open our home each day of Holy Week for about 2 hours each day.  Mostly children came to the services, but some days a few adults joined us. 

On Monday Abraham taught about the cleansing of the temple when Jesus drove out those selling animals and changing money from the temple.  The children made handprint sheep and drew tables to fingerprint money onto.

Tuesday it was my turn to tell the story.  I shared about how the religious leaders wanted to trip Jesus up with something he said.  Then I told how one of the leaders asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is.  He replied, "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself."  The children cut out and decorated hearts where they wrote, "AmarĂ¡s a tu Dios con todo..." 

We had a full group on Wednesday when Abraham presented the story of how Judas betrayed Jesus and how we also betray him when we decide not to do what he says.  The adults and children traced their hands and cut out aluminum foil coins to show that Judas received 30 silver coins to turn Jesus over to his enemies.

Thurday we provided grape juice, mutton, and crackers as Abraham described the Last Supper and how Jesus came as a servant.  Abraham also told how Jesus went to the garden to pray, how his disciples slept instead of praying, and then how Jesus was arrested.  Again a mix of adults and children participated in the service.

Our Good Friday service was at 3.  Those who attended learned about the Old Testament tabernacle and how people were separated from God and kept to a strict set of laws involving sacrifices of animals.  Abraham shared about Jesus´ trial, crucifixion, and death and how the temple´s dividing curtain was torn from top to bottom the moment Jesus died, opening the way to God.
My turn to tell the Bible story came again on Saturday.  I reviewed to previous day´s lesson with an illustration, and then explained how the disciples felt on that Saturday after Jesus died.  They did not understand that he was not defeated, nor did it look like they had any hope.  However, he promised he would rise again. We then went on to see five of the many promises in the Bible for God´s children.

On Sunday came the celebration.  Abraham spoke of the empty tomb, and the children and adults made an empty tomb.  After that we enjoyed a potluck meal together.

It was good to be able to share the whole week with those neighbors who came.