Keeping Holy Week with Children
2025
Holy Week tells the central story of our faith: the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Because it is a difficult story—sometimes violent or scary or painful—adults may find it challenging to engage in Holy Week with children. But to do so is essential. Children should be invited (of course in age appropriate ways) to experience the story together with the whole church. It is their story as much as it is ours.
Christian educator Carolyn C. Brown writes, “Paired with the resurrection story, the crucifixion is the central story of the faith. We have to share it… When we deny children the opportunity to explore the crucifixion, we do them a great disservice.”
Children are always welcome in worship at St. Luke’s, including during Holy Week. Learn more about Holy Week worship here. In addition to worship, we hope you will find ways to mark Holy Week at home. In childhood faith formation, practicing faith at home is just as important as being involved in a faith community. Here are some additional suggestions for keeping Holy Week together with children:
As Holy Week begins, tell one other, "This is a special week, because we are just a few days away from the great mystery of Easter. A mystery takes time to unfold! This week is all about getting ready."
Palm Sunday — April 13
Worship on Palm Sunday is multi-sensory! Yell or sing “Hosanna! Lord, save us!” Wave palm branches and join the celebration of Jesus’s life. Young children can understand that Jesus is our hero, our good guy, who loves us and saves us. Even as the rest of Holy Week story unfolds, we can remember that Jesus’s love will win in the end.
After worship on Sunday, marching with the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance reminds us that our faith isn’t just for inside church, but outside as well — in relationship with our city and our neighbors.
*Remember that worship is at a different time and location on Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday — April 17
If you bring your children to worship on Maundy Thursday, invite them to notice what is different. Many senses are involved tonight. We kneel, we receive the laying on of hands, we wash feet, we receive communion, we turn off the lights. "Tonight is all about love. Jesus loves us, and Jesus tells us to love one another. I wonder what signs of love you can notice during worship?"
If you are not coming to worship on Maundy Thursday, consider washing one another's feet as a family practice at home. It is a special opportunity especially for younger children to get to offer an act of love. Read the story of Jesus washing the disciple's feet from your children's Bible (John 13:1-17, 31b-35). As you gently wash and dry one another's feet, say, "Jesus gave us a new commandment, that we love one another. Just as Jesus loves us, we also love one another."
Good Friday — April 18
Join Grace and St. Luke's for a “Sensory Stations of the Cross." On Good Friday, April 18th stop by between 3-6pm to experience the story of Christ's last hours through sensory activities and prayers. All ages will find this simple remembrance meaningful, but we are specifically inviting children to experience one of the difficult stories of our faith in a way they can grasp. Contact Pastor Lindsey Long Joyce with questions (lindsey@northsideco-op.org).
If you bring your children to worship on Good Friday evening, help them notice how the church takes this story very seriously. When the assembly is invited to interact with the cross, help the child come close, touch, and pray at the cross.
The hymn “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord” uses simple language and repetitive phrases that can help children grasp the story. Try listening or singing together at home.
Watch this video together — Pastor Erin (a vintage video with pandemic-era haircut) shares a Good Friday message with the youngest members of our community using The Easter Story Egg by Natalie Ard.
Read the story of the crucifixion together from your children’s Bible (John 18:1--19:42). After you read the story, wonder together about what it might mean. Children can ask big questions about a story like this! Remember that adults don’t need to know all the answers. It’s okay to say things like:
“That is a really deep mystery. This story is bigger than any of us can understand.”
“That is a wonderful question. I really don’t know.”
“Let’s wonder together. Wondering is an important part of faith.”
Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Vigil — April 19 and Easter Sunday — April 20
Join our partners Unity Park and Grace Church for an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday from 10a-noon. As you do the Easter egg hunt, tell each other, “The surprise inside of each egg reminds us of God’s Easter surprise. On the third day the women went to the tomb expecting to find Jesus dead, but they found the tomb open and Jesus was resurrected. Usually eggs are white and when you crack them open you find an egg yolk. These eggs are colorful and when you crack them open you find a treat. That is also a surprise!”
Read the story of the resurrection from your children’s Bible (John 20:1-18). The great mystery of Easter is here!
The word “alleluia” is back after we took a break from it for Lent! Practice saying and singing alleluia around the house today to share the resurrection joy.
Worship on Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday is full of exciting stories, visuals, and tactile experiences. Help your child notice the sensation of the water as they remember their baptism, the sound of the “alleluias",” the taste of the bread and juice. The resurrection is something we can experience with our senses!