Today is Palm Sunday….the day set aside to remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians around the world. Holy Week that culminates in the observance of Christ’s death on the cross (Good Friday) and His amazing resurrection (Easter Sunday) is truly the foundation of Christianity and my faith.
I hope and pray that Christians who are reading this blog will be purposeful this week to use it as a time of remembrance, observation, teaching, training & celebration. If you want or need some ideas or inspiration I blogged last year about all of our Lent, Holy Week & Easter family traditions here – Easter Season – there are 12 different entries that may inspire you.
This afternoon after church we began our Holy Week observances with our traditional Palm Sunday celebration (for details read here). We enjoyed a yummy brunch before reading the scriptural account of Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem, singing the song “Hosanna” and blowing out the first of six candles that will remain burning until Good Friday at noon. Here are some photos of our Palm Sunday celebration.
The girls (minus Michelle who is carrying on the traditions in Apartment 7B6 in New York), Daniel and our friend Maddie Hale.
Daniel blows out the first candle of Holy Week.
Having some fun rein-acting the triumphal entry!
I would love to hear about any of your Holy Week traditions….please share with us all.
Inspire Ministries 
would love to share with you our traditions but I think we have about the same! : )
Except, we watch “The Cotton Patch Gospel” every Good Friday. Since we lived in the south for many years, we love this re-telling of Jesus’ life in southern vernacular.
I also like to watch as many movies about Jesus’ life as I can….my favorite is called “Jesus” a 1999 movie with Jeremy Sisto playing the lead role. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199232/ .
I like it because it portrays Jesus as a “real” human with “real” emotions and temptations. He laughs, has fun and is playful with his disciples/friends, struggles with feelings towards a young lady which he knows he can’t act upon, a depth of love for his earthly father, Joseph, that those of us with godly earthly fathers know deep in our hearts too, etc. Some have said that some of what is portrayed in this movie is “not biblical”. I say, sure, it isn’t in the Bible, but it COULD have happened this way. We really just don’t know! It isn’t anti-Biblical!
Really, to me this movie illustrates best the scripture that says “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.
Beth, i am so excited that you share your Easter traditions! Last year, i happened upon your traditions (of course on the days you were doing them), so i’ve waited a whole year, and we are excited to incorporate these into our traditions this year!
We now added the re-enactment of Palm Sunday (thank you for sharing the bible verses), the 6 candles on the black cross shape, with final light blown out on Good Friday, and the stark contrast between table decor from Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday…hot cross buns…..and as much as we can add 🙂
My children are 2 and 5, so we had danced along with Miss Patty Cake and her reenactment of the waving of palms singing Hosannah, and a song about the stone being rolled away. We also have a resurrection egg hunt each year, their plastic easter eggs have scripture verses in them along with treats. and we’ve made a resurrection cake (a round cake, with a tomb carved out, and a “stone” (muffin top) rolled away.
I like our new tradition — hit people with the palm trees — haha daniel is adorable!
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Beth,
I actually met you about a decade ago. I’m a Biola friend of Marla Grupe’s and she always spoke so highly of you and your family. And now I’ve stumbled upon your blog searching for ways to celebrate the Seder meal with our family and homegroup. Small world!
Here is what we have done and are doing for Lent/Holy Week/Easter.
http://thechroniclesofsunukjia.blogspot.com/2010/02/ash-wednesday.html
http://thechroniclesofsunukjia.blogspot.com/2009/03/lent-activities.html
http://thechroniclesofsunukjia.blogspot.com/2009/04/stations-of-cross-2009.html
I’ll keep checking in every once in a while. Thanks for your ministry! =), melanie