Excerpt taken from Good Dirt: Lent, Holy Week and Eastertide. Holy Week is split into two parts. The first part is Palm Sunday through Holy Wednesday, which does not take us into the suffering of Jesus; instead we look ahead to what is worth dying for. The first part is full of preparation and confirmation. As Joan Chittister says in her book The Liturgical Year,
“These first days of Holy Week confirm: there are some things worth living for, even if we find ourselves having to die for them as well.”
Welcome Home Party: Create a welcome banner for Jesus. Read the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus (today’s reading) as a family. Enjoy special snacks; even invite the neighbors to join you in welcoming Jesus home.
Create a Blessing Banner: Part of looking ahead from death to life is found in looking ahead from winter to spring. Use poster board and construction paper to make a flower garden. On each of the flower petals write a blessing or something worth living for. Use the poster as a Holy Week reminder that life triumphs over death.
Till: We thank you, Jesus, for showing us how to live a humble and good life. Help us today to prepare for your coming. Show us how to celebrate your arrival!
Plant:Matt. 21:1-16
Water: Watch it: Watch for the love and life of Jesus today.
Visit the Altar: In the sand, draw a picture of your favorite thing about Jesus.
Weed: How did you celebrate today? How can you carry this celebration through to Good Friday?