The Meaning of Easter

THE BRANCH CHURCH

Introduction This guide will take you step-by-step through the moments of Holy Week. The first activity is for Thursday, April 1, and the last one is Sunday, April 4.

Each day has a unique way to experience the story that changes everything. We hope this journey will help you and your family celebrate the true meaning of Easter in a whole new way.

Getting started each day: • Fire up your TV or streaming device.

• Head to our YouTube channel or The Branch Church app.

• Watch the brief video introduction of the day.

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T H U R S D AY P RO T I P: Take the time to read through the whole Thursday guide before you start - it will help!

Suggested Location

SOMEWHERE OU TDOORS Needed Supplies

• LARGE BOWL • P I T C H E R O F WAT E R • TOWELS • BI BLE

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1 . WAT C H T H E V I D E O Use your streaming device to watch the Thursday video on our YouTube channel or The Branch Church app.

2. OP EN YO UR BI BLES As a family, turn to today ’s passage in your Bibles.

TURN TO

JOHN 13:1-15 T I P FOR YO UNGER KI DS: Help your little ones by reminding them that “ big numbers” are chapters and the “ little numbers” are verses.

3 . R E A D T H E PA S S A G E If you have kids who are readers, let them read the stor y or take turns reading it to the family.

EN CO U R AG E AC T I V E LI S T EN I N G :

• W hat was Jesus doing to the disciples?

• W ho told Jesus not to wash their feet?

Ask your kids to tell you what they learned from the passage. Review passage as needed.

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4. EXPERIENCE THE STORY T O D AY ’ S A C T I V I T Y

F O O T WA S H I N G On one of his last days Jesus ser ved the disciples by washing their feet.

W H AT T O D O : • Take turns washing your children’s feet.

• Point out how dirty the disciple’s feet would have been - they walked ever ywhere and wore open sandals.

ASK: • W hy was it strange that Jesus washed the disciples feet? (He was their Master - usually that was a ser vant ’s job.)

• W hy did Jesus wash their feet? (To show them how to ser ve others) • How can we “wash each other’s feet ”? (By ser ving others) S AY : • Just like Jesus washed the disciples’ dirty feet, He washes our “dirty feet ” too - by dying on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.

• L et ’s read to see what happens next.

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5 . R E A D A N O T H E R PA S S A G E ( O P T I O N A L LY S K I P T O 6 ) As a family, turn to a second passage in your Bibles.

TURN TO

LUKE 22:47-54 If you have kids who are readers, let them read the stor y or take turns reading it to the family.

EN CO U R AG E AC T I V E LI S T EN I N G :

• W here did Jesus go?

• W hat did Jesus tell them to do?

• W ho kissed Jesus?

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6 . P R AY T O G E T H E R Pray out loud together. Even if the room isn’t still or quiet - pray out loud anyway!

Be a family who prays together.

C O N S I D E R T H E S E P R AY E R S : • God, help me love people like Jesus loves me.

• God, help show me to pray like Jesus encouraged the disciples to do - so I may not be led into temptation.

• God, help me live my life in a way that shows other people what it looks like to love You and love others.

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Jesus was taken to trial.

To be continued tomorrow...

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F R I D AY P RO T I P: Take the time to read through the whole Friday guide before you start - it will help!

Suggested Location

YO UR HOME LOW LIGH TS Needed Supplies

• TA P E • C O N S T R U C T I O N PA P E R • W H I T E C RAYO N • 5 C A N D L E S + M AT C H E S • BI BLES 9

1 . WAT C H T H E V I D E O Use your streaming device to watch the Friday video on our YouTube channel or The Branch Church app.

2. OP EN YO UR BI BLES As a family, turn to today ’s passage in your Bibles.

TURN TO

LUKE 23:33-38 T I P FOR YO UNGER KI DS: Help your little ones by reminding them that “ big numbers” are chapters and the “ little numbers” are verses.

3 . R E A D T H E PA S S A G E If you have kids who are readers, let them read the stor y or take turns reading it to the family.

EN CO U R AG E AC T I V E LI S T EN I N G :

• W here did they take Jesus?

• How did they treat Jesus?

Ask your kids to tell you what they learned from the passage. Review passage as needed.

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4. EXPERIENCE THE STORY Good Friday is heavy. It is sad.

You know best how to discuss this with your kids.

T O D AY ’ S A C T I V I T Y

CONFESS AND REFLECT S TA I N E D - G L A S S C R O S S W H AT T O D O : • Light five candles • Have a large cross cut out of construction paper.

• Frame the cross on the window/door.

• You can add the sections later.

• We will finish the “stained glass” on Easter morning!

S AY ( You know your kids-modify as needed): • The soldiers took Jesus away to be crucified.

• They beat Jesus, spit on him, mocked him. They dressed him up with a crown of thorns to be a king. They made him carr y his own cross to a place called Golgotha, where he was to be crucified.

• Jesus was nailed to the cross.

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DO: • Hang the cross, with tape, on the window or door.

• Confess your sins: write your confession on a piece of paper to tape on the cross or directly on the cross. Use the white crayon. Or, for privacy, black.

• Come and sit around the candles.

S AY : • Jesus said, Eli, Eli…, My God, My God why have you forsaken me? Then he bowed his head and died.

DO: • Read each statement and then blow out one candle after each.

S AY : • Do you remember that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss? (Blow out candle) • Do you remember that the soldiers beat him him? (Blow out candle) • Do you remember that Pilate turned him over to the people to have him crucified? (Blow out candle) • Do you remember that the crowd laughed at him?

(Blow out candle) • Do you remember that Jesus asked if even God had abandoned Him? (Blow out candle )

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5 . P R AY A N D W O R S H I P Pray out loud together. Even if the room isn’t still or quiet - pray out loud anyway!

Be a family who prays together.

C O N S I D E R T H E S E P R AY E R S : • God, this stor y is sad. Jesus died on the cross for me. Thank you Jesus, for dying to save me.

• Help me grow c loser to You and know that I can always come to You when I have messed up. You love me always.

• God, help me live my life in a way that shows other people what it looks like to love You and love others.

WORSH I P

Have your kids lead you in worship with “Jesus We L ove You”.

Search

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for “ branch kids Jesus we love you”

After Jesus’ friends took his body down from the cross they laid him in a grave.

To make sure none of Jesus’ disciples would come and take his body, soldiers sealed the tomb with a huge stone.

To be continued tomorrow...

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S AT U R D AY P RO T I P: Take the time to read through the whole Saturday guide before you start - it will help!

Suggested Location

Y O U R FAV O R I T E WA L K I N G T R A I L O R PA R K Needed Supplies

• L I S T F O R N AT U R E WA L K (PG. 19)

• B AG T O CO LLE C T I T EM S

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1 . WAT C H T H E V I D E O Use your streaming device to watch the Saturday video on our YouTube channel or The Branch Church app.

2. EXPERIENCE THE STORY T O D AY ’ S A C T I V I T Y

N AT U R E WA L K W H AT T O D O : • Grab a bag so you can pack your finds • Go to your favorite park, walking trail, or backyard!

• As you walk, gather items that remind you of the week Jesus had.

• Talk to your kids about how Jesus’ followers spent Saturday ver y sad - they mourned.

• Build anticipation of what is coming tomorrow!

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3. THINGS TO FIND 1. Something edible 2. Something wet 3. Something in a garden 4. Something shiny 5. Something sharp 6. Something thorny 7. Something made of wood 8. Something dead 9. Something dark in color 10. Something round

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4 . W H AT T H E Y R E P R E S E N T 1. The Passover Meal 2. Washing the Disciples Feet 3. Garden of Gethsamane 4. Judas betrayed Jesus (Coins) 5. Jesus’ pain 6. The crown of thorns 7. The cross 8. Christ ’s death 9. The darkness that came over the world after his death 10. The stone placed in front of the tomb.

As you review your items, have ever yone take a moment of silence to thank God for sending Jesus to Save us.

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6 . P R AY T O G E T H E R Pray out loud together. Even if the room isn’t still or quiet - pray out loud anyway!

Be a family who prays together.

C O N S I D E R T H E S E P R AY E R S : • God, help me remember that Jesus died for my sin.

• God, give me opportunities to share this stor y with my family and friends and neighbors.

• God, thank you for Jesus.

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Jesus was buried all day on Saturday, but Sunday was coming.

To be continued tomorrow...

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S U N D AY P RO T I P: Take the time to read through the whole Sunday guide before you start - it will help!

Suggested Location

YO UR HOME Needed Supplies

• BI BLE • WINDOW MARKERS OR PA I N T

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1 . WAT C H T H E V I D E O Use your streaming device to watch the Sunday video on our YouTube channel or The Branch Church app.

2. OP EN YO UR BI BLES As a family, turn to today ’s passage in your Bibles.

TURN TO

JOHN 20:11-23 T I P FOR YO UNGER KI DS: Help your little ones by reminding them that “ big numbers” are chapters and the “ little numbers” are verses.

3 . R E A D T H E PA S S A G E If you have kids who are readers, let them read the stor y or take turns reading it to the family.

T O D AY ’ S S T O R Y P O I N T

JESUS IS ALIVE! EN CO U R AG E AC T I V E LI S T EN I N G :

• W hat was rolled away from the tomb?

• W ho saw Jesus first?

Ask your kids to tell you what they learned from the passage. Review passage as needed.

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4. DISCUSS THE STORY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Why was Mary crying? Jesus was not in the tomb. She thought he had been taken.

• Who did Mary think Jesus was? Reread v.

15. The gardener.

• How did Mary learn it was Jesus? He called her by name. She knew Him • What did she do after she knew it was Jesus? She went and told the other disciples.

• Where were the other disciples? They were “sheltered-in” at a home in Jerusalem, scared of the Jewish leaders because of what they had done to Jesus.

• What is something you are scared about right now?

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• What is the first thing Jesus said and did to them in v. 19? “Peace be with You” and showed his scars.

• What can we learn from that? Jesus brings us peace - even when things don’t make sense, even when we are scared. He is real, we can trust Him. • The disciples are overjoyed because Jesus is alive! What do you do when you are really happy about something? You SHARE it and tell others!

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6. SUMMARIZE Ask your kids to tell you what they learned from your discussion. Review passage as needed.

S AY :

Jesus died for our sins. A really painful death. But He rose again so we could be saved!

• Sometimes scar y things happen.

• But when we trust God and spend time with Him, He will give us His peace.

• Jesus died and rose again to save us!

• L et ’s tell others so more people can know Him!

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7 . C E L E B R AT E T H E S T O R Y Tear down the black cross filled with your sins and add bursts of color!

T O D AY ’ S A C T I V I T Y

“ S TA I N E D ” G L A S S C R O S S W H AT T O D O : • If you haven’t already, finish taping the sections of your stained glass window/door.

• Optional: Create mixed “paint ” prepared by following DIY instructions at:

thebranch.org/paint

• Using your markers (or paint) fill in the different taped sections with different colors.

S AY : • How do you feel when you look at the dark cross hanging on our door/window?

• Jesus died for all of those sins on our cross - He died for all the sins of the world.

• Today we celebrate because He actually BEAT death when He rose from the grave! He is ALIVE!! That is why we celebrate Resurrection (coming back alive) Sunday!!

• L et ’s finish our “stained ” glass window/door!

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S AY : • W hy is this important for us to remember?

• We cannot do anything to make up for all of the ways we have messed up, sinned. Jesus did it for us! He is perfect, never sinned, and died for us so we can be forgiven.

• How do you feel knowing Jesus died for your sins so you can be forgiven?

• How do you feel knowing HE is ALIVE!!??

• I want to praise Him with my whole life and tell as many people as I can that He came to earth, showed us how to love God and love others, died for our sins, and then resurrected!

DO: • Pull the paper cross off and throw it away!

• Discuss that our sins are forgiven when we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus died for our sins and rose again!

• Pull the tape off gently if the paint is dr y.

• Take note that the cross is shining and your sins are gone!

• Take a family photo in front of your door and post it on Branch Families Facebook Page!

6 . P R AY T O G E T H E R Pray out loud together. Even if the room isn’t still or quiet - pray out loud anyway!

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Be a family who prays together.

C O N S I D E R T H E S E P R AY E R S : • Jesus, we love You, we thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. We worship You because You are our Savior. God thank you for loving us!

• God, please help (name) to know you died for them and rose again, to save them from their sin.

• God, please help (name) know Your peace!

• God, give us opportunites to share this Good News with others.

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By this gospel you are saved…..For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….

I Corinthians 15:2-4

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I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

(NIV )