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Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
(Matthew 28:1)
The Lord's followers lost hope when the Lord was crucified and laid to rest in the tomb. Yet the women went to anoint the Lord's body as soon as the Sabbath was over. Imagine their surprise when they found the tomb empty!
READ: "The Easter Surprise" by the Rev. Kurt Horigan Asplundh
A retelling of the story of Easter morning for young children, focusing on the joyful surprise of the Lord's resurrection.
PROJECT: Make and Display an Easter Representation (for ages 8 and up)
Make a miniature garden scene to illustrate the Easter story in the gospel of John (chapter 20).
PROJECT: Make an Easter Diorama (for ages 9-14)
Color and assemble a diorama showing Mary looking into the tomb and seeing the two angels.
READ: "Trying to Entomb the Lord" by the Rev. Grant Odhner
This story teaches us that the Lord Jesus, who came to earth and touched us with His great love and wisdom, is more than just a man. He is our God, and He has all power.
SPIRITUAL TASK: Do We Try to Entomb the Lord? (for teens and adults)
COLORING PAGE: Peter and John Running to the Tomb by Donald Morehead
SING: "When Very Early in the Dawn"
PROJECT: Angel at the Tomb (for ages 7-12)
COLORING PAGE: The Angel at the Tomb by Robert Glenn
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it....
[He] said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus
who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said."
(Matthew 28: 2,6)
The miracle of Easter is that the Lord rose with His earthly body which He had made Divine. The Lord let His followers see that the tomb was empty and that He had risen so they could truly understand that He is not like any other person but is Divine.
READ: "Mary Magdalene and the Risen Lord" by the Rev. B. David Holm
This talk focuses on Mary Magdalene being the first person to see the Risen Lord in the garden on Easter morning.
READ: "Rabboni" by the Rev. Geoffrey Childs
An in-depth look at the internal meaning or representation of Mary Magdalene and her recognition of the Risen Lord.
FAMILY DISCUSSION: Mary Magdalene Sees the Lord
Read the story in the gospel of John (20:1-16) about Mary Magdalene seeing the Lord. Use the discussion questions to talk about this story.
SING: The Lord Is Risen Again
PROJECT: The Lord Lost and Found (for ages 6-10)
Help Mary find the Lord, by making a picture of the Lord on transparent paper (tracing paper, overhead transparency, etc.) that can be placed over a picture of Mary in the garden.
ACTIVITY: Is the Easter Story Happy or Sad? (for ages 8-14)
Make a story line reflecting your perspective on whether events surrounding the Lord's resurrection are happy, sad, or "neutral."
LITERATURE CONNECTION: He Is Risen illustrated by Shanon Smith
Families might also enjoy this picture book with text from Matthew 27 and 28 and lovely illustrations.
PROJECT: Miracles of Easter Window Wheel! (for ages 6-12)
THE INNER MEANING OF "MORNING"
"[T]he dawn" or "the morning" means the coming of the Lord
or approach of His kingdom. Thus "sunrise" or its going forth
over the earth is His actual arrival or presence.
(Arcana Coelestia 2441)
Everything written in the Lord's Word has a spiritual or inner meaning. The timing of the Lord's death and His resurrection are a good example of this special symbolism. Here are some activities to help you explore these ideas.
FAMILY WORSHIP: Worship the Lord at Sunrise
Watch the sunrise, then have a simple worship service. (One format would be saying the Lord's prayer, reading some of the quotes from the Word, and singing a song.) If your climate is too cold to be outdoors or you can't see the sunrise from your home, you can still have a worship service in the early morning focusing on joy coming in the morning.
Optional: You may wish to follow up with a special breakfast. Those people living in a warmer climate, may even choose to have a picnic breakfast!
FOR REFLECTION: Joy Comes in the Morning
READ: "The Glory of the Lord" by the Rev. Kurt Horigan Asplundh
This article explains what the Lord's most important earthly work - called His glorification - was and what it means for our lives today using clear illustrations from nature human experience.
ACTIVITY: Watch the Sunrise
Can you find a place to watch the sunrise in the east? If buildings or trees obscure your view of the eastern sky, try to find another vantage point. (A newspaper can tell you when the sun will rise and whether clear skies are forecast.) The Heavenly Doctrine tells us that the dawning of the day pictures the rise (springing up or emerging) of all things from the Lord (see Arcana Coelestia 1807:2).
PROJECT: Picture the Sunrise (for ages 7-up)
Watch the sunrise or look at several photographs of the sun rising and then paint a sunrise of your own.
SING: "Morn of Joy and Morn of Praise" by the Rev. Frank Sewall
POSTER: Morning Light (for teens and adults)
A beautiful photograph with a quote about the symbolism of the morning.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Night and Day (for teens and adults)
Look at ways to distinguish between night and day in our lives.
ACTIVITY: Catching the Light - A Photography Experiment (for ages 10-up)
Explore the effects of lighting at different times of day.
As the Lord's Human was glorified, that is, made Divine,
He rose again after death on the third day with His whole body,
which does not take place with any person....
(see Doctrine of the Lord 35:9)
One of the happiest parts of the Easter story is the Lord ascending into heaven. This is a story that children in heaven love to portray.
READ: "Picturing the Lord" by the Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss
Some thoughts on how our picture of the Lord develops over time and what ideas are most appropriate for young children.
PROJECT: Picture the Lord's Ascension (for ages 5-10)
Let your little ones make their own picture of the Lord.
PROJECT: The Lord Ascending - A Pinprick Picture (for ages 6-12)
Use a push pin (or straight pin) to prick holes in the picture, outlining the Lord and the rays of light around Him. Then place the page in a window to see the Lord surrounded with light!
PROJECT: Show the Lord Ascending into Heaven (for ages 7-10)
Color and assemble the pattern pieces for this project, then lift the Lord into heaven!
READ: "Victory!" by the Rev. Clark Echols
What was the purpose of - the Lord's resurrection from the dead by His own power - the greatest of all miracles? What was the Divine Plan and what is the promised victory for our own lives?
ACTIVITY: Imagine the Lord's Joy! (for ages 12-up)
The Lord's followers were overjoyed when they realized that He had risen. We take joy in the Lord's resurrection and His leading us all toward the happiness of heaven. But have we stopped to imagine the Lord's joy? These reflections (from a Family Lesson on John 15) give us six ways to consider the Lord's joy.
"The Lord is present with every person, urging him to receive Him....
[A] person receives Him...when he acknowledges Him as his God,
the Creator, Redeemer, and Savior."
(see True Christian Religion 766)
The happiness of Easter is centered in the Lord rising from the tomb, ascending into Heaven, and being ever present with us all. As He said, "Lo, I am with you always!"
READ: "Where the Lord Can Be Found" by the Rev. Lorentz R. Soneson
How often have you asked yourself, and others, "Where is the Lord?" Perhaps you have looked for the Lord in the right places, but did not know what to look for. What can we learn from the Easter story about where to find the Lord?
FAMILY DISCUSSION: Where Can the Lord Be Found?
After reading the talk by the Rev. Lorentz R. Soneson, reflect on signs of the Lord's presence in your life and the world around you.
JOURNAL PAGE: Seeking the Lord (for teens and adults)
READ: "Easter in Our Hearts" (author unknown)
The stories in the Word are not dead things that happened hundreds of years ago, but living things that may happen in us, if we will let them. What is Easter in your lives? Every time one of the truths buried in your memory rises into your life, and you make use of it, that, for you, is an Easter morning.
POSTER: The Lord God Jesus Christ Is Our Creator, Redeemer, and Savior (for ages 9-up)
Print and display this beautiful picture of our Lord God.
QUOTATION: Lo, I am with you always... (for ages 10-14)
Make a beautiful border for this quote from the Word.
SING: "Lift Up Your Heads Rejoice!"
CELEBRATING EASTER IN YOUR HOME
"Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
(Matthew 18:20)
Easter is a joyful time of year. You may want to decorate your home with projects that illustrate the true story of Easter - the Easter representation, Easter diorama, etc. These visual reminders of the miracle of the Lord's resurrection is helpful for children, and useful for us all.
You may also want to use Easter lilies, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths or other blossoms to decorate your home for Easter - especially in the northern hemisphere where Easter coincides with springtime, which is nature's time of resurrection. The bare trees, brown grass, and drooping plants of winter can appear lifeless. But what seems dead is actually only dormant for a time. With the warmth and light of springtime, the beauty of nature is renewed. Trees blossom and grass grows green. Flowers give promises of fruits and seeds to come. It is as if nature is rejoicing, echoing the joy of the Lord's resurrection.
SEE: Easter Displays for the Home
In this illustration by Wendy Soneson Hoo, we can find many examples of a family celebrating the story of Easter.
ACTIVITY: Decorating Easter Eggs (for all ages)
READ: "With Great Joy"
Feelings of sadness and fear and joy were all experienced by the Lord's followers at the time of the first Easter, but joy is the feeling that remained with them. This talk includes an explanation of the word "Alleluia", which is used in many Easter hymns.
ACTIVITY: Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord! (for all ages)
Music is a wonderful expression of joy, as is dance. At this special time of year, you might want to sing an Easter song, listen to music, or dance for joy.
ACTIVITY: Easter Flowers
Some congregations have a tradition of bringing flowers to church as an offering to the Lord on Easter morning. This is a way to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and recognize that all life is from Him. We may also decorate our homes with flowers. While enjoying the beauty and sweet scent, keep in mind that everything of beauty and delight - in the sky or on earth - represents the Lord's heavenly kingdom in some way (Arcana Coelestia 807:2).
ACTIVITY: Forcing Flowering Branches
Sample the beauty of spring a few weeks early, by cutting small branches of flowering shrubs and bringing them indoors in a pot of water.