An Easter Lesson
On Sunday I have the assignment of giving the Easter Lesson in YW. I thought long and hard. I wanted to bring the Easter story to life.
The following is my lesson plan.
Imagine a classroom, with the girls sat on chairs in the middle. Each corner of the room has a display representing different days of Holy Week. The chairs are turned to face each corner as the lesson progresses.
Easter Lesson: Journey with Jesus – Holy Week
Palm Sunday
Display: palm leaf, cloak, sign saying ‘hosanna’
Read: Matt 21:1-9
Maundy Thursday
Display: bowl of water, cup of grape juice, plate with bread, olive branch
Read:
Washing feet – John 13: 1, 5-7, 12-16
Sacrament – Luke 22: 19-20
Gethsemane – Mark 14:32-36; D&C 19:18-19
Good Friday
Display: cross, thorny stem
Read: Matt 27: 27-37, 45-46, 50-51, 54
Easter Sunday
Display: picture of empty tomb
Show: Resurrection bit from “Lamb of God”
Read: Matt 28: 5-6(1st line only)
Closing comments:
A couple of Easters ago, a friend and I went to Stephansdom cathedral in central Vienna for the Easter Vigil service. It is a service held between sunset on Easter Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday. It is a time when adult converts are baptized and the congregation listens to Bible readings, celebrates mass and waits for the dawn on which the Saviour was resurrected. We were standing near the back of this wonderfully old and beautiful church, which was full to the brim and in complete darkness. Just after 9pm the doors opened and in walked a long procession. The priest leading the procession stopped very close to us, carrying a huge lit Paschal candle.
Outside, the Easter fire, representing the risen Christ, had already been blessed, and had lit this candle, which represents the light of Christ entering the world. The priest turned and lit the candle of the Cardinal behind him, and then with just these two small flames they led the other priests, the choir and members of the public in a procession towards the altar Many people had been given candles, and a kind gentlemen sitting near where we were standing provided one for my friend and I. Slowly, people lit each others candles, and the light of Christ literally spread from person to person and stranger to stranger throughout the Cathedral, until the whole place was lit with hundreds of candles. The image of a cathedral being slowly lit with the light of Christ was a powerful Easter image I’ll never forget.
Easter is a time to reflect on the suffering Jesus endured. To help us remember to live, following His example of service, love and compassion that we can enjoy the gifts his suffering made possible. Easter is also a time to rejoice. He did what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He lives again. For that and for Him, I am eternally grateful.
This is wonderful, Rebecca. I hope the YW find it as inspiring as I - and that the Spirit attends, as I’m sure it will.
Comment by Ray — April 10, 2009 @ 11:18 am
You could add Mark 14:3-9 for Wednesday. Bring some perfume.
Comment by Julie M. Smith — April 10, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Love it, love it. The moving the chairs bit is clever too, almost like those revolving dioramas in the old visitors centers displays. Thanks for sharing it, this will be wonderful.
Comment by jeans — April 10, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
I had a similar experience at a midnight mass for Paques at the cathedral on top of Mt San Michel, and it stirred my soul. No way to recreate that in an LDS building except to describe it. And to let the Spirit confirm.
Comment by jeans — April 10, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
sounds good!
no Easter lesson for our YW - its General Conference weekend in Japan!
Comment by namakemono — April 10, 2009 @ 4:43 pm
Beautiful.
Thank you for that image.
Comment by Robin — April 10, 2009 @ 5:52 pm