As we journey through Lent into Holy Week and towards Easter Sunday, we are also journeying around the world to discover some of the ways Lent and Easter are celebrated.
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Links mentioned in the PDF
Lent - Mexico
Matthew 4:1-11 Share the story: Jesus in the wilderness
Suggested props: a Bible with bookmarks in place at Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16 and 6:13 to point to when Jesus quotes from the Jewish Scriptures.
Capirotada recipe
Capirotada uses Bolillo Rolls for which there are recipes available online but rounds of a crusty, long, baguette will also work well. You will also need: 2 cups of water, 2 cups brown sugar, 8 cinnamon sticks, butter, cup of raisins, cup of pineapple chunks, 100g cheese e.g. cheddar, large casserole dish
- Combine 2 cups of water, 2 cups of brown sugar and 8 cinnamon sticks in a pan, bring to boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.
- Toast the bread, and butter on one side. Arrange in a single layer across the base of a large casserole dish.
- Take a cup of raisins and a cup of pineapple chunks and sprinkle some on top.
- Slice 100g of cheese and place some on the fruit mix. Repeat the layers until all the bread is used making sure there is enough cheese left over for the top.
- Pour the sugar mixture over everything and bake for 30 minutes at 175C, Gas Mark 4 or over a campfire in a foil wrapped bowl.
- Cool slightly before serving.
As you bake you may like to explain the symbolism of the ingredients: bread represents Christ’s body, brown sugar syrup is a reminder of Jesus’ blood, cinnamon sticks are a reminder of the wooden cross, raisins signify the nails and the layer of cheese is like the cloth placed round Jesus’ body.
Palm Sunday - Australia
Matthew 21:1-11 Share the story
Suggested props: donkey mask; branches, flowers and blankets to create a special carpet as you reenact the story.
Maunday Thursday - Greece
Matthew 26:17-30 Share the story: The Last Supper
Suggested props: pitta bread (be mindful of allergies) and blackcurrant squash to share together.
Jesus had 12 special friends called disciples. One of them was named Judas. But Judas was not being a good friend.
Some Jewish leaders in the city didn’t like Jesus. They were jealous because so many people loved Jesus and listened to Him. So, Judas went to those leaders and said, ‘What will you give me if I help you catch Jesus?’ They gave Judas 30 silver coins. Judas took the money and waited for the right time.
The evening of the Passover, Jesus was having a special meal with his 12 friends. While they were eating, Jesus said, ‘One of you is going to turn against me.’
The friends were very sad and said, ‘Lord, is it me? I would never do that!’
Judas said, ‘you don’t mean me, do you?’
‘You are the one.’ Jesus told him, ‘Do what you are going to do – do it quickly.’
Judas got up and left.
While they were still eating, Jesus picked up some bread, thanked God for it, broke it into pieces, and gave it to his friends. He said, ‘Take this and eat it. This bread is my body, which I am giving for you.’
Then he picked up a cup of wine, thanked God again, and gave it to his friends. He said, ‘Drink from this, all of you. This cup is my blood. My blood will be poured out to make a new promise with God’s people, so their sins can be forgiven.’
His friends thought deeply about his words. They knew it was simple bread and wine they were sharing, but somehow Jesus was showing them something important and precious about what was about to happen.
After that, they sang a song of praise together and went out to a quiet hill called the Mount of Olives.
Good Friday - Bermuda
Matthew 27:45-56 Share the story: Jesus’ death
Suggested props: purple cloth to tear into two strips.
While Jesus was on the cross, the sky became dark as night in the middle of the day for three whole hours. Then Jesus cried out loudly, ‘My God, my God, why have you left me?’ After a little while, Jesus died.
Right then, something amazing happened – the big curtain in the Temple tore in two, from the top all the way to the bottom. The Temple was the most important place for Jewish worship. This big curtain kept everyone except the High Priest away from the most special part of the Temple, to protect people from the intensity of God’s powerful and pure presence, but now it was torn open, showing that everyone could come close to God.
There were many women watching Jesus on the cross from a distance. They were followers of Jesus and cared for him. They were very sad to see Jesus die.
The Roman soldier in charge of killing Jesus watched all these things – the darkness and the way Jesus died. He was impressed and said, ‘He really was the Son of God!’
Easter Saturday - Germany
Matthew 27:45-56 Share the story: Jesus’ burial
Suggested props: dark container with lid to represent the tomb; small peg doll with white yarn to wrap around it as you tell the story.
After Jesus died on the cross, it was late afternoon, and the day was almost finished. It was the day before the special day called the Sabbath.
The Sabbath was very important to Jesus and his friends. It was a day when Jewish people stopped working and rested to spend time with God. On the Sabbath, no one could do any work – not even bury someone who had died.
Because the Sabbath was coming soon, Joseph, a kind man who loved Jesus, hurried to ask Pilate if he could take Jesus’ body. Joseph wanted to honour Jesus with a proper burial before the Sabbath started.
Pilate said yes, so Joseph carefully took Jesus’ body down from the cross.
They wrapped Jesus’ body in a clean cloth. Then Joseph carried Jesus to a cave, which was like a big, dark room in a rock. This cave was a special new tomb Joseph had bought it for himself where no-one had been buried before.
Joseph gently placed Jesus’ body inside the cave. Then, with help, he rolled a large, heavy stone in front of the entrance to close it.
Pilate told some soldiers to stay and guard outside the tomb; to watch and make sure no-one took Jesus’ body.
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, were there too. They watched quietly, feeling very sad because they loved Jesus very much.
The cave was now closed, and Jesus’ body was in the tomb.
Easter Sunday - Brazil & Ethiopia
Matthew 28.1-10 Share the story: Jesus’ resurrection
Suggested props: Easter garden and figures. Add flowers to the garden.
It was early in the morning, on the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene and her friend, who was also called Mary, were on their way to Jesus’ tomb. As they drew near, they saw two guards sitting there.
Without warning, an angel came down from the sky like a bolt of lightning. He was dressed in dazzling white clothes, and the earth shook as he landed and rolled back the stone at the entrance to the tomb. The guards were terrified. First, they shook with fear, and then they fainted.
‘Do not be afraid,’ the angel said. He was sitting on the stone. ‘I know who you’re looking for. You came to see Jesus, who was killed on the cross. He isn’t here anymore; he’s been raised from the dead. Come and see where his body lay.’
The two Marys didn’t know what to think. They were both scared of the angel and excited by what he said. The angel continued speaking, ‘When you have seen that Jesus is gone, go and tell the disciples the news. Jesus will go ahead of them to Galilee, and they will see him there.’
Still frightened, but also full of joy, the women ran from the tomb to find the disciples. They didn’t get far, though, because suddenly, Jesus was there, standing in front of them.
‘Good morning!’ said Jesus. The women fell to the ground, took hold of Jesus’ feet and worshipped him. Jesus spoke again. ‘Do not be afraid,’ he said. ‘Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.’