In Holy Week, we think about the events leading up to the most important events in history—the death and resurrection of Jesus. Churches often have special worship services throughout the week to prepare for and remember Jesus’ sacrifice and to look forward to His resurrection. To help engage kids in big church events, I try to think of ways children engage their senses by moving their bodies, tasting something, touching something, and so on. Let’s talk about some meaningful ways you can do this at your worship services.
One of my favorite ways to include children in Palm Sunday services is to hold a Palm Sunday parade—sometimes called a processional. This is a simple and lively part of the service in which children are gathered and given palm fronds, and then they parade around the sanctuary during the first hymn or song. You can encourage children to wave their fronds and exclaim, “Hosanna!” which means “Save us!”
At my latest call, we even rented a donkey and included it in the Palm Sunday parade—not just in the sanctuary but in the entire building between services. Though some churches would prefer not to have a live animal in the church, this event was a favorite among many families. We also enjoyed using this as an opportunity to invite families from our school to get more involved in our church.
On Holy Thursday, we remember how Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and we partake in the Sacrament for the last time before Easter. To help younger children understand the significance of this, try introducing them to resources like My First Catechism (for younger kids) or Luther’s Small Catechism for Kids (for older ones).
These tools break down Martin Luther’s writings into language and images that are easier for children to understand. Consider offering a few copies near the entrance of your sanctuary that families can grab as they enter worship. This way, children who have not yet been welcomed to the Lord’s Table in this way can still be engaged in learning more about this gift.
Another Holy Thursday activity I like to lead with families is foot washing. This activity, reminiscent of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet and giving them a commandment to love one another, helps families serve one another and think about Jesus’ sacrificial love. You can set up stations in your narthex or fellowship hall for families to use before or after worship, or you could inquire with your pastor about incorporating it into the worship service.
Good Friday is the most solemn and contemplative day in the Church Year. With that said, activities that include children can also bear contemplation.
This day focuses heavily on why Jesus was crucified—to take on the punishment for our sins. To drive this concept home for children, you can have them write down or draw a picture of a sin and nail it to a wooden cross. By seeing their own sins—“being mean to my sister” or “being jealous of what my friend has,” for example—children will see in a personal way how Jesus paid the price for their sin.
Another idea is to give children a small glow-in-the-dark cross to have in Good Friday worship. Services on this day are often dark, both emotionally and visually—lights are dimmed, candles are extinguished, the altar is bare. Some churches even cover windows. During a children’s message, you could remind kids that even during the sadness and grief of Jesus dying on the cross, we have the hope of Jesus because He is the light of the world. The small cross, while not taking away from the darkness and sadness of the day, boldly reminds kids of God’s love and Jesus’ resurrection that they will celebrate come Easter morning.
Easter Sunday is always a joyous occasion! Something that I have done to engage kids in the service is an “Alleluia Celebration.” A lot of churches “bury” the word “Alleluia” during Lent, and during the resurrection celebration the word comes back. Before the service (or during the children’s message), give the kids colorful streamers they can raise up every time they hear the word “Alleluia” the rest of the service.
You can also engage children in Easter Sunday worship by encouraging them to serve in worship as greeters, ushers, or Scripture readers. This could be done as a class or in family units.
Another thing I like to do is build “Wiggle Bags” or activity bags for kids to use in worship. These small bags include coloring pages, word searches, books, and other items that fit into the theme of the service to help little ones stay occupied on worship.
One great resource to include in these bags is Arch® Books. These colorful, paperback books share Bible stories through illustrations and rhyming language—ideal for elementary ages, but fun for younger children too. Each season of the Church Year, you can go through your church’s bags and swap out titles that align with the season.
The Easter Sticker Pack and Arch Books adds a fun twist to this concept. This bundle includes three Arch Books—The Week That Led to Easter; Loving Jesus, Died for Me; and The Easter Gift—as well as a fold-out scene and fourteen reusable stickers children can place on it! Include this in your church’s activity bags for Easter learning that’s fun, quiet, and durable.
Holy Week is such an important time in the church year. I hope these ideas can serve as a jumping-off point for your ministry as you seek simple, easy, and meaningful ways to include children in your worship and celebrations.
Integrate the Easter Sticker Pack and Arch Books into your church’s activity bags this season for hands-on learning!