Year of Kindness and Gratitude: Holy Week

Christians worldwide celebrate Holy Week every spring, commemorating the days leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. The time is a sacred one—an opportunity to reflect on and express gratitude to God for the most important events in the history of the world. By the time Easter Sunday rolls around, our hearts our prepared in understanding and gratitude for the Savior’s atonement and resurrection.

Holy Week teaches us many things about the Christian life. One of the lessons is: Be grateful. In particular, as we journey with Jesus to Calvary and, eventually, the empty tomb, be grateful for what the resurrection promises: Eternal life. As the Psalmist says, “Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, for his love endures forever.” Take a moment today and say, “thank you” to Jesus who has, “loved us and given himself for us.”

Holy Wednesday – In many countries and traditions, Wednesday of Holy Week has been a traditional day for housecleaning, stemming from the Jewish custom of cleaning and preparing before Passover. So encourage kids to do a little “spring cleaning” and think of it as a prayerful preparation for Easter in the same way that Jewish families clean in preparation for Passover.

Maundy Thursday – On the Thursday before Jesus died, He shared the Last Supper with His disciples and washed their feet. As a family share a special meal to remember Jesus’ last meal with his followers.

Good Friday – The celebration of the resurrection can’t happen without the acknowledgment and grief of Jesus’ death on Good Friday. It is the day when Christians commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. So why is it called Good Friday? According to the Bible, the son of God was flogged, ordered to carry the cross on which he would be crucified and then put to death. It’s difficult to see what is “good” about it. According to the Oxford English Dictionary the adjective traditionally designates a day on which religious observance is held, hence ‘good’ in this context refers to a day observed as holy by the church. You are invited to attend Westminster’s Good Friday service at 6:30 PM.

Holy Saturday – On Saturday, it seemed like all hope was lost. Find time to sit in total darkness for a few minutes, either in complete silence or with a soft worship song playing. Then talk with your family about what it feels like to sit in darkness and what it might have felt like for Jesus’ followers, thinking Jesus was dead.

Easter Sunday – Easter is a time of celebration and counting blessings with your loved ones. Take time to give thanks for the blessings you have in your life. Join us on Easter Sunday at the 8:45 or 11 AM worship service. Between the services enjoy an Easter celebration in The Commons. Take a few moments to stop at the Gratitude Wall in The Commons. Reading what people are grateful for is likely to bring a smile to your face and a positive perspective for the day. Be sure to add what you are grateful for to the wall.