​

Countdown to Easter

​

​

#1- Creation. The Easter story, like every story begins “In the beginning..”  

Verse- And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. -Genesis 1:31

(Reading: Genesis 1)

Activity- Be creative! God created the world in 6 days.  Use 6 art objects to make a craft, 6 ingredients to create a tasty treat, 6 sentences to create a story, or 6 props to make a short play..  

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#2 Brokenness.  When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin (and all its side effects) entered the world.  

Verse-  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. -Genesis 3:19

(Reading: Genesis 3)

Activity- Find something around the house that is broken, or not working quite right...and fix it!  If you know someone who may be lonely due to the coronavirus social distancing..write them a letter and mail it.  If it is fitting, say you are sorry. Pray for people suffering from the effects of sin (including the effects felt today as a result of coronavirus).  

​

​

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#3. The Flood.  Promise of grace.  

Verse- But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.  -Genesis 6:8

(Reading: Genesis 6-9:17)

Activity-Think of something someone promised you and then came through with.  Paint a rainbow. Sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow or watch the Wizard of Oz.  Dress colorfully and wear as many colors of the rainbow as you can.

​

​

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#4.  Foreshadowing.  Promise of restoration. 

Verse-..the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,” I am God Almighty;.....And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant.”   -Genesis 17:1,7

..and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.  -Genesis 22:18

(Reading: Genesis 17, Genesis 21-22)

Activity-Do a puppet show using hand shadow puppets.  Measure your shadow at 9 am 12 noon 3 pm and 6 pm and observe the difference.  Make a shadow box with scraps from around the house.

​

​

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#5. Rejoicing.  Promise made Flesh.

Verse- For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” -Isaiah 9:6

(Reading: Luke 1,2)

Activity- Christmas in April.  Wrap up a “white elephant gift” or “word of encouragement” for someone in your house, or to send to a friend.  Act out the Nativity. Read a Christmas story. Watch a Christmas movie.

​

​

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

 

 

#6.  New Life.

Verse-  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  -John 3:16

(Reading: John 3)

Activity-It is spring, look for signs of new life.  Plant a seed. Water a flower. Admire a bush.  Sketch a tree.

​

​

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#7.  The New Way.

Verse- So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  -Matthew 7:12

(Reading: Matthew 5,6,7)

Activity- Apply the golden rule.  At least three times today, put yourself in someone else’s shoes.  Offer a kind word. Withhold judgement. Go out of your way. Do the right thing.  Pray for others. Lend a helping hand.  

​

​

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#8.  Triumphal Entry.

Verse- ..Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  -Mark 11:9

(Reading: Mark 11:1-11)

Activity- Hold an indoor parade with the theme of your choice.  (ie. a parade of books, pans, stuffed animals,etc.) Invite other household members to participate/view or Facetime a friend to join the fun.

 

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

#9 The Last Supper

Verse- And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” -Luke 22:15-16

(Reading: Luke 22)

Activity- Plan a special dinner, or  special ambiance to your evening meal.  Light a candle. Make menus and have someone in your house be a waiter or waitress, or order takeout and tip well.

​

​

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#10. The Servant’s Heart.

Verse- If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” -John 13:14,15

(Reading: John 13:1-20)

Activity.  Treat yourself or someone else to a foot massage or a home pedicure.  Learn a new foot dance. Go through your closet and put an old pair of shoes in your donation box.

 

​

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#11 Betrayal and Trial

Verse- Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”  -Matthew 27:3-4

(Reading: Matthew 26:14-27:10)

Activity- Gather your household or phone a friend.  Take turns discussing how they might spend $30  - $300 - $30,000  

​

​

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#12 The Crucifiction

Verse- And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:31

(Reading: Matthew 27:27-54)

Activity- Spend a moment thinking of what it was like for Jesus to bear the weight of the world.  Pray for the sorrow that is in the world, and give thanks for the joy that He offers through His willingness to die for our sins.  Do some world trivia. Guess how many people are in the world today. Guess how many countries are in the world. Speculate how Easter is celebrated around the world.  Google your answers with reliable sources.

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​
 

#13  The Darkness.

Verse- And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  -Mark 15:33

(Reading: Mark 15:33-39)

Activity-Check the batteries for your emergency flashlights (and smoke alarms for that matter).  Play flashlight tag in the basement. Conserve energy by seeing if you can leave just 1 or 2 lights on at a time in your house today.  

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

​

#14 Anointing.    

Verse- When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. - Mark 16:1

(Reading: Mark 15:40-16:1)  

Activity- Celebrate the sense of smell.  Make some spiced cider or tea. Sit in a scented bubble bath.  Use some sweet smelling soap or lotion. Cook something delicious and savor the smell.  Light a scented candle.

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

​

#15 The Resurrection.  

Verse-“Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”  -John 12:13 

(Reading: John 12:1-26)

Activity- Sing Easter songs.  Read the Easter story.  Eat a traditional Easter dinner.  Make Easter cookies. Dye Easter eggs.  Have an Easter egg hunt filling your plastic eggs with sweet treats and kind words.

​

​

​