St James Church ✞
Normally Holy Week is full of traditions for St James Youth and Families. We learn how to fold palm crosses on Palm Sunday to participate in the town-wide faith walk on Good Friday. We spend the week hearing about Jesus’s journey to the cross before we celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday. This year we will have covid friendly services (please check our services FAQ for details), children’s activities, and our own outdoor stations of the cross in place of the annual faith walk.
We invite you to spend some time as a family learning about what makes each day of Holy Week so special through videos, activities, coloring, and more.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. In this first story we hear about Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey while people waved palms and lay them at his feet to ride over.
Maundy Thursday
On Maundy Thursday Jesus has the Last Supper. He washes the feet of his disciples and asks his disciples to pray in the garden with him all night, but they fall asleep.
Good Friday
On Good Friday we walk through Jesus’s crucifixion with the stations of the cross.
Holy Saturday
On Holy Saturday we read about Jesus lying in the tomb. We wait for his resurrection in something called the Easter Vigil.
Easter Sunday
Let the Alleluias ring! On Easter Sunday we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection from the cross. Normally, we get together and have an Easter egg hunt during Sunday school. This year, you will be hunting for resurrection eggs at your house with your family using the kits you got on Palm Sunday (please contact our YAFM coordinator Tammy Faulkner if you need to make other pickup arrangements).
Palm Sunday
Liturgical color: RED
So what’s up with the leaves? Explore Palm Sunday’s bible readings and learn why we have palms in Church today by watching this video and downloading our activity packet below.
Maundy Thursday
Liturgical color: White
Why are we washing feet? Hear about the last supper and why we wash feet in service on Maundy Thursday by watching this video and downloading our activity packet below.
Good Friday
Liturgical color: none
The stations of the cross: On Good Friday we act out the bible story that tells of Jesus’s journey to the cross. We usually come together and act this out in a faith walk through town with all the other churches. Learn more by watching this video and downloading our activity packet below.
Holy Saturday
Liturgical color: White or Gold
What’s a Vigil? Holy Saturday is sometimes called the Easter Vigil. A vigil is when you wait for something, like how Jesus asked his disciples to stay awake while he prayed. On Saturday we wait with hope for the Easter Miracle and often light candles or bonfires. Learn more about the hope we have thanks to Jesus by watching this video and downloading our activity packet below.
Easter Sunday
Liturgical color: White or Gold
Alleluia Christ is RISEN! Christ is risen indeed. Easter Sunday is when we let all our alleluias ring in church as we celebrate Jesus’s victory over death. We have usually have egg hunts, eat sweets, and go to service. Watch this video for a quick recap of what Holy week is and download our packet for some fun Easter activities.