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I have always loved God’s creation of seasons, and His promise that they’ll continue as long as this world does (Genesis 8 v 22). There’s so much variety – especially living in the UK. I even have two seasons in my flat – summer at the front, winter at the back (which is why I’m wearing fingerless gloves to type!). But my favourite thing about seasons is that it means we get Christmas every year, and Pentecost, and Advent, and… Easter.
Many of the children’s and youth workers I know have been running Easter clubs and events. It’s a fantastic opportunity to focus on the cross. I find that children, unlike some adults, have no problem with the concept of sin. They’re used to being in trouble; they know they mess up; they recognise their need for forgiveness. So the death of Jesus for their sins makes sense (if I can put it that way) for many of them. As does the fact that the resurrection shows that God accepted Jesus’ payment in full.
But I know that many of these children come to holiday club and not much else, which can mean the message of the cross is once-a-year. And while it’s great that the seasons give us this annual focus on the Easter events, I find myself wanting to home in on the cross all year round. Which is why I’m so pleased with many of our supermarkets. The Easter eggs have all gone – but something remains. Have you noticed that hot cross buns are now an all-year phenomenon? That’s great if we like them, but even better when we’re looking for visual aids. How about giving an “Easter talk” at a completely different time of year; then giving everyone a hot cross bun afterwards? The cross isn’t just for Easter – it’s for life.
PS That’s the reason this year’s children’s “Easter tract” doesn’t look Easterish. The message of the cross is for any and all seasons, and I’m hoping the tract can be used that way too.
58 years ago to the day, the world experienced its most boring day - April 11th 1954 was very dull.
Apparently, it’s official. I heard it on a QI rerun last night and then checked it on Google, so I guess it must be right…! Nothing of interest happened. No really famous people were born or died. No wars or acts of terror were committed. No celebrity weddings occurred. Nothing. A whole 24 hour period where there were no note-worthy headlines or jaw-dropping incidents of any description.
Or so the media would have us believe.
The gospel reality, however, is that no day can ever be truly boring. Every day is full of exceptional acts of grace. And if you would like to take a moment to ponder, you might find yourself smiling at just how extraordinary every day really is:
And then there’s the miracle of new life – each baby knit together by God himself. The fact that our every thought is known by the loving and holy ruler of the universe. The wonder that God is tender enough to lead mere humans like us through each day of our lives until he calls us home.
Incredible truths (from Colossians 1 and Psalm 139). Extraordinary privilege. All stemming from an awesome God.
Boring? Never!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(1 Peter 1 v 3-5)
A happy Easter to all our blog-readers. As Martin Luther once wrote (and sung):
In the bonds of death he lay
Who for our offense was slain
But the Lord is risen today
Christ hath brought us life again
Wherefore let us all rejoice
Singing loud with a cheerful voice
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah indeed. He is risen!
Spirituality. What is it? Do children have it? Does it change over time? Questions that many a children's worker has asked themselves over the years.
In this seminar, first given at the Bible Centred Youthworker conference earlier this year, Mel Lacy from Oak Hill Theological College looks at how a child's spirituality grows as they do.
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
It's a great question. But how do you explain it simply? And at the same time inspire people to give reading it a go?
"But I don't want to sit down... I want to be out doing something..."
A familiar cry during the Easter break. Children liberated from the structure of school, and fueled with more chocolate than might be ideal, want to bounce. And why not? They are children after all!
But how can parents (and grandparents and aunts and godparents and friends) harness some of that boundless energy and creativity and use it this week to help their children understand the gospel better?
One way is to encourage them to tell the Easter story not just listen to it. A drama, a puppet show, a powerpoint presentation, a collage or painting, a photo story, an acted scene videoed and edited by them, a song written and performed all engage children (and adults for that matter) in the Easter story in new ways.
"Expression deepens impression" as the old adage goes. We learn something well when we explain it to others.
So tonight, before the chaos of the bank holiday weekend sets in, why not get out an age-appropriate version of the Bible, a box of creative tools and set the children you are naturally going to be coming into contact with the task of retelling the Easter story? The only parameters are that they need to be faithful to the biblical text ... other than that, they can let their creative juices flow. And then promise them that you'll look at it after lunch on Easter day so they know just how interested you are in what they are doing.
Hours of fun and great potential for spiritual growth this Easter.
So go on, let them tell it back this year ...
