Holy Week in a Box
[Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday]
Click here for a PRINTABLE VERSION (pdf document)
Materials You'll Need
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Small box
Small human figure to represent Jesus (a lego person, a doll, a drawing) Palm leaves (made out of paper) 3 coins (any kind of coin) A drawn picture of a cup and a loaf of bread (or made out of playdough/clay) Pipe cleaner or wire twist ties Piece of cloth Tea-light Bible or Bible App |
A Journey Through Holy Week
Holy Week in a Box uses simple objects tucked into a small box, along with scripture, to tell the story of Holy Week. Each item in the box represents a piece of the gospel narrative: from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper, betrayal, burial, and finally the empty tomb on Easter morning. You can do this activity any time during the day, perhaps at mealtime when all are gathered at the table.
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PALM SUNDAY: Paper Palm Fronds
It's Palm Sunday! The people waved palm leaves and cheered as Jesus entered Jerusalem. [Place palm fronds next to the box.] Read Mark 11:1-10 Ask: How can we welcome Jesus into our lives and homes? |
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HOLY MONDAY: One Coin
When Jesus came to Jerusalem, he went into the Temple. There were people cheating others out of their money. Jesus was very angry. [Put one coin on the box.] Read Mark 11:15-19 Ask: How can we use our money wisely? |
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HOLY TUESDAY: Two Coins
The religious leaders asked Jesus if it was right to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor. [Put two coins on the box.] Read Jesus' answer in Mark 12:13-17 Ask: I wonder how we can give to God? |
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HOLY WEDNESDAY: Three Coins
Jesus watched people in the Temple giving money to God. Some made a big show of giving lots of money. But one person didn't. Read her story. [Place all three coins on the box.] Read Mark 12:41-44 Ask: How can we give to God's kingdom? |
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MAUNDY THURSDAY: Picture of a cup and loaf of bread
Today we remember the last Passover meal Jesus had with his friends. [Use the top of the box as a table. Draw a cup and loaf of bread on a piece of paper and cut them out, or make a cup and bread out of modelling clay. Place Jesus by the table.] Read Mark 14:12-25 Ask: In church, how do we remember this meal? |
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GOOD FRIDAY: Cross, Cloth and Tomb
The religious leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus. They told lies about him. Jesus was arrested. It was a very sad day, because the authorities put Jesus to death on a cross. [Make a cross out of the pipe cleander or twist ties and place it with Jesus in front of the box] Read Mark 15:1, 15, 22-25, 37, 39 Ask: When we look at the cross, how do we see Jesus loving us? |
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When Jesus had died, his friends took his body down from the cross and wrapped it in linen cloth. They placed Jesus' body in a tomb cut out of rock.
[Wrap Jesus in the cloth. Place him in the box and put the lid on.] Read Mark 15:40-43, 46, 47 Ask: I wonder how his friends felt? |
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HOLY SATURDAY: Stillness / Tea-light
On Saturday, everything was so still you could almost hear the earth breathe. There was nothing that could be done. Holy Saturday is a waiting day. [Place a tea-light by your box as a way of showing that you are waiting.] Say: Let's pray silently for something we are thankful for or would like to ask God's forgiveness for. |
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EASTER SUNDAY: Empty Tomb
Early on the Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb and had an amazing surprise! [Open the box. Place Jesus at the side of it and the cloth neatly wrapped in the bottom of it.] Read about it in Mark 16:1-8. Ask: I wonder what difference it makes that God raised Jesus to life? |
Credits: Holy Week in a Box was originally created by Linda LeBron and posted online in 2013 by her daughter, Camille LeBron Powell. This version was adapted by the Rev. Mary Hawes, who created The Holy Week Box Facebook page.