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Introduction
The Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Resource area is meant to
provide you with worship resources and activities for the week leading
up to and including Easter Sunday. The week begins with Palm
Sunday and includes Holy Week's Maundy Thursday and Good
Friday. The observance of these days varies from church to
church.
Palm Sunday celebrates the arrival of Jesus in Jerualem.
Traditionally, Maundy Thursday commemorates the last meal Jesus shared
with his disciples. Good Friday is usually a more contemplative
service; a vigil of Jesus' death.
Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday, sometimes referred to
as "The Day of Days" or "The Feast of Feasts," is
the holiest day in the Christian year. On Easter Sunday, all humankind
is reminded of the spiritual dimensions of hope – dimensions that
bring new meaning to life, even life after death.
Retelling the resurrection of Christ from the tomb provides a
powerful remembrance of the message that God's abundant love and grace
in Christ can never be extinguished. Pageantry, exuberance and vitality
are all qualities associated with this happiest of occasions. Approach
to worship on this, of all days, must be one of great joy and
celebration!
White and gold are the
traditional liturgical colors for Easter. You can
also use colorful rainbow vestments and altar cloths; bright colors are
appropriate and in keeping with the celebration spirit of
Easter.
Most common Easter symbols (lilies,
bunnies, chicks, eggs, etc.) were established in the Northern
hemisphere, where Spring and Easter coincide. These symbols reflect the
triumph and abundance of life (Spring) over death (Winter). Consider
using additional natural symbols of new life (other springtime flowers,
budding branches, etc.) or transformed life (a butterfly, for example)
as appropriate to your geographic location to adorn the
church.
(from MCC Easter Resource Kit, 2005)
If you have liturgy, music suggestions, children's activities,
worship ideas or any other additions to this page, please send
them to us for immediate consideration! All themes, all
formats are welcome.
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS...Have you developed PowerPoint
backgrounds, animation, movies or other multimedia for
Easter worship that you would be willing to share with other
churches? Contact
Us immediately to have your items added to this resource!
Archived Easter Resource Releases
Easter Sunday Resource Kit, 2005
Holy Week and Easter Resource Kit, 2001
Palm Sunday and Easter Worship Resources, 2000
Easter 1999 Resources
Resources for Holy Week and Easter Celebrations
Domingo de Ramos - Palm Sunday (English/Spanish)
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Resource Bank
Holy Week
Press Release Sample (.doc .rtf)
Sample Tenebrae
(Prayer) Service Bulletin (.doc .rtf .pdf)
Provided by MCCLA
Easter
Sunrise Service Bulletin (.doc .rtf .pdf)
Press Release Sample (.doc .rtf)
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