Dear Partners in Ministry,
Ministry leaders are facing times of unprecedented challenge, especially in these weeks leading to Easter. What happens when kids can’t process and wave palm fronds on Palm Sunday? What happens when we do not come together at the table for the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday as Jesus did with the disciples during the Last Supper? What happens when we cannot gather to sing and proclaim "Christ is risen!" together on Easter morning? These are very disappointing prospects that were unthinkable even a few weeks ago.
We know you're wrestling with many decisions as you support your congregation from a distance and try to do your own self-care. If your church community will not be gathering together face-to-face during Holy Week, we’d like to offer ideas and resources to support you through what Sparkhouse does best—sparking new life in your faith community. Learn more here about using the Sparkhouse resources you've already purchased.
Blessings as you face all the “what happens when . . . ” situations that are still ahead,
The Sparkhouse Team
Free daily activity during Holy Week
From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday you'll find a daily activity for families on our Facebook and Instagram page. It might be a game or a craft with simple supplies families have or could easily modify. Please share these posts on your church's social media or your own. Encourage families to share their experiences, reflections, and photos. Look for the first post on Palm Sunday, April 5.
We, like you all, have had to make some quick decisions in the last few days—carry on as planned or change course. We had a lot of great writers and blog content already queued up and ready to go for you. We decided we still wanted to share this work with you. It might not be relevant right this second, but we wanted to honor the work our writers have already done. We will be adding new posts as they come in from our writers related to the new challenges we are now facing with Covid-19 and ministering to children, youth, and families remotely.
Resources and activities for families to use at home
A couple years ago Sparkhouse developed three digital download packages designed for churches to use with children to learn about and celebrate Holy Week and Easter. While these resources were technically designed for use in church, we feel they can be great for families at home. Regularly priced at $49.99 we are offering them for $10.00 each and you may distribute them directly to your families with some simple modifications. These resources are already included with a subscription to Sparkhouse Digital Children.
Use promo code HOLYWEEK10 at checkout. Offer valid through April 10, 2020.
Spark Holy Week Family Festival
Featuring hands-on activities and interactive stories, all generations will enjoy learning about the stories and events of Holy Week through seven interactive activity stations. This digital download includes everything you need to create a one-night, multi-generational experience.
- Use the seven activity stations as a list of activities families can do together at home.
- Includes reproducible pages from the Spark Story Bible you may send to families.
Holy Moly: A Journey to Easter
Your Sunday school kids will love this four-week digital downloadable curriculum that teaches them all about Holy Week—from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Good Friday to Easter Day. Each lesson includes a video from the Holy Moly curriculum, a story from the Holy Moly Story Bible, and activities to help kids retell the story in their own words!
- Distribute lessons to families each week.
- Instructions are included to view the videos on Vimeo.
A Very Whirl Holy Week
Explore the stories of Holy Week with A Very Whirl Holy Week, a digital download that gives you everything you need to put together a play for your community featuring your Sunday school kids. Over the course of three weeks, teach your kids about the stories of Holy Week through a short lesson and rehearsals for the Holy Week program.
- Families can use the videos and short lessons.
- Encourage families to have fun with the play script. Though they might have to play more than one character, families can still have fun with this one.
- Instructions are included to view the videos on Vimeo.
For distributing these and all other Sparkhouse resources to the families in your church, please review our guidelines for temporary expanded licensing for Sparkhouse resources.
