Maundy Thursday

We went to church this morning, the first time I sat by myself in the pew with all three little ones.  My arms are SORE, but we made it through service.  Our eldest daughter was such a big help!  I couldn't have done it without her.





We came home and we made soft pretzels. 




Our big girl formed her own. 

 

We made cinnamon and sugar pretzels and Parmesan cheese pretzels. They were so tasty right out of the oven.

 

Next, we made a diorama of Christ praying in the garden.  Our big girl had a great time looking for just the right rocks and flora to put in our box.  When we were finished, she wanted to put the diorama in her room next to her bed. She's been having nightmares and she said it would comfort her at night since it would remind her that Jesus is always praying for her.

 

She also wanted to make a diorama of other parts of the Passion Account:  Judas and his pieces of silver, Christ on the cross, Jesus washing the disciples' feet, etc.  Good to know that she liked this craft.

 

I washed her feet and painted her toenails, talking with her about how Jesus, who is important like a King is important, did such a menial, dirty job because He loves us by serving us.  I tried to talk with her about loving her siblings by serving them, but her attention span was spent.  I'll keep trying.

Sometimes it seems the more I try to make something meaningful, the more the point seems to be missed, the more stress gets introduced into our day (rather than significance and Gospel).   I pray for seeds to be planted.  For traditions to be started and when our children are in their teens, I pray for them to be insistent that we have home-made pretzels and pedicures because it's Maundy Thursday and the conversations that follow to be steeped in faith and the Word. 

 

 

Triduum

In case anyone wanted to join us in our Holy Week home activities, I thought I'd post them here, at least a day in advance.  We intend to attend services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.  Easter vigil service is too late in the day for our little ones and we'd spend more time out of church rather than in it.
I'll try to post some pictures of our activities in progress too.

Maundy Thursday:
We'll make pretzels.  As the pretzels are folded, we also fold our hands in prayer.  I hope to talk with our children about Jesus' prayer in the garden, how we are to pray, etc.  We may make this diorama if time/energy permits.
I also plan on giving our eldest daughter a pedicure with some scented bubble bath. Not only is this fun for her, but to talk to her about Jesus washing His disciples' feet and how we love one another by serving each other.  I hope to somehow tie the scented bubble bath with "the fragrance of the knowledge of Him" and being the aroma of Christ :)

Good Friday:
Make sheep-shaped cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Talk about "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." 
Have this Good Friday luncheon with friends.

Holy Saturday:
Make and decorate Easter themed sugar cookies (a butterfly, lamb, cross, flower) and talk about what those shapes remind us of with regard to Easter/resurrection/new life, etc.

Easter Saturday:
Make Resurrection rolls (marshmallows, crescent roll dough, butter, cinnamon and sugar:  Dip the marshmallow in the butter, roll in the sugar and cinnamon [representing anointing Jesus' body for burial], seal up the marshmallow in the dough [placing Jesus' body in the tomb], put the rolls in the oven [shutting them up in the oven = shutting Jesus' body in the tomb], when done, the marshmallows have melted away leaving a void [representing that Jesus body was not in the tomb, He is risen!] We'll spend the day reading our Easter books, saying "Alleluia! He is risen!", make an Alleluia banner to decorate our home, and hopefully creating a celebratory and restful feel in our home.

I pray that perhaps some of these ideas may bless you and your family as you prepare for Holy Week and Easter.