Holy Week and Easter at home

Holy Week and Easter is a time when Christians travel together towards the cross and beyond to transformation. We know that our isolation from each other over the coming week will be painful for many. We offer these resources to all in the hope that they will help sustain and grow your faith at home.

So you can plan your time, we have set out below weekly and daily highlights. The full details of all our services and activities is here. Do spend some time browsing the full pack if you can.

We have designed a poster you can download and put in your window to witness to your community.

We will also be releasing reflections each day from Barbara Glasson and Clive Marsh, the President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference as well as some short film prayers. Keep an eye out on Twitter and Facebook for these.

Join a week long journey

For adults:

• Using resources including from the Iona Community and the Methodist Modern Art collection, this series of services for each day during Holy Week allows us to focus on the seven last words that Jesus speaks from the cross, according to the four Gospels.
• A new approach to the Lectionary has been devised for this year. Each day we set out the four Lectionary readings for the day, a short summary of the main themes that run across the readings, a selection of hymns suitable for the day and reflections on the themes. 

For children and young people:

• For young people we offer a week long journey in the form of a reflective journal to complete, beginning on Palm Sunday.
• Why not make Holy Week in a Box using simple objects tucked into a small box, along with scripture, to tell the story of Holy Week? 

Daily resources

Palm Sunday

• You can join live streamed worship from Wesley’s Chapel , Central Hall Westminster, Swan Bank Methodist Church in Burslem  and Sthie ('At home') - a very different worship experience from the Isle of Man.
• Our Children and Youth team have a selection of activities that will keep little ones happy and remind them of the significance of this day. 
• Download a service sheet to use at home here.

Monday – Wednesday of Holy Week

Monday

The Lectionary and a short service including music suggestions.

Tuesday

The Lectionary - and a short service reflecting on the pain of Mary.

Wednesday

The Lectionary and a short service reflecting on our thirst for Jesus in our own lives.

Younger members of your household can continue with their reflective journal and Holy Week in a box. You can start preparing your materials for making an Easter Garden too. Or how about making some hot cross buns or a simnel cake? All you need for this is here:

Maundy Thursday

Join in with worship from Wesley’s Chapel – services at 10am, 12.45pm, and 7pm or at Swanbank Methodist Church.

Use the Lectionary resources to reflect on the readings of the day or use one of the service sheets to reflect on times in our lives when we have felt abandoned.

Creative ideas for younger people for today include turning the top of your Holy Week box into a table to decorate as a Passover meal and using your feet to make some art.

Good Friday

Join a reflective vigil at Wesley’s Chapel from 10am, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster or from Swanbank Methodist Church

Our Lectionary resources for the day include some beautiful hymns to sing.

A short service  includes powerful art from the Methodist Modern Art Collection to reflect upon.

Holy Saturday

Join the Easter vigil at Wesley’s Chapel from 8.30pm 

Move from darkness into light with these resources for Holy Saturday.

Take a look at the resources and links that our Children and Youth team have provided as we get near to Easter.

Easter Sunday

Service sheets to use at home that you can download are here.

How about a Methodist Easter Day love feast? 

Join in worship at:

• Wesley’s Chapel at 9.45am, 11am, or 7pm, or 
• Methodist Central Hall Westminster, or
• Swanbank Methodist Church

Have a go at some messy Easter activities for children for this special day.