Search results for: “easter”

What is Lent? Lent is a special time in the Church calendar that takes place each spring in the run-up to Easter. It begins in either late February or early March with Ash Wednesday. Lent lasts for 40 days and ends the day before Easter Sunday, on Holy Saturday. It is a time when Christians remember how Jesus spent 40 days and nights alone in the desert, being tempted by the Devil. Jesus used this time to prepare for His work by fasting (going without food) and praying to God. You can read about this in Matthew 4:1-11 and  Luke 4:1-13. Did you know? If you count the days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, you will discover that this adds up to 46 days – 6 days too many! This is because the 6 Sundays are not included in the calculations. Lent is a serious time but Sundays are always a day of celebration in the Christian church and so they’re not included in the 40 days of Lent. What do Christians do during Lent? Christians spend the 40 days of Lent preparing for Easter Day. They set aside time to think about whether they are living in a way that makes God happy. They will ask for God’s forgiveness for the times they mess up, and for his help to live in the way that he wishes. Christians particularly remember all that Jesus did for each of them when he died on the cross on the first Good Friday. They also remember how he beat sin (the things which hurt God and people) and death when he came back to life on Easter Sunday. Many Christians during Lent will give up eating certain foods or other luxuries, to help them concentrate on God. This is also a reminder of the fact that Jesus did not eat for the 40 days that he was in the desert. They sometimes set aside whole days of fasting and praying.

 

‘Pancake Day’ happens at the beginning of Lent, the season leading up to Easter Day. For Christians, Lent is a time of giving things up. So Pancake Day – or Shrove Tuesday as it is properly called – is the last chance to treat yourself to some tasty dishes!

Traditionally, it was the day people would use up the foods that aren’t allowed in Lent because of fasting. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter, and eggs that were once completely forbidden during Lent.

The name ‘Shrove’ comes from the old word ‘shrive.’ It means to confess, which is when people admit to all the things that you have thought, said, and done that are wrong.

On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins to the priest so that they were forgiven before Lent began. In this film, Callum and Jack decide to make some pancakes and talk about why it is a special day for Christians today.

Easter is one of the most important times of the year for Christians. It is a time when they remember Jesus dying on the cross and celebrating his coming back to life on Easter Day.

As you play the Easter Story Pairs Game, you can find out more about the Easter story and the week leading up to it.

Click here to watch a series of films about the Easter story.

Easter is one of the most important times of the year for Christians. It is a time when they remember Jesus dying on the cross and celebrating his coming back to life on Easter Day.

But can you remember what other things happened during the first Easter time?

Play this drag-and-drop game to see if you can tell the Easter story.

Click here to watch a series of films all about that first Easter time.

Have you ever eaten an Easter egg? Which is your favourite kind?

On Easter Sunday, lots of people tuck into their chocolate eggs. But why do we give each other eggs at Easter? What do eggs have to do with the Easter story?

On Good Friday Jesus died on the cross. His friends were very sad; they had hoped that Jesus was a special person who was going to make life better for them, but now he was gone. But three days later, when they went to visit the place he was buried, they discovered his body was missing. While they were wondering where it had gone, they heard a voice. It was Jesus; he was alive!

For many years, Christians have used eggs as a symbol, or picture, of what Easter means. The egg looks hard and cold, a bit like Jesus’ tomb. But out of the egg comes a baby chick – a brand new life.

The disciples thought that Jesus was dead and buried. But out of the tomb came new life. For Christians, it is not just Jesus who had a new life at Easter.

Christians believe that because Jesus died and rose again, every person has the chance to live a special new life knowing God as their friend, forever. And why do we give each other chocolate eggs? Why not! After all, everybody loves chocolate! People used to decorate eggs in bright colours to celebrate Easter.

The first chocolate eggs were made in the early 19th century when chocolate makers could produce special egg-shaped moulds and they have been a firm favourite ever since!

 

Making an Easter Garden is a fun and easy way to find out more about what happened at the first Easter and why it is so important to Christians.

Watch this film to hear the Easter story and to find out how to make an Easter Garden, along with the reason for the use of a cross in it.

If you are learning from home, you will find this downloadable pack has lots of fun games and activities based around Easter. It will give you a better understanding of the significance of the Easter Story for the people at the time of Jesus, as well as for us today. Download the Easter Home Learning Pack below, and follow the links within it to watch the story unfold on RE:QUEST. Download the Easter Home Learning Pack Thank you to the Diocese of Lichfield Board for Education for producing this resource.