Easter fun

Good morning, St Vincent’s!

Here are some optional faith inspired Easter activities for you all to try over the Easter weekend:

• Could you make your own Good Friday garden using whatever you have in your homes? You might prefer to make an Easter Garden with an empty tomb and flowers.
• How about an Easter card to give to all members in your family? Make sure your picture celebrates what happens on Easter day.  Easter is a Christian festival but it can be easy for people to think Easter is just about chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies. At Easter time, Christians remember the last week of Jesus’ life. They think about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Try to share this Easter story on your card by including as many religious symbols as you can.

• Could you compose a prayer or reflection which gives thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice? You can decorate it using what you already have at home. 
• Using your Bible, read the Resurrection story in the Gospels (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16 1-8, Luke 24 1-12, John 20:1-18) and represent your favourite Gospel account of the story in art form. You can use anything you have at home. If you like, you can create a dance or role play to express your understanding of the Resurrection. Please tell us about it in the comment section.

• On a template of a Cross you could create a series of pictures that depicts the events of Good Friday.  In the comment section could you tell us why you think the cross is important for Catholics?

• In the comment section, you could share how your Lenten Promises have gone. Did you manage to keep your Lenten Promise? How was it? Did you face any challenges? How do you feel knowing you have stuck to them? Have you changed any of your old ways and grown into the new Life of Easter? Tell us more!

• You may remember some actors from Wintershall performed an assembly for us this year. They’ve said their actors are feeling rather lost with no assemblies to attend so they’ve created some new resources for families to use at Easter and beyond. We hope it offers a different way for you to experience the story of the Gospels, while not in school. The website includes: Some fun reflections with their donkeys for palm Sunday, Children’s Stations of the cross for EYFS, KS1 and KS2, a ‘Make your own cross‘ at home activity and lots more. Wintershall will continue to add an activity per week, from the start of next term, so keep an eye on the website!

• If you discover or think of any other fun Easter crafts or ideas which represent Christian beliefs and values, please do send in photos so we can share them in our blog gallery!

Finally, I would like to share with you something that was said by Pope Francis in his message to the World and we hope these words will provide solace and comfort to you all:

“The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites us to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, support and meaning to these hours when everything seems to be floundering. The Lord awakens so as to reawaken and revive our Easter faith. We have an anchor: by his cross we have been saved. We have a rudder: by his cross we have been redeemed. We have a hope: by his cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from his redeeming love. In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side. The Lord asks us from his cross to rediscover the life that awaits us, to look towards those who look to us, to strengthen, recognise and foster the grace that lives within us. Let us not quench the wavering flame (cf. Is 42:3) that never falters, and let us allow hope to be rekindled” – Pope Francis, Urbiet Orbi, 27th March 2020.

We look forward to reading about what you have created and please do send in photos if you wish! We will respond after the Easter Weekend.

Happy Easter and God bless you all,

Mrs Avdiu

Year 5 teacher and Religious Education Coordinator

Good Friday Garden made by Kristian & Eloisa

Easter Egg Hunt (indoors!)