Spencer Library: Faith Formation: Children & Families

This Is the Mystery of Easter by Amelia Dress

Dress writes, "This book was born out of my passion for doing theology with children. It morphed into a book as people asked for a way to share the story at home. I’m happy it’s helpful and thrilled to give it away."

Download it as a free pdf here.

Daneen Aker’s article “What if Jesus came to live, not to die?” wonders, "How might we view [the] story of Jesus differently if we taught that he came to show us how to live, instead of coming to die? Dismantling substitutionary atonement is holy troublemaking work indeed..."

Ideas for Easter Day and Season

Prayers and Blessings for Easter

Seven prayers and four blessings that you can use at an Easter Vigil, on Easter Day, or throughout the Easter season.

Printable Resources for Children & Families

What Does This Day Mean?: Handout for the Great Vigil at Home
What Does This Day Mean?: Handout for Easter Day at Home

TEACHING

Three Teaching Points for Easter

Interested in ideas for teaching children, youth, or adults about the meaning of Easter? This article highlights 3 key themes that you can explore in formation gatherings during this season.

ACTIVITIES

You've Been Egged: A Fundraiser for the Easter Season

This article shares tips for organizing a fundraiser by delivering surprise Easter egg gift bags and baskets of treats.

Build a Better *Biblical* Easter Basket

Want creative ideas for what to put in Easter baskets for kids? This article offers suggestions that invite children deeper into Easter's message.

Mixing It Up: Creating a Seasonal Spotify Playlist for Your Parish

Enjoy a 2020s "mixtape" (as author Michelle Palmer describes it) as a community for the Easter season. Check out this article to learn how to make it happen. This project could be tailored to ministries with families, youth groups, college students, and adult groups of all ages as well.

Video Blessings: An Idea for COVID and Beyond

If your community is interested in a digital ministry offering for Easter, this article provides ideas and guidance in creating video blessings for church members to share with the congregation.

Easter Craft: Resurrection Butterflies

This article provides a simple craft that children can do to celebrate Easter, and it only requires 6 basic items plus water.

Into the Wild: A Family-Friendly Devotional on Henri Matisse and the Season of Lent

The Season of Lent is a walk into the wild, a 40-day adventure filled with wild beasts, wild love, beauties, challenges, visions – and bold, bright colors.

In this family-friendly Lenten devotional full of Scripture, art, and activities, we take this adventure with Henri Matisse, one of the most daring and beloved artists in modern history. From his childhood in northern France to what he called his “masterpiece,” the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, Matisse explored faith and wildness throughout his life.

~~~

SALT’s “40-Day ‘Love Builds Up’ Family Challenge” is the perfect way for families of all shapes and sizes to strengthen spiritual muscles and emotional health during Lent. We could all use a little training - and a little practice!

God’s Big Easter Story: A Holy Week Journey for Families provides your family with a simple, meaningful way to grow in faith together as you remember the events leading up to Jesus’ death and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.