Happy Mothers Day Activity
We LOVE moms!
And we know how much you love your mom, whether you are 6 or 36 or 56 or even 86!
Click here to download your Mothers Day activity sheet :
Mothers Day Activity Sheet
In celebration of all things mom, we wanted to give you this free printable Mothers Day Activity to fill out and give to your mom on Mothers Day – May 13.
It’s the perfect Mothers Day activity for the whole family – moms, fill out your own “I love my mom!” worksheet about your own mothers while your kids fill out theirs about you! (Dads – you can do it too!)
Children’s pastors – this is the perfect Mothers Day activity for Sunday School! Just print it out, have your students fill it out and take it home on Mothers Day!
Phil Vischer talks to Focus on the Family about Easter
Last week, Phil Vischer was a guest on the Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast with Jim Daly, Dr. Juli Slattery and John Fuller. Phil discussed how to teach kids about Easter, as well as talked about What’s in the Bible? and parenting through the different stages of a child’s life.
You can listen to the full broadcast here.
Here are some of our favorite moments from the broadcast:
On Easter
“You had a debt you couldn’t pay and Jesus paid it for you. And that’s what we’re celebrating. So, you focus on the celebration. To move away from the secular view of Easter, I think one important point is to celebrate the whole week. Celebrate Holy Week.”
“Easter is the Super Bowl of Christian holidays, not Christmas. So, I think the first step is to put Christmas back in its place and say, “Hey, Jesus was born. Isn’t that wonderful? What does that point us towards?” It points towards Easter. Now you’re thinking of Easter all through the year.”
“That’s one of the things I don’t like about in when we turn holidays into huge productions, is that it implies that all of this meaning is confined to a certain day of the year and we’re not living in it. You know, we need to be steeped in Easter. We’re in the soup of Easter, you know.”
“We don’t go to Easter to learn about Jesus. We go to Easter to celebrate what we know already. “
On Teaching Kids of Different Ages
Jim Daly: When you look at it for your own kids, I mean, when you look at age 5, what do you really want them to understand? At age 10, what should they be grasping?
Phil Vischer: At 5, I think Resurrection Eggs are actually a really good tool, because you take something they enjoy, coloring eggs and the notion of eggs and bring the story of Jesus out of it. There are also tools like The Jesus Storybook Bible, which is a version of the Bible that points to how Jesus is the subtext behind every story. It’s an amazing little Bible storybook that’s become very popular. Those are the things you start with kids when they’re 5, tools that use things they like–picture books, eggs–to bring the story of Jesus out in a very kid-friendly way.
When you’re 10, you’re ready to look at images of the cross. So, you can actually start to feed ‘em. As you get into grade school, as you get towards 10, we need to think, okay, why isn’t the world the way you would like it to be? Why isn’t school the way you would like it to be? Why are you having conflicts with your friends? Why does nothing seem to work the way you would like it to work? Let’s talk about sin. And sin is something that is in all of us and ruins our relationships and makes everything harder and we can’t be with God, because He’s holy and we’re not. He’s perfect and we’re not. He’s got a standard that’s way up here and no matter what kind of gym shoes we have on, we can’t jump that high. We can’t meet God where He is. And that’s where you’re telling the Gospel. That’s where you’re presenting the Gospel. So, for an 8-, 9-, 10-year-old, which is why with What’s in the Bible?, which is geared for that age kids, we’re really hitting the Gospel.
Did you listen to the broadcast? What were some of your favorite moments?
Easter Blog Series
The team at What’s in the Bible? has put together a series of blog posts to help you understand the history & traditions around Easter! We hope you enjoy it.
How to Talk to Your Kids about the Crucifixion
Celebrating Easter as a Family {guest post}
How to Bring Every Lesson Back to Jesus {guest post}
What is Holy Week?
For the next installment in our What’s in the Bible? Easter blog series, we’re explaining each of the days of Holy Week, their histories and how we currently celebrate.
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What is Holy Week?
Holy Week marks the final week of the season of Lent and it recounts the final days of Christ’s life, as well as his death, burial, and resurrection. In the early developments of this tradition, Good Friday and Holy Saturday were the first to be designated as holy days. Some early accounts also included Easter Sunday morning. It was not until the 4th century that Thursday became a holy day, and Wednesday was later added in remembrance of Judas’ plot to betray Jesus. The remaining days were added by the middle of the 4th century.[1]
Holy Week was first mentioned by Irenaeus near the end of the 2nd century, though Eusebius believed it dated back to Apostolic times. In the East, “Holy Week was distinguished from the rest of Lent by the extreme strictness of the fast.”[2] In fact, some Christians kept an absolute fast during the entire week.[3]
Today, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and concludes with the celebration of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection.
What is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday—The sixth and last Sunday of Lent, this day marks the beginning of Holy Week (though some sources dictate that Holy Week does not begin until the Monday following) and commemorates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is named for the palm branches that were spread on the road to mark Christ’s arrival (Matthew 21:7-9).
Christians have commemorated the events of that day since the 4th century, though the earliest mention of “Palm Sunday” did not appear until the 7th century, nor was any formal service of celebration documented until the 9th century.[4]
In the Middle Ages, Christians developed an elaborate ritual, the vestiges of which remain in church observances today. At this earlier time in the church’s history, Christians carried palm fronds from one church to another, and their procession was frequently accompanied by a Gospel book, a crucifix, or a carved figure of Jesus seated upon a wooden donkey. Once the procession reached its destination, the palms were blessed and distributed.[5]
This ritual eventually developed into a service that is similar to Catholic Mass, however the Catholic Church eventually simplified the tradition into what we know today. It was not until relatively recently that Protestant churches adopted their own Palm Sunday ceremonies.[6]
Today, Palm Sunday is marked by the ceremonial “blessing of the palms.” The palms are then carried in a procession as symbols of Christ’s victory and protection.[7]
It is also worth noting that the Palm Sunday fronds are later burned, and their ashes are used the following year on Ash Wednesday.
What is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday—Properly called “Thursday of the Lord’s Supper,” this day commemorates the institution of the Eucharist at Jesus’ Last Supper.[8] The term “Maundy” reportedly comes from the Latin mandatum, referring to the “command” Jesus gave his followers at the Last Supper to love one another (John 13:34). The name may also derive from the Latin mundo meaning “to wash,” and may therefore refer to Christ’s washing of the disciple’s feet.[9]
This day has been remembered since the early centuries of the church. In the 4th century it was observed as a feast in the Jerusalem church, and in the 6th century it was observed in Gaul as Natalis Calicis or “Birthday of the Chalice.” In medieval England it was known as “Chare Thursday” and in Germany as “Green Thursday,” possibly deriving from the word grunen meaning “to mourn.”[10]
During the Middle Ages, bishops, abbots, and noblemen observed Maundy Thursday by washing the feet of the poor, a deliberate imitation of Christ’s washing of the disciples’ feet. In 1572 Queen Elizabeth I washed the feet of thirty-nine poor people at Greenwich Palace, a tradition that was taken up by numerous monarchs after her.[11]
Today, Maundy Thursday is almost universally celebrated by partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
What is Good Friday?
Good Friday—Formally known as the “Friday of the passion and death of the Lord,” this day marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a day of sorrow and mourning.[12]
The name “Good Friday” is rather paradoxical given the dark tone of the day and the terrible events that it commemorates. The origin is actually rather unclear. Some scholars maintain that it derives from the phrase “God Friday.”[13]
In early Christian writings, Good Friday was known as “Paschal Day,” “The Day of Preparations,” “ The Day of our Lord’s Passion,” and “Long Friday.” The term “Long Friday” probably derived from the long fasts and services that marked the day.[14] Some of these names appear as early as the 2nd century, and it was in the year 321 that Emperor Constantine decreed Good Friday as a day of rest. In 633 the Fourth Council of Toledo declared that no one could partake in Easter Eucharist unless they had fasted until three o’clock in the afternoon on Good Friday.[15]
Today, Christians observe Good Friday with somber services that reflect on Christ’s final hours and the Stations of the Cross. On this day, Christians often veil the cross in black.
What is Holy Saturday?
Holy Saturday—This day is traditionally a quiet day of prayer and reflection spent in preparation for Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Earlier in the church’s history this day was also known as the “Great Sabbath.”[16]
What is Easter Sunday?
Easter Sunday—This day marks the annual celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The word “easter” is “thought to derive from the name of an obscure Germanic goddess of spring, Eastre (a view popularized by the English monk Bede), or more likely, from an old German root for dawn or east (the time and place of the rising sun). At an early date and for obscure reasons, these Germanic words came to translate the Greek pascha (from the Heb. pesah), the biblical word for the Paschal (Passover) feast.”[17]
For a brief time in the early centuries of the church, Christians debated over the day that Easter should be observed. Some wanted to celebrate Easter on a particular Sunday each year, but others wished to keep the day more closely linked to the Jewish Passover. More precisely, this latter group wished to observe Easter “on the third day of the fourteenth Nisan,” a date that would have rotated throughout the days of the week from year to year.
In the year 325, the Council of Nicea put an end to the debate by settling on the former view. Since then, Easter has been celebrated on the Sunday nearest to the calculated anniversary of the Resurrection, which is determined by the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21).[18]
In its earlier forms, Easter was a “unitary night celebration” similar to Passover that remembered both the death and the resurrection of Christ. After the 4th century, the unitary feast was divided into several parts that distinguished Easter Sunday morning for the specific celebration of the resurrection.[19]
Historically, Easter has also been associated with baptism. The immersion into and re-emerging from the baptismal waters signifies the death and Resurrection of Christ, so Easter became a festival of both the Resurrection of Christ and the baptism of new believers. At one time, the Roman church oversaw thousands of baptisms each Easter Sunday.[20]
Today, Easter is the most joyous occasion in the Christian calendar. It is the climax of the Holy Week journey, during which time Christians have remembered the difficult steps of Christ and mourned them. It is against the darkness of Holy Week that Easter Day is especially bright. The black veil of the cross is lifted, and Christians celebrate with hymns such as “Lift High the Cross.”
[1] Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Baker Academic, 2001). p. 573
[2] William Edward Addis and Thomas Arnold, A Catholic Dictionary: Containing Some Account of the Doctrine, Discipline, Rites, Ceremonies, Councils, and Religious Orders of the Catholic Church (K. Paul, Trench & Co., 1893). p. 445
[3] Ibid.
[4] Leonard W. Cowie and John Selwyn Gummer, The Christian Calendar: a Complete Guide to the Seasons of the Christian Year Telling the Story of Christ and the Saints, from Advent to Pentecost (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1974). p. 69
[5] Addis, p. 445
[6] Ibid.
[7] Frank Leslie Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press, 2005). p. 1220
[8] Cowie, p. 74
[9] Elwell, p. 750
[10] Elwell, p. 750
[11] Cowie, p. 74
[12] Elwell, p. 573
[13] Charles George Herbermann et al., The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church (The Catholic Encyclopedia Inc., 1913). p. 643
[14] Cowie, p. 77
[15] Cowie, p. 78
[16] Cowie, p. 82
[17] Elwell, p. 360-361
[18] Cowie and Gummer, The Christian Calendar. p. 85
[19] Elwell, p. 361
[20] Cowie, p. 85-86
History of the Easter Bunny
As part of our continuing Easter blog series, we wanted to address some of the historical – and religious – roots of some of our modern Easter celebrations. Today we’ll look at the history of the Easter bunny.
History of the Easter Bunny
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For thousands of years, many cultures believed that rabbits possessed mystical powers. These cultures built statues of fertility gods and goddesses with rabbit heads. Some scholars speculate that the link between rabbits and fertility is due to their ability to reproduce often and in great number.[1]
As an example of the rabbit’s presence in ancient lore, there is an especially relevant legend about the goddess Oestre. Oestre played an important part in spring celebrations, and many European tribes believed that she “drove winter away and reawakened the world for its annual rebirth in spring.” One legend told of a bird who looked into Oestre’s face and was overcome with the beauty of her rabbit-like features. Discerning the special nature of the rabbit, the bird asked the goddess to transform him into a rabbit. Following the transformation, the bird forgot everything about its former life except how to lay eggs. The bird’s eggs were then gathered by Oestre and presented to the world’s best children.[2]
It is possible that, due to stories such as this one, the rabbit came to be associated with Easter. In addition to the influence of these ancient legends, the Easter bunny may have another source. In the Middle Ages children engaged in Easter egg hunts, sometimes stirring the bunnies hiding in the bushes around them. Because the eggs were often discovered in the same location from which the bunnies fled, children associated the rabbits with the eggs, even imagining that the rabbits had been lying on top of their colorful treasures.[3]
It was not until the 1800’s that the Easter bunny began to appear in stories. Numerous German books connected the animal to the holiday, and German candy makers produced a variety of edible bunnies. Eventually, the Easter bunny made its way to the United States, and Americans began to include the bunny in their festivities in the mid to late 1800’s.[4]
Guest Post: Celebrating Easter as a Family
For the next post in our Easter blog series, we have a guest blog from Aaron Conrad – a dad of 3 who blogs about faith, family and fatherhood. In this post, he talks about how his family celebrates Easter and their use of the popular craft Resurrection Eggs.
I love this time of the year. I find the way that nature comes back to life to celebrate another season and the hope of things to come fascinating. I love Easter Sunday morning with all of the children in their new spring outfits and hats. Our three children also look forward to the neighborhood Easter egg hunt each year to fill their baskets.
I would be lying if I said this isn’t an incredibly competitive event with each Dad strategically positioning their child and pointing out the best available “stuff”. We arrive early to find our place on the rope separating us from “the goods” and develop a game plan. When the horn sounds, it’s game time. “Elbows out” I yell as they make their way towards their respective goals. We’ve brought home some pretty strong wins over the years including a chocolate bunny that was over a foot tall.
Although I am kidding (well, kind of), and all of the pageantry and celebrations are fun, we do our best each year to remind our children that the real celebration of Easter is the foundation of our faith. It is the weight of the sacrifice on Good Friday and the promise of eternity with Him on Sunday.
When I say “we” what I really mean is that my wife does an amazing job of pouring into our kids and keeping a major focus on what is the most important part of Easter. She does this by utilizing what is commonly known as “Jesus Time” in our home. Each morning before school starts, they pause to do a devotional time. Throughout the school year, they work through various devotionals and bible studies geared toward children.
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In the days leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday they have used a product called “Resurrection Eggs” that my wife purchased a few years ago. There are 12 different colored plastic eggs with a surprise inside. Each surprise is a part of the story of Easter (a nail, a crown and dice for example). The final egg is empty to represent the empty tomb. Included with the eggs is a booklet to walk them through the story for the day and scriptures to support the story. It is a wonderful resource and guide for telling the Easter story. The kids like to anticipate what will be inside each egg as they learn the key elements of the resurrection story. You can see a past post on the What’s in the Bible? blog explaining how to make your own resurrection eggs here.
I’m so thankful for my wife and the investment she makes into the spiritual nurturing of our children each morning. By creating a foundation of bible study and reflection, she is able to transition directly into the Easter season and key elements of our faith. Our children are well versed in the Easter story and how important the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf is. While there are so many fun things about this time of year, celebrating our risen King, our hope and our eternity with Him makes it even more special. Happy Easter to each of you and as Tony Campolo says…”It’s Friday….but Sunday’s coming!!!”.
Easter Songs and Prayers
For our next installment of the What’s in the Bible? Easter blog series – a 3-week look at some of the traditions around our favorite spring holiday – we’re looking at popular Easter songs and prayers. Please share some of your own favorites in the comments!
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Easter Songs and Prayers
From the earliest days of the church, Easter has been celebrated with prayers and songs. This first took the form of a vigil that included the reading of scriptures and psalms.[1] Today different Christian traditions say and sing all manner of hymns and prayers. Below are some examples.
Easter Songs
There are many Easter hymns that are either shared among or specific to different Christian traditions. One author lists seven Easter themes, each with a fitting hymn:[2]
- Resurrection: “The Day of Resurrection, earth tell it out abroad.”
- Life: “I know that my Redeemer lives.”
- Light: “Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light.”
- Joy: “Joyful, joyful, we adore thee.”
- Beauty: “Beautiful Savior, King of Creation.”
- Victory: “Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son.”
- Hope: “Hope of the world, thou Christ of Great Compassion.”
Most of the time, Easter hymns appear in a specific section of the hymnal or liturgical book. There are many favorites that cross denominational borders, such as, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”:
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply: Alleluia
Easter Prayers
The Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours
The Liturgy of the Hours, also referred to as the Divine Office or Breviary, includes the official set prayers of the church offered at various times during the day. Below are two prayers from Easter Sunday liturgies:
God our Father, by raising Christ your Son you conquered the power of death and opened for us the way to eternal life. Let our celebration today raise us up and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.[1]
Today, Lord, through Your only-begotten Son, the conqueror of death, You re-open the way to heaven for us. May Your grace inspire rightful desires in us and help us also in their fulfillment. This we ask of You through the same Jesus Christ. Amen.[2]
The Lutheran Altar Book
The Lutheran Altar Book aids the minister in leading congregational worship. The following prayers are for Easter day:
Almighty God the Father, through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ you have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [3]
O God, for our redemption you have given your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection you have delivered us from the power of our enemy. Therefore grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day a new man may arise to live before you in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[4]
The Anglican Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the liturgical prayer book of the Anglican church. The prayer below is used in the Easter Day liturgy:
Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.[5]
The Presbyterian (U.S.A.) Book of Common Worship
God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[6]
Other Works
Almighty, everlasting God, on this day you conquered death through your son and opened for us the path to eternal life. And so we celebrate in joy the feast of his resurrection. Make us new through your Spirit, so that we too may rise and walk in the light of life. We ask this through Jesus Christ.[7]
O God, of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things are made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[8]
Master! It seems too good to be true! But you come to us, call us by our name, joyfully laugh with us, – and it is true! Living Lord, you were dead, really dead, dead and buried – But God has raised you to life, and, with your risen life, begins a new creation! . . . Living Lord, prove it true: come to us now, call us by our name, breathe peace over us, and give us a new lease on life![9]
[1] Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours (New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1976), 428-29.
[2] The Hours of the Divine Office in English and Latin, prepared by the staff of The Liturgical Press (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1963), 1188.
[3] Lutheran Worship: Altar Book, prepared by The Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (St. Louis: Concordia, 1982), 196.
[4] Ibid.
[5] The Book of Common Prayer (London: Canterbury Press Norwich, 2008), 218.
[6] Book of Common Worship, prepared by The Theology and Worship Ministry Unit for the PCUSA (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993), 316.
[7] Henri J. M. Nouwen, Show Me the Way: Readings for Each Day of Lent (New York: Crossroad, 1992), 140.
[8] The Divine Hours, Prayers for Springtime: A Manual for Prayer, compiled by Phyllis Tickle (New York: Doubleday, 2001), 356.
[9] Ken Taylor, Praying the Passion: Daily Readings & Prayers for Lent (Nashville: Abingdon, 2000), 101.
Easter Series: What is Easter?
For the next 3 weeks leading up to Easter, the team at What’s in the Bible? has put together a series of blog posts to help you understand the history & traditions around Easter! We hope you enjoy it. Today we’ll be asking the first question – What is Easter?
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What is Easter?
Easter Sunday is arguably the most important day in the Christian calendar, as it is the day that Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It marks the end of Lent, a 40-day season of fasting and penance. In contrast with the penitent spirit of Lent and the somber atmosphere of Holy Week, Easter is marked by joy, music, and jubilation. Christians observe the occasion by wearing their finest outfits, singing songs of celebration, removing the veil from the cross, and proclaiming, “Christ is risen!”
Why is it called “Easter”?
The term “easter” was adapted from the Old English word “eastre” or “oestre,” the name of a pagan goddess whose festival was held at the vernal equinox (March 21). Eastre was the Teutonic goddess of dawn and new birth.[1] Pagan religions held feasts in the goddess’ honor during a month that is the equivalent of April, but these customs were eventually replaced by Christian traditions.
When is Easter? Why is it different every year?
Around the middle of the second century a debate arose between the church in the West and the church in the East concerning the proper date to celebrate Easter. Unlike Jesus’ birth, for which there is no certain time of year with which to determine its date, Jesus’ resurrection occurred around the Jewish Passover. As a result of this Biblical detail, the church in the East believed that Easter should be celebrated at that same time as Passover, which was known as the “fourteenth day of Nisan.”
The church in the West opposed this idea. In 155 the Roman bishop Anicetus asserted that Easter should be celebrated on Sunday, the Lord’s Day. More precisely, he believed that Easter should be observed on the Sunday following the fourteenth of Nisan.
This debate remained so contentious that in 190 Victor, bishop of Rome, excommunicated the church of Asia, only to be rebuked by Irenaeus for having done so. It seemed that the Eastern and Western churches would never come to an agreement on the matter, but in 325 the Council of Nicaea settled on the Western position, which is the date most Christians celebrate today.[2] The Eastern church still celebrates Easter independently.[3]
Ever since, the date of Easter has been determined by the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21).[4] Easter is always observed on the first Sunday after this full moon, which is also known as the “paschal full moon.” If the paschal full moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter will be scheduled for the following Sunday. As a result of this dating system, Easter can occur anytime between March 22 and April 25.[5]
[1] Jean C. Cooper, Dictionary of Christianity (Taylor & Francis, 1996). p. 78
[2] Earle E. Cairns, Christianity Through the Centuries: a History of the Christian Church (Zondervan, 1996). p. 101
[3] Cooper, p. 78
[4] Leonard W. Cowie and John Selwyn Gummer, The Christian Calendar: a Complete Guide to the Seasons of the Christian Year Telling the Story of Christ and the Saints, from Advent to Pentecost (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1974). p. 85
[5] “A Morass of Movable Feasts,” Passover and Easter—A Quick Guide to Understanding Dates — Infoplease.com, Pearson Education Inc. 2007, http://www.infoplease.com/spot/movablefeasts1.html
Ministry-to-Children’s March Madness Blog Contest
Our good friend Tony Kummer over at Ministry-to-Children.com hosts an annual children’s ministry blog contest bracket-style, just like NCAA basketball’s March Madness. Well, maybe not JUST like …
We’re super excited to be one of the nominees this year! If you love our blog for great children’s ministry resources (like this great Easter guest post from Sam Luce or this amazing story of faith from the Group kidmin conference last fall), you should hop on over to Tony’s blog and vote for What’s in the Bible? in the west regional.
Thanks! And as always, if you have ideas about how we could make our blog an even better resource for children’s ministry, just let us know in the comments!
What is Purim?
Today is Purim, a traditional Jewish holiday commemorating Esther’s stand against the evil Haman, who was plotting to kill all of the Jews in the Persian kingdom.
Queen Esther’s cousin Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, an assistant to King Xerxes. Haman cast lots – or “purs” – to decide which day to kill all of the Jews as punishment to Mordecai, who refused to bow because of his Jewish faith. Esther invited King Xerxes and Haman to two dinner parties before revealing her Jewish faith and Haman’s evil plan. King Xerxes ordered Haman to death.
Enjoy this clip from What’s in the Bible? Volume 7: Exile & Return! (Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther) – which releases on March 27 and explains what is Purim!
