During Lent, local school children took part in an engaging morning of hands-on activities to learn more about the events of Holy Week.
Following the success of their Christmas Tree Festival, a school contacted St. Paul’s Whitley Bay to ask whether they offered any Easter-related learning experiences.
At the time, they had no plans for any Easter events for schools but Assistant Curate, the Revd Mairi Howell felt encouraged by the request and decided to investigate.
Following the recruitment of four willing volunteers from the congregation, all with teaching experience, a plan started to come together and ‘Holy Week in a Morning’ was formed.
Once planning was underway, other local schools were also invited to take part in the experience, which took place over three days.
A total of 170 pupils from Years 2 and 3 were introduced to the events of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday through a range of drama, music and storytelling activities, using a variety of inspiring resources from the Religious Resource Centre.
After first creating a timeline of Holy Week, the children split into three groups who rotated through three stations representing three days from Holy Week.
At the Palm Sunday station, children dressed up as Jesus, the crowd or a donkey. Palms were waved to re-enact the procession into Jerusalem.
The events of Maundy Thursday were re-told using the knitted ‘Knitivity’ disciples resource before children had the opportunity to wash each other’s feet.
An original song was composed by the organist of St. Paul’s to teach them the story of Good Friday. Children learned the song, joining in with claves and tambourines.
Finally, the groups joined together again to explore the symbols on the Easter Candle, light it and shout ‘Alleluia’.
The Revd Mairi Howell said: “The children were full of questions, and really entered into the activities, but feet washing was a firm favourite!
“It has been great to welcome the schools into church again, and further strengthen links with our local community.”