How to Celebrate Easter At Home
It goes without saying that we are living in unprecedented times.
Can you fathom if you’d heard back in January that you wouldn’t be able to physically go to church this year? And yet, here we are.
And, I don’t know about you, but it all just feels off.
Times like these require an extra dose of creativity.
Here are 10 creative ways to celebrate Easter during this season of social distancing.
1. Enjoy a Relaxed Morning
This Easter there’s no rushing. Relish a relaxed time of waking up, having a cup of coffee or tea, and starting your day slowly. Have breakfast, watch the sun come up, or sleep in a little. The beauty of this Easter is you won’t have to rush or feel like you’re running late.
2. Choose Your Attire.
Do you want to put on your Sunday best? Do it. Feel like fixing your hair and putting on makeup? Do it. Want to put your hair in a messy bun? Do it. Would you rather don your day pajamas? Do it.
This Easter, you get to follow old traditions or start a brand new one. Whatever is going to put you in the best frame of mind to celebrate our risen Lord, that’s exactly what you should do.
3. Read the Resurrection Story
There is nothing better than reading about Jesus’ resurrection. There is power in the living Word of God.
John 20
“1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.
4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,
7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
4. Attend Online Church
Watch your church service online or host a watch party and invite your family and friends to join.
5. Host a Zoom lunch
If you have family you can’t physically be with, do the next best thing and do a video call via Zoom. Set a time for everyone to virtually meet. Set your computer or tablet on the table and enjoy lunch together.
Conversation Starters:
Tell your salvation story (what Jesus did for you)
Share a favorite Easter memory
The most fun thing you’ve done while being socially distanced
An unexpected blessing during social distancing
6. Write Letters
In a time when so many people are isolated, a great way to serve is to write a letter. People who are currently in the hospital can’t have visitors, and nursing homes have been on lock down for weeks. As easy as it is on our end to write a letter, it will absolutely bring a a little joy to the receiver.
7. Call / FaceTime Friends Who Are Alone
While you may be at a point during this social distancing where you are craving a few minutes alone, there are lots of people who are alone during this time. It brings a different kind of loneliness. Make a list of friends and family who are living alone and call or FaceTime them. Just knowing someone is thinking about you, makes your day less lonely.
8. Worship Creatively
If you’ve been around here for long, you know I’m a creative at heart. I have far too many glitter pens and markers and paints and fabulous papers, but oh my, being creative feels like a form of worship.
Basically, there’s no wrong way to worship creatively. Here are some ideas to get your own ideas flowing:
Get your sidewalk chalk out and write a Scripture in the driveway or on your curb
Think about the sermon you watched and draw out the biggest takeaway
Coloring Pages- I just happened to create a couple for you.
9. Enjoy Fresh Air
If your weather permits, take a stroll outside and enjoy God’s beauty. As you’re taking your walk, pick up leaves, rocks, and sticks to use in your creative worship from above.
If you can’t get outside, spend a few minutes stretching and moving. There’s something about moving your body that makes you feel better.
10. Spend a Few Minutes Alone With the Lord.
This time is completely yours for worship. You can spend it in prayer, singing, or silence. Take those few minutes to rest in His presence. Focus on what is true and right and lovely.
As with most things, our attitude will make or break the day. While this Easter will look different than any Easter in our lives, we can make it one of the best.
This Easter gives us a unique opportunity to trust our resurrected Savior in a totally new way. None of knows what the future holds, but we can rest easy knowing that Jesus is still on the thrown.
Regardless of what you actually do to celebrate, I pray you will feel Jesus’ presence in your home. Who knows, this may just turn out to be one of the best Easter Sunday after all.
