How does the Passion speak to young people today?
This Holy Week we see our churches celebrating and spreading the message of Easter and Holy Week to all generations in their communities. But why is it so important to engage young people in this foundational story of the Christian faith and how does the Passion speak to young people today?
Children relate the suffering of Jesus to current social justice issues as they prepare for Easter play on Good Friday.
All of the suffering of the world is caught up in the suffering of Jesus.
In a Passion play, thirty children from Llandaff Cathedral Sunday School will act out the arrest, condemning and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday (10th April) at 10am in the cathedral in front of 200 people.
The Dean of Llandaff Fr Richard Peers said, “Young people today are very concerned about justice in the world. We know that it's a very unjust place at the moment and they know that too. The children here have been raising money for Ukraine and the suffering in Israel and Palestine, and all of the suffering of the world is caught up in the suffering of Jesus.
"I think the children here really make that link and see that there is hope in the resurrection, beyond whatever sufferings of the present moment.”
Read how children in the cathedral play are relating Passion to social justice today
Fr Ben Andrews, Vicar in the Port Talbot Ministry Area said, “The Easter story can be lost by Easter bunnies and eggs. The Holy Week story is rich with images and a wonderful story.
Create opportunities for children to explore the passion.
"Exploring these stories in a practical and creative way is one opportunity to help young people understand the events of Holy Week. Fun activities using crafts, for example, create opportunities for children to explore the passion in a memorable way and to take away their creations to share with others. By way of example, we will be making cards to send to family, Easter gardens to watch grow and decorating crosses to name a few.”
Port Talbot Ministry Area a hosting children’s arts and crafts for Holy Week on Saturday at St David’s Margam and a Childrens Good Friday Liturgy on Good Friday 10am, again at St David’s.
Both these are joint with St Theodore’s and part of Holy Week services.
Fr Ben said, “Holy Week and Easter is for everyone, and we should use all senses and ways we can to help people whatever their age to explore and experience this story. We hope our young people, and old, will leave us feeling excited and keen to share what they have learnt in their time with us.”
St Teilo's School put their own spin on Experience Easter with each station relating to a social justice issue or humanitarian crisis today.
Meg Borges, Diocesan Church Army Evangelist said, "It was awesome to see how the school collaborated together to create such a high quality project. It gave their young poeple the opportunity to explore not only big themes from the life, death and resurrection of Jesus but also connect it with current world justice topics too. It was a creative and powerful telling of the Gospel and was great to be a part of!"
Fr Darren Lynch who was ordained last year said, “Easter is important because it represents new life, just as Jesus' blood cleansed us of our sins- the resurrection shows life can begin anew. We can leave all our pasts behind. That we are not defined by our history but given a future in Jesus”
Fr Darren is engaging children and families in his local area of Pontlottyn with a range of Easter crafts and activities
St Tyfaelog Church will host an Easter Egg Hunt and have palm cross, cards and wreath making stations.
Fr Darren told the Caerphilly Observer, “It’s a couple of hours out of the house. Kids get to have a bit of fun with an Easter egg hunt and who knows maybe, just maybe, they’ll find they quite like coming to church.” Read more…
