How to Celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior

Forty days of Lent is drawing to a close; we are walking through Holy Week and are about to arrive at the biggest celebration of the Church Year, Easter Sunday! But Easter isn't just one lone day at the end of weeks of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Easter Sunday kicks off the season of Easter, which lasts 50 days until Pentecost Sunday.

In the cycle of the Church Year, seasons of fasting are followed by seasons of feasting. So how can we press into a season of feasting and celebrating our Savior's resurrection for the next 50 days? Here are several ideas; hopefully you can find a couple that will work for you and your family this year!

Easter Sunday

It's a celebration, so let's party! A party looks different depending on the person, house and family you come from, but a party usually incorporates the five senses. There might be music, some fun activities, almost always good food, and maybe even some decorations. Think about how you want to celebrate Christ's resurrection tomorrow; maybe it's a playlist of Easter worship and hymns that you put on first thing in the morning, or your grandma's famous coffee cake for breakfast. It might be a special meal for dinner, or a banner that says "He is Risen!" You might want to fill your house with Easter lilies, yellow daffodils and pink tulips. Of all the days to go all out on a celebration, Resurrection Sunday is the day!

Even though we will be in our homes for worship services this year, we can still continue the sense of celebration by dressing up in our Easter best. If you have something white, you might want to wear it to remind yourself of your baptism and the new life we have in Christ! 

The Week Following Easter

We can keep following Jesus' footsteps even beyond Holy Week. Here are two recommendations for you to try sometime during the week after Easter Sunday:

1. Fish for Breakfast

Read the beautiful story in John 21, where Jesus appears to the disciples and makes them fish and bread for breakfast. Yes, the resurrected Christ cooks breakfast for a bunch of fishermen! After you read this passage, go ahead and eat some fish for breakfast! Baked white fish with eggs and toast could be a place to start, but if you have a fire pit, wrap some fish in foil and make it really authentic. Or if fish for breakfast just isn't your thing, try going fishing after reading this passage. 

2. Take an "Emmaus Walk"

Read Luke 24:13-35, and then take a walk with a neighbor, friend or your family and discuss a topic from Scripture, or talk about what it would have been like to be these followers of Jesus having this conversation on the road.

The Season of Easter

Here are some ideas for keeping the joy and celebration of the resurrection before us in the 50 days of Eastertide:

1. Listen to Easter music. 

Use a playlist like this one or pick a different Easter hymn/song to learn each week during this season. You could sing this song every morning after breakfast or each night after dinner.

2. Keep your Easter decor up until Pentecost. 

If you have a cross you could drape it with a white cloth, or maybe you want to make or purchase a special sign or banner that says," He Lives!" or "He is Risen!" to keep out during the season of Easter.

3. Party every week!

Pick a certain day of the week and plan a party on that day every week of Eastertide! It doesn't have to be complicated-you could have a Blue Bell ice cream party, a water balloon party, an Easter music jam session (if you're the musical type!), a game of hide and seek (read John 20:19 and talk about how the disciples went into hiding after Jesus' crucifixion), or a movie night (Maybe something like Ben Hur (1959) or Jesus of Nazareth (1977), or another family favorite. Be sure to preview before showing to your kids!).

4. Make or buy a special candle to remind you of the resurrection, and light it at breakfast or dinner each day during the season of Easter. Try this DIY idea. 

5. Join Natalie every Monday of Eastertide for an Easter themed children's book read aloud on our YouTube channel:

The Feast of Epiphany

Epipha-what?

Epiphany, January 6, is the official end of the 12 days of Christmas. Many Christians celebrate this day by remembering the journey of the Magi who found their way to Jesus by following a bright heavenly body, usually represented by a star. 

Epiphany means "revealing" or "manifestation" and historically was one of the three great feasts of the Church (Epiphany, Easter, and Pentacost). Originally, Epiphany (Jan 6th) was what Christmas (Dec 25th) is for us today, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Today we retain both celebrations, with Christmas focusing on the birth of Jesus, and Epiphany focusing on the work of Jesus as the Light of the world. As with Christmas which is celebrated on a single day but also has a "season" following it (12 Days of Christmas), so Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th and has a season following it that runs until Lent begins, usually 5-9 weeks depending upon where Easter falls.

The major texts we tend to meditate upon during this season are the visitation of the magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the first miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. All of these events reveal who Jesus is as King of Kings, Son of God, and all-powerful. Each year as we read these events from Scripture, we are invited to experience anew the epiphany of Christ’ identity.

2 Timothy 1:9-10, “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”

Epiphany is a time of great celebration and rejoicing. During Advent we spent four weeks waiting and anticipating the coming King, Christmas we celebrated his arrival and birth, and Epiphany we continue that rejoicing as we see Him manifest Himself as God and Savior.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate Epiphany with your family:

1) Chalk your Front Door with an Epiphany house blessing.

2. Have your kids make King crowns from craft paper

3) Bake a Kings Cake (Many bake a small figurine/toy baby into the cake to be discovered just as the magi discovered Jesus)

4. Save one Christmas gift for each child to be opened on Epiphany.

5. Break out the telescope for stargazing or visit an observatory.

6. Listen to some Epiphany music.

Prayer for Epiphany 
O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A blessed Epiphany to you and your family!

Observing Advent - Part II

As promised, here is the second installment of our Advent recommendations for you and your family! These are some extras to help you find ways to make this season of Advent a meaningful one. Book recommendations, ornaments with the names of God, and saints days are covered here; and scroll to the bottom for our Spotify Advent playlist!

Picture Book Recommendations

Books to read the day you put out Advent calendars and decorate your Christmas tree:

Waiting for Christmas: A Story about the Advent Calendar

The Legend of the Christmas Tree

Some beautiful picture books that are based on the biblical story of Christmas:

The Story of Christmas (Golden Book)

The Story of Christmas

A Baby Born in Bethlehem

The Christmas Story According to Luke

The Very First Christmas

Song of the Stars

Three great choices for telling the real story behind Santa Claus:

Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins

Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend

The Legend of the Christmas Stocking

Picture books based on the history of a Christmas carol, or containing the lyrics:

Silent Night

The First Noel

The Friendly Beasts

Silent Night, Holy Night (Traditions of Faith series)

Go Tell It On The Mountain

A good book to read on Saint Lucia Day:

Lucia Saint of Light

And some additional favorites:

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Annika's Secret Wish

Mortimer's Christmas Manger

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

The Gift of the Magi

The Wonder of Christmas

Christmas Around the World

Great Joy

Apple Tree Christmas

The Tale of Three Trees

Christmas Day in the Morning

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree

Reading Recommendations for Adults (or kids ready to listen to/independently read longer books and poetry)

A Christmas Carol

Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany

I Saw Three Ships

The Christmas Stories and Poems of George MacDonald

Jotham's Journey

This last book is actually a children's chapter book. The story follows an adventurous journey of a boy during the time of Christ's birth, and his journey intersects with the Christmas story throughout the book. Great family read aloud, although be aware you may need to edit out some of the scary scenes for younger listeners!

Ever Thine Home Ornaments

Ever Thine Home, a part of FamilyLife ministry, sells a variety of sets of different ornaments that focus on the names of God. One of these sets, His Eternal Names, includes a family devotional and activity that can be done throughout the month of December leading up to Christmas. You can find the details here.

Celebrate Special Saint's Days

1) St. Nicholas Day, December 6th

Did you know Saint Nicholas was a real person? He lived in Asia Minor in the third century, and was a Christian bishop. Legend has it that he was known for his generosity to those in need. One story tells of a poor family with three daughters who could never be married because their father didn't have the dowry money needed to arrange marriages for them. Nicholas secretly gave three bags of coins to this family by throwing them down their chimney; according to the legend, these bags landed in the daughter's stockings which were hanging up to dry.

On this day we like to read a book about St. Nicholas (see three good choices above) and discuss ways we can show generosity to others just as St. Nicholas did. This would be a great day to plan an act of service as a family! We also like to hang up our stockings on this day, and sometimes leave chocolate coins in the kid's shoes as well.

2) St. Lucia Day, December 13th

This is a day to remember Lucia, an early Christian martyr. This wealthy young woman used her dowry to help those in need. As legend has it, Lucia would travel into the catacombs where persecuted Christians were hiding, with candles on her head to free up her hands for the food she carried to them.

St. Lucia Day became particularly popular in Sweden, and is celebrated by having the oldest daughter in the family wear a crown of candles and deliver saffron buns and gingersnaps to her parents first thing in the morning on December 13th. We love to deliver these to friends and neighbors later in the day as well! See above list for a picture book biography to read on this day.

Our favorite recipes for this day:

Saffron Buns

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk

• 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads

• 1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup sugar

• One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast

• 3 1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 cup butter, softened

• 1/4 cup of sour cream

• 2 large eggs

• Raisins

• 1 egg, beaten
  

1. In a small pot, heat the milk, saffron, and 1 teaspoon of sugar together until the milk is steamy. Remove from heat and let cool until about 115°.

2. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.

3. Whisk together 3 1/2 cups of the flour, remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, salt.

4. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast milk saffron mixture, the eggs, the butter, and the sour cream. Mix the ingredients until well incorporated.

5. Use a dough hook on a stand mixer (or mix by hand) on low speed. Slowly add additional flour, a tablespoon at a time, kneading to incorporate after each addition. Do this until the dough is still a little sticky to the touch, but does not completely stick to your hands when you handle it.

6. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. (Note at this point you can refrigerate overnight and bake in the morning.)

7. Let sit in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size. 

8. When the dough has doubled in size, gently press it down and knead it a couple of times. Break off a piece and form it into a ball about 2 inches wide. Roll the ball out into a snake, about 14 inches long.

9. Then curl the ends in opposite directions, forming an "S" with spirals at each end. Place on a lined baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.

10. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough shapes double, 30 minutes to an hour.

11. Preheat oven to 400°F. Using a pastry brush, brush some beaten egg over the tops and sides of the uncooked buns. Place raisins in the centers of the "S" spirals.

12. Place in the oven and bake at 400°F for about 10 to 11 minutes (turning halfway through cooking to ensure even browning), until the buns are golden brown.

13. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before eating.

Gingersnaps

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup molasses

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup white sugar for decoration

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and molasses until well blended. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; stir into the molasses mixture to form a dough. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll the balls in the remaining sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Last but not least we have an Advent Spotify playlist for you! This playlist includes classic Christmas carols, but also some beautiful lesser known Advent hymns. Happy listening, and may this season be a blessed one for you and your family!

---

Practical ways you can celebrate Advent with your family this year

So what is the season of Advent all about?

Last week we shared about the Church Year, and how celebrating it with your family can be a meaningful way to keep your hearts focused on what is truly important in life. The Church Year begins on December 1st with the start of Advent.

Advent is a season of waiting. In the same way Israel awaited the coming of the Messiah, we as Christians await the second coming of the Messiah. This season reminds us that we are waiting, and when Christmas comes, we are reminded that someday the fulfillment we wait for will come to pass, just as it did one night in Bethlehem long ago.

Here are some ideas to choose from to help you slow down in this busy season and enjoy preparing for Christmas! There's a lot here, and maybe picking just one or two of these is the best option for you this year, or maybe this is your year to try them all. Either way, we hope these suggestions are helpful to you and your family!

Advent Wreath and Devotional

An Advent wreath contains four candles, one for each week of Advent, which stand for hope, peace, joy and love, and a fifth candle, called the Christ Candle, which is lighted on Christmas. The first week of Advent, starting on Sunday, one candle is lighted, the second week two, and so on until the final week of Advent when all four candles are lit. During the season of Advent, we keep this wreath on our dining table, and each night after dinner the kids get to take turns lighting a candle before we read a devotional together. After reading an Advent devotional as a family, we sing a Christmas carol and then a different child gets to blow out the candles. This is a great tangible way to mark the time until Christmas, and to give kids hands-on involvement in family devotions.

A couple of our favorite Advent devotionals:

• CRU Advent Devotional (free online, short)

• Good News of Great Joy by John Piper (free online or for purchase, very succinct)

• DTS Advent Devotionals by various faculty (free, very succinct)

• Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp (for purchase, each devotional is longer)

• God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (for purchase)

• Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair Ferguson (for purchase, unique Advent devotional that focuses on 1 Cor 13 and include reflection questions, longest recommendation at 2-3 pages each day)

• Counting to Christmas: Family Advent Devotions and Calendar by CPH (for purchase, fantastic for pre-school to elementary kiddos, our family favorite)

• Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room by Nancy Guthrie (for purchase, good family devotional with discussion questions, very thought provoking)

Advent Calendars

The most traditional form of Advent Calendar is a little scene or house with doors to open every day of December until Christmas. There is usually a little piece of chocolate inside of each door. These are (not surprisingly!) quite popular at our house, but there are two other calendars that have proven to be really meaningful ways to celebrate.

1) Wrap 25 Christmas picture books up in wrapping paper and have the kids take turns opening one each day until Christmas. Read the book together that day, and then revisit favorites as time allows as the days go on.

2) An "Advent Activities" calendar, which is a series of 25 paper pockets with an activity inside to be completed each day in December. Some ideas for activities this calendar could include:

• Making Christmas cards

• Going to a living nativity

• Piling in the car to look at Christmas lights together

• Listening to or attending Handel's Messiah

• Acting out the Christmas story

• Christmas caroling in your neighborhood or at a retirement center

• Serving at a soup kitchen

• Putting together a puzzle of the nativity scene as a family

• Having a family movie night with a favorite Christmas movie

Nativity Sets

Nativity sets can be used as more than just decorations, and are a favorite part of Advent around our house. We have a toy nativity set that only comes this time of year, and the kids love to play with the shepherds, animals, wise men, and especially baby Jesus.

With our decorative nativity set, we play a hide and seek game. Baby Jesus is hidden as far away from the nativity set as possible. As the kids find baby Jesus, the figure is hidden again a bit closer every few days, until we finally place baby Jesus in the manger after the kids go to bed on Christmas Eve, to be found on Christmas morning!

You could also have the other figures in your nativity set "travel" through the house and gradually arrive at the site of the manger throughout the month of December.

Serve as a Family

Some of the ideas mentioned in the Christmas activities section would fit here as well, such as caroling at a retirement center or serving at a soup kitchen. Another ideas is to adopt a family in need and take them a meal and/or gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and pray for them before you leave. Taking time out of our already busy holiday season can be hard, but this could be a great way to show the love of Christ in a sacrificial way.

Attend Advent Services

If you are here in San Antonio, we would love to have you join us for weekly Advent services on Sunday evenings! We will have a simple dinner of soup and bread available at 5pm, and begin a short service at 5:30 including Christmas carols, a brief devotional and some interactive components for kiddos as well. After the service each week we will have different activities including making fresh evergreen Christmas wreaths, a cookie exchange, and more. More information on our Advent services can be found here or on our Facebook Events page.

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of the season, Advent services are a good way to quiet our hearts and experience the beauty of what God has done and the anticipation of what God will do.

Be on the lookout for Part 2 of this post, which will have a few more ideas, a big list of book recommendations for young and old, some recipes, and an Advent Spotify playlist!

Thanksgiving and Thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Giving thanks in all types of situations is God's will for us. Not only does giving thanks mean walking in obedience to God, it also gives us a new perspective on life. Instead of feeling frustrated and discouraged by all the less than perfect situations we encounter each day, giving thanks turns our eyes to all the good gifts God has given us, and helps us to realize that He is working even in the midst of the hard things. When we start giving thanks, our eyes are drawn to the glory of God, and our hearts turn to Him in praise, not just for His good gifts, but for who He is. We all know this, and yet it is so easy to forget to be thankful. We even forget to thank God we can breathe through our nose until a bad cold comes along!

So, giving thanks is God's will for us. It's good for us and our spiritual lives and our perspective. But we so often forget to be thankful! And here enters November.

With the holiday of Thanksgiving coming up at the end of the month, November is a natural time to turn our hearts to the habit of being thankful. Here are a few ways to cultivate a heart of thankfulness in your children (and yourself!) in the month of November with just a few minutes a day:

1. Make a thankful tree.

You could also make a thankful bowl, or box, or pretty much anything that holds small slips of paper. To make a thankful tree, scour your backyard or local park for a short branch with lots of places to hang little pieces of paper. Then stick this tree in a vase, and place beside it a stack of small pieces of paper with a hole punched through one of the side. You can use pieces of string or Christmas ornament hooks to attach these pieces of paper to your thankful tree. Each day in November, have each member of your family write (or help them write, for the littlest ones) one thing they are thankful for on a slip of paper, and hang it on the tree. Sometime on Thanksgiving Day read through all the slips of paper and reflect on God's goodness! You can save these in an envelope with the year marked on it. It's really meaningful to look back on past years as well!

2. Memorize a verse about thankfulness.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 is a great choice, but there are many to choose from! Just read it together 2-3 times as a family at breakfast each day, and you should all have it memorized by the end of the month!

3. Read a different verse about thankfulness together as a family, at dinner time or whatever time of day works best for you, each day in November, and spend a few minutes discussing it together. Pick out your own or use this printable list.

4. Three kernels of corn at Thanksgiving dinner.

Start a new family tradition and give each person at your table three (or five, if you want to do more!) kernels of popcorn. Pass a jar around the table, and take turns sharing one thing you are thankful for from the past year as you drop a kernel in the jar. Go around the table three times until everyone has used all their corn. This tradition stems from the legend that the pilgrims ate a ration of just a few kernels of corn a day their first winter in Plymouth. It can be a great tangible activity to help us slow down and thank the Lord! As Black Friday comes earlier and earlier each year, this is a small way to prepare our hearts for contentment amidst the waves of consumerism waiting to wash over us.

5. Listen to some music that will encourage you in gratitude on this Spotify playlist.

Bonus: Picture book recommendations to read with your kids.

• Give Thanks to the Lord by Karma Wilson. This book is inspired by Psalm 92 and walks through a family Thanksgiving dinner.

• Thankful by Eileen Spinelli. A look at thankfulness that combines the idea of vocation as well.

• Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxes. This excellent retelling of the story of Squanto emphasizes how God used the hard circumstances in Squanto's life to lead to the huge blessing he ended up being to the struggling colony of Pilgrims.

• Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zietlow Miller. This whimsical book follows the preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, and has a nice emphasis on family and gratitude.

• Thank You For Thanksgiving by Dandi Daley Mackall. A little boy waits for his turn to say what he is thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner.

Let's be intentional this November about being grateful, and let these beautiful habits of praise and thanks transform us and our children more into the image of Christ each day.

Soli Deo gloria

Feast of All Saints' Day

Helping families find ways to allow the life-giving truth of Christ to permeate day-to-day life is something we are passionate about here at Trinity! Following the church year can be a great way to do this, so today we are talking about All Saints' Day, celebrated on November 1st.

What is All Saints' Day?

Originally All Saints' Day was a day set aside to remember the martyrs of the early church, who had given their lives for their faith in Christ. Today we remember not only these martyrs, but all the faithful who have died in Christ, encompassing the faithful in the Bible, the early church, the more recent past, and even friends or family members who are now in heaven. 1 Corinthians 1:2 tells us that all who are in Christ are saints. The word "saint" is derived from a Greek verb (hagiazo) whose basic meaning is "to set apart, " "sanctify, " or "make holy." This title doesn't just belong to a select few Christians but to each and every person who has been forgiven in Christ Jesus. What Memorial Day is to America, All Saints’ Day is to the Church, a day of remembrance and thankfulness.

Why celebrate All Saints' Day?

All Saints' Day is a great opportunity to reflect on God's faithfulness, to thank Him for the example of faithful believers, and to be inspired by this example. This could be a great time to share with your kids about a faithful grandparent or mentor who God used to draw you closer to Him. You might want to read the story of a faithful saint from the Bible, or a biography of a missionary or early church figure. As we retell the story of the faithful Christians who have gone before, we give our children (and ourselves) a vision for what God could do through us, and our hearts are drawn in faith and praise to Him for His work throughout the ages in ordinary individuals just like us.

How can we celebrate All Saints' Day?

Here are a few ideas to choose from for celebrating this day with your family:

1) Attend a service at a church that celebrates All Saints' Day. At Trinity this Sunday Pastor Matthew will preach on this theme.

2) Read and discuss a passage of Scripture that talks about the saints throughout time, such as: Revelation 7:2-17.

3) Read a biography about a famous Christian from history. Here are a few of our favorites:

Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History by Richard Hannula

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie DePaola

Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World by Paul Maier

The Simonetta Carr biographies

Missionary biographies

4) Share about the life of a faithful Christian you knew personally who is now in heaven, and take a moment to thank God as a family for this saint.

5) All Saints Prayer to pray as a family

Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

(Treasury of Daily Prayer)

Let's take some time this November 1st to thank God for the faithful that make up the body of Christ; in heaven and on earth, famous or little known, and to be encouraged to trust in His faithfulness to help us and our children run the race He has for us!