A team at St Mary’s, Brook, designed a Holy Week and Easter Church Trail to encourage visitors to engage with their church and learn about the Easter story.
An example of what this might look like can be found below. Perhaps this is something that would work in your setting, or maybe it inspires you to do something similar.
Recreate this trail and make it your own using this printable resource.
1. Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a little donkey.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road and waved palm branches, greeting Jesus like a king.
“Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna” means “save us”.
You may wish to colour in a palm leaf.
2. Foot washing
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to prepare for the Feast of Passover in an upper room in the city. When they were ready to eat, Jesus wrapped a towel round his waist and knelt down to wash his disciples’ feet.
“I have set you an example: serve one another.”
Think about those who do quiet faithful acts of service for others.
3. Last supper
After supper Jesus took some bread and some wine, and shared them with his disciples.
“This is my body given for you, and my blood shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
We use these symbols of remembrance at every communion service. Do join us – Palm Sunday 11am, Maundy Thursday 7pm, Easter Day 11am.
4. Garden of Olives
When supper was over, Jesus and his disciples went out in the darkness to the Garden of Olives. Jesus asked his disciples to keep watch while he prayed in great anguish – but they fell asleep.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.”
Pray for anyone you know who is under great pressure. You could write their initials on a leaf and attach it to our prayer tree.
5. Betrayal by Judas
Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, plotted with the chief priests and religious scholars to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He led the temple guard to the garden and identified Jesus to them with a betrayer’s kiss.
Pray for those who are being torn away from truth by greed.
6. Peter's denial
Jesus was arrested and spent the night before the religious authorities, enduring beatings and false accusations. Peter watched from a distance, by a fire in the courtyard. But when he was asked if he was with Jesus, Peter three times denied even knowing him. Just then a cockerel crowed. Peter remembered that Jesus had predicted Peter’s denials, and he wept bitterly.
Pray for those who are suffering injustice, and who are let down by those who should care.
7. Pilate washes his hands
At daybreak on Friday, the religious authorities took Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who in turn sent Jesus before Herod. After more mockery Jesus was sent back to Pilate, who washed his hands of responsibility; succumbing to the power of mob rule, he sentenced Jesus to be crucified.
Pray for world leaders, that they will lead with wisdom and fairness, and work for peace.
8. Good Friday
Was it a Good Friday? They led Jesus out of the city to a hill called Golgotha, and crucified him there between two criminals.
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
You may wish to place a red bead at the foot of the cross, as a sign of your thankfulness for Jesus’ sacrifice.
9. The tomb
Jesus’s heartbroken friends took his body, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a borrowed tomb.
The tomb appears to be the place of greatest failure, but it is actually the scene of God’s greatest power.
10. Women go to the tomb
Saturday was the Sabbath day… a long quiet day of sadness and hopelessness. On Sunday morning the women went to the tomb with burial perfumes and spices. As they walked, lost in their grief, they wondered how they would manage to move the heavy stone which closed the tomb.
Pray for those who are experiencing the agonies of grief.
11. Resurrection
Early on Sunday morning the women arrived in the garden.
Come back on Easter Day to find out what was different when they reached the tomb!
If you wish, please add a glass stone to the garden path, to represent your own footsteps in the garden on Easter morning.
12. Easter garden
Easter morning
Resurrection joy in the garden
Jesus is alive!
Love is stronger than death
If you wish, please add a glass stone to the garden path, to represent your own footsteps in the garden on Easter morning.
13. John 3v16
For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish
but have eternal life.
John 3:16