As a kid, I thought Holy Week consisted of one big party that started on Palm Sunday and ended on Easter. My parents did not take us to mid-week Lenten services, Maundy Thursday or Good Friday.  We were Sunday to Sunday worship attendees. 

Life was busy for my parents with 4 kids. It hasn’t slowed down. In fact, people are busier than ever. So my goal this Holy Week is to help families – including my own – take a few minutes each day to pause, think and pray by using Rich Melheim’s FAITH5.

It’s simple! Using the formula of Share, Read, Talk, Pray, Bless, families gather around the table or before bed to engage 5 -10 minutes of Holy Week devotion. Follow the directions below:

Share the best and worst of the day.

Read the Bible verse assigned each day:

• Sunday: Luke 19:38 – “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”  
• Monday: Luke 22:34 – Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”
• Tuesday: Luke 22: 46 – And Jesus said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
• Wednesday: Luke 21:5-6 – When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
• Thursday: Luke 22:19-20 – Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
• Friday –  Luke 23:44-46: It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.
• Saturday – Luke 23:55-56: The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
• Sunday – Luke 24: 5-7: The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

Talk about these daily questions:

• Monday: Do you think of Jesus as a King? What does it mean to follow a King?
• Tuesday: Have you ever denied knowing Jesus? How did it make you feel?
• Wednesday: What does it mean that to leave no stone unturned?
• Thursday: What does Holy Communion mean to you? 
• Friday: What were you doing at 3 pm this afternoon? 
• Saturday: When is the last time you went to a funeral? How did you feel?
• Sunday: Jesus is risen! What will bring you great joy today?

Pray together by filling in the blanks: Dear God, Thank you for__________. Help me _________. Amen.

Bless each person by making the sign of the cross on each other’s hands or foreheads, saying: “Blessed are you, follower of the most high King, Jesus Christ. Go and share God’s love. Amen.”

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