Primary Current Assemblies



EASTER SIGNS

By Penny Hollander

Suitable for Whole School

Aim

To consider the different signs and emotions connected with the Easter story.



Preparation and materials

• You will need pictures/OHTs of everyday signs: no smoking, no entry, road signs (and male and female toilet signs if you’re feeling brace!), etc.
• Two palm leaves, two crosses, two hollow Easter eggs (decorative).
• Prepare the words spoken by different people in the Easter story (see point 2) on cards or OHT.

Assembly

1. Show the children pictures of everyday signs and ask them what each means and why we have them.
   
   Explain that the Christian Church has signs that show aspects of Christian belief. At Easter the three items we are looking at today are signs that show aspects of the Easter story: palm leaf, cross and egg (hollow Easter egg). These three signs represent the feelings/emotions associated with different moments in the Easter story.
   
   The palm leaf represents the people’s joy and excitement when Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Palm Sunday).
   The cross represents the people’s anger at Jesus and his death on the cross (Good Friday).
   The Easter egg represents the tomb. When it is opened nothing is inside – Jesus has risen from the dead (Easter Sunday).
   
2. Split the children into six groups, or have volunteers to represent the six groups. Groups 1 and 2 hold the palm leaves. Groups 3 and 4 hold the crosses. Groups 5 and 6 hold the Easter eggs. Re-enact the events in sequence, with each group saying their sentence with the appropriate emotion.
   
   Children in groups 1 and 2 wave their palm leaves, expressing their excitement about Jesus coming into Jerusalem:
   
   Group 1: Hosanna to the Son of David!
   
   Group 2: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
   
   Later in that week disillusionment has set in – the crowds are disappointed with Jesus and want to get rid of him.
   
   Group 3: Kill him! Crucify him! (The crowds shout angrily.)
   
   Group 4: It is finished. (Jesus knows that what he came to do on earth has been completed.)
   
   After the sorrow at Jesus’ death, his followers realize that he has come back to life again, when the angel asks them this:
   
   Group 5: Why look for the living among the dead?
   
   Group 6: He is risen! (They shout with joy.)
   
3. The three Easter symbols recognize that journey of emotions:
   
   The palm leaves represent the excitement and expectation that Jesus, as king of the Jews, will release them from Roman domination.
   The cross represents anger and fear because the people think that Jesus has let them down.
   The egg represents joy, because Jesus has risen from the dead as he promised.

Time for reflection

Reflection

As we think about the last week of Jesus’ life, we consider the different reactions that the ordinary people had towards Jesus during that time. How would we have reacted at each stage? What do we remember the most? The excitement of his arrival in Jerusalem? The anger and despair when he doesn’t appear to be what we imagine a king to be? The joy: he has kept his promise and has come alive again?

Or

Think back over the feelings in the story. Can you remember times when you have felt excited, angry, or joyous?

Prayer

Dear God,

We thank you for the story of Jesus coming to life again.

Help us to understand his message and promise to all who will believe in him.

Amen.

Song

‘Now the green blade rises’ (Come and Praise, 131)