Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on rethinkingyouthministry.com and is reprinted here with permission.
by Brian Kirk
As we move through Holy Week, here are a few suggestions for celebrating the end of the season of Lent with your students.
Host a prayer vigil. Students respond well to prayer and silence. Have the sanctuary open for the twenty-four hours leading up to Easter morning. Ask each member to sign up for thirty minutes of prayer. Make it a goal to always have someone present in the sanctuary praying. You could even do this as a lock-in.
Have a worship service with a variety of different prayer stations. Set up one station with palm branches, reminding students of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Another station could have a bowl of water used for foot washing. As a leader, you might be the one doing the washing. A third prayer station could have a small table set up with bread and juice–on the table have the Words of Institution printed out. Across from the table, set up a rugged cross. Ask students to consider what the cross means to them. Finally, have a station where each participants can light a candle, reminding them of the light of Christ that is always present.
Design a Seder meal that can be used for students.
Invite students to fast from email or any social networking site for the week leading up to Easter. Start this off by having them write letters, the kind with an envelope and stamp, to people who are important in their lives.
On Good Friday, email or tweet the seven last words of the cross:

  1. 1. Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34).
  2. 2. Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (Luke 23:43).
  3. 3. Woman, here is your son…Here is your mother. (John 19:26-27).
  4. 4. Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? (“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”) (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
  5. 5. I am thirsty. (John 19:28).
  6. 6. It is finished (John 19:30).
  7. 7. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46).