Take Out Leader’s Guide April 2009

Easter Season

Gather families to celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus with an “Empty Tomb Evening.” Break the Lenten fast with cookies, sweet breads and other goodies. Gather families at tables and open with prayer.

Prayer:
God our Father by raising Christ your Son
you conquered the power of death
and opened for us the way to eternal life.
Let our celebration today raise us up
and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Offer an activity for families to work on together while they talk through some questions from the Easter Season issue of Take Out magazine. Activities could include writing a Family Creed that talks about what we, as a family, believe in. Or families could work on a list of good deeds they are going to do through the Easter season.

Discussion Questions:

1) What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for we, the disciples of Jesus, living today?
2) What are some ways we can show that ours is a “household of faith” with Christ at the center?
3) The Easter Season occurs at the same time as spring – new life and growth can be seen in our gardens as well as our hearts. What  are some spring activities that your family can do together to celebrate new life?
4) At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and they ran into the streets to tell everyone about Jesus. When have you felt called to tell about Jesus?

Make sure an include a break in the evening for families to share fellowship and build community at your parish.

Before concluding, gather the large group together as ask each table to share one thing they talked about related to Easter, resurrection or family. (Ask families to share only what they’re comfortable sharing.)

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer to celebrate Jesus eternal love and forgiveness.