Family "Light of Christ" Easter Celebration

Over Easter weekend, we move from the darkness of Good Friday to the light of Easter morning.  How can we mark this movement with our children, especially in this season of not gathering as a community on Easter Sunday?  How – in an age appropriate way – can we open up the wonder of this time to our children in the space of our home? 

One way is through a vivid liturgy (called the “Service of Light”) that the church has been practicing on the night before Easter (or at sunrise on Easter) for a long time.  On that threshold between Good Friday and Easter, it visually marks the hope and wonder of Christ’s light overcoming all darkness.

My family has been doing a version of this liturgy every Easter Sunday at sunrise since our children were babes.  When they weren’t yet readers, they’d be wrapped up in blankets on the back porch watching, hearing and seeing the “the light of Christ” break through the darkness as we read Scripture and prayed around a bonfire.  Now they help lead the liturgy in our more urban setting (with tea lights!).  It has become a central rhythm in our Easter life as a family, followed by a celebratory, special breakfast.  Every year it is different and yet every year seeing, feeling, hearing, touching the light coming into the darkness is powerful.

The celebration (found below) is interactive, with roles for everyone, and can take as little as 10-15 minutes or a bit longer if you include reading the Easter story together.  Traditionally this liturgy happens anytime after dark on Holy Saturday, often at midnight or sometimes at sunrise on Easter morning.  This liturgy is also similar to what the children celebrate on Easter morning at church with their peers. 

Revised Service of Light for the Home

[Start by lighting a candle or fire. It is ideal to start in the dark or semi-dark - whether outside or inside - so that the increasing light of the candles - or the sunrise - is experienced. Have enough candles or tea lights so that there is one per person if possible]

One person says:  Dear friends in Christ, on this most holy night, when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life, the Church invites her children throughout the world to come together to pray. Today, we remember the Jesus’ death and resurrection by hearing His word and praying together.  

Together everyone prays:  Father, we share in Your light through your Son, the light of the world.  Bless this new fire and make us alive with new hope.  Prepare us for this Easter celebration today and bring us one day to the eternal feast of your Kingdom.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Light Christ candle from the main fire.  If you have made a Christ Candle (see “Making a Christ Candle” post on the home page) light the Christ Candle from the fire or initial candle. The children are familiar with the Christ Candle from their times together on Sundays.

One person says:  “The light of Christ”

Everyone responds:  “Thanks be to God”. 

Light other candles: Light each person’s candle from the Christ Candle.

Say together (or give lines to each person to say):

Rejoice o heaven and sing choirs of angels!  Christ our King is risen!

Rejoice o beautiful earth, radiant in the brightness of your King! Light fills you and darkness is banished. 

Rejoice, o church!  The risen Savior shines upon you.  Echo the mighty song of all God’s people!

Recite together (or have one person read or take turns reading) how this day is at the heart of the whole story of Scripture:    

This is our Passover feast when Christ the true Lamb, by his sacrifice, protects his people. 

This is the night when first you saved our forebears: you freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.

Father, how wonderful your care for us! How boundless your merciful love! To save us you gave your Son, our Good Shepherd.

God, your power dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence and brings mourners joy.

Therefore, heavenly Father in the joy of this dawning day, receive our praise! May your light dispel all darkness.  May Christ, that Morning Star risen to new life, shed his peaceful light on all creation. Amen

When my family does this, we - at this point - pick a reading of the Easter story from one of the gospels (usually John 20:1-18) and we assign parts and act out the story together (it is a vivid narrative!!).  We are usually down at the beach doing this as the sun rises – this year we will be in our back yard.  It can feel silly in the moment but it is always OK in the end and somehow roots the story in our bodies’ memories year over year.