Easter Vigil
Children’s Resource
Activity
Create a Sacred Space
You will need:
A white cloth
A cross
A large candle (lit by an adult)
(you will also need some small candles, tealights or each person’s baptismal candle)
A bowl of holy water.
Renewal of Baptismal Promises
(from the ‘You Shall be My Witnesses’ Programme, used with Permission)
Parents should lead this Prayer;
Leader: We light this candle to remind us of the light of faith, which began to shine brightly in our lives on the day of our baptism.
(light each person’s candle, small children will need help or use a battery candle)
Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
All: I do.
Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified died and was buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
All: I do.
Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting?
All: I do
Leader: Then together let us say:
All: This is our faith.
This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus. Amen
Leader: Loving God, this holy water is a reminder of the water with which we were blessed at baptism. As we bless ourselves with this water may we remember to always walk as children of the light!
(each member of the family blesses themselves with holy water)
All: Amen.
You can watch the renewal of baptismal promises online
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FA54ESr-v0
Children’s version of the Gospel for the Easter Vigil.
Ask the children to listen carefully.
Matthew 28:1-10
Jesus Rises from Death
The day after the Sabbath day was the first day of the week. At dawn on the first day, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary went to look at the tomb.
At that time there was a strong earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven. The angel went to the tomb and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Then he sat on the stone. He was shining as bright as lightning. His clothes were white as snow. The soldiers guarding the tomb were very frightened of the angel. They shook with fear and then became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, the one who was killed on the cross. But he is not here. He has risen from death as he said he would. Come and see the place where his body was. And go quickly and tell his followers. Say to them: ‘Jesus has risen from death. He is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there.’” Then the angel said, “Now I have told you.”
The women left the tomb quickly. They were afraid, but they were also very happy. They ran to tell Jesus’ followers what had happened. Suddenly,
Jesus met them and said, “Greetings.” The women came up to Jesus, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go on to Galilee. They will see me there.”