by Casey FitzGerald

This week’s Monday liturgy for families focuses on learning to tell the story together. The story from Mark is that of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem — preceding the events we remember during Holy Week.

Kids can tell these stories! Watch the children of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA tell the story together here.

Prayer
Holy God,
Be with our family today,
as we tell God’s story,
and as we tell our stories.
Amen.

Scripture & Spiritual Practice: Mark 11:1-11 (Adapted from New Revised Standard Version)
Comic Strip Telling

Print out 2 copies of the Comic Strip Mark 11 for each participant and read the story section by section, while illustrating in the boxes.

Box 1:
Title Box! (You can call it “Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem” or you might want to save this one for last, as you might want to come up with your own title.)

Box 2:
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage (Beth’ fuh-gee) and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives,

Box 3:
Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’”

Box 4:
They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street.

Box 5:
As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.

Box 6:
Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.

Box 7:
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.

Box 8:
Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Box 9:
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple;

Box 10:
and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Box 11:
Write a prayer or draw a prayer doodle.

Box 12:
Draw a box for “The End”!

Once you have completed the comic strip, use your comics to tell the story to each other. Try to tell the story from memory each night this week!

Exploring the Story
-Consider all the people in the story. How do you think each of them felt? The two disciples? Jesus? The bystanders? The colt? The people on the road?
-“Hosanna” means “save, please!”—what does it mean to save? How do you think Jesus saves?

Closing Prayer
Holy God,
You are the God who saves.
Help us to tell your story as we move through this week.
Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest!
Amen.
_

Casey W. FitzGerald is Associate Pastor for Children & Families and Young Adults at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA. She writes about storytelling at www.faithandwonder.com.