Holy Week

*Oisin and Alice are playing with their toys. *

NARRATOR: Hey folks! What do you know about Holy Week?

*Both shake their heads. *

NARRATOR: To Christians, it’s the most sacred week of the year.

ALICE: Why’s it sacred?

NARRATOR: Let’s find out …

*The kids are suddenly transported to a cinema. Armed with popcorn, they turn towards a screen. The words PALM SUNDAY appear. We see Jesus on a donkey on the road with crowds throwing palm leaves. *

NARRATOR: First up is Palm Sunday, when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to crowds of people.

ALICE: Why are they throwing stuff at Jesus?

NARRATOR: Don’t worry! Jesus’ followers threw palm leaves on the road to welcome him.

*The screen now shows a small cross made of palm leaves. *

NARRATOR: Some Christian churches give out small crosses made of palm leaves, as a reminder of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.

ALICE: So that’s Sunday, what’s next?

NARRATOR: Next up is Holy Thursday!

*An image of Jesus eating with his disciples appears on screen. *

NARRATOR: On Holy Thursday, Christians remember when Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples, breaking bread and drinking wine. Christians refer to this as the Last Supper.

OISIN: Why is it the Last Supper?

NARRATOR: Because the next day, on Good Friday, Jesus was sentenced to death.

ALICE: That doesn’t sound very good to me …

An image of a cross on a hill appears, there is a bright sun behind the cross.

NARRATOR: Yes, Good Friday is a sad day because Jesus was put to death, but the word ‘good’ is a very old way of saying something is holy. It’s one of the holiest days of the year for Christians, because they believe Jesus' death is part of God's plan to rescue humankind.