Lesson background
Easter is the day for many hoorays … and alleluias! Our Easter worship services are filled with shouts of “He is Risen” and music celebrating Christ’s triumph over death. Because music is a wonderful tool for expressing big emotions, this lesson centers on a traditional hymn, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today.” By singing, exploring and responding to this hymn, children can rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection.
What you’ll need
- A computer with Internet access connected to a television or data projector.
- Recordings of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (choose one or more to play for your group):
- Association of Lutheran Musicians: traditional sound including several different instruments and lyrics on the screen
- Reawaken Hymns: contemporary recording with solo vocalist and acoustic guitar (no lyrics on screen)
- Evince: a cappella sextet — first verse only (no lyrics on screen)
- “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” sheet music (optional)
- Sing a new verse: chart paper or a whiteboard, markers, a smartphone or computer with speakers, and an instrumental recording of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” such as this one by Kaleb Brasee (optional)
- Illustrated hymn: blank white paper, art materials (crayons, markers, paints and paint brushes), and copies of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” sheet music or church hymnals (optional)
Starting out
Greet the children as they arrive.
Ask the children to share how they show those around them that they are happy. Then, ask them to share what they do to show they are extremely happy.
Note that Easter is a day of extreme happiness. Through Jesus’ resurrection, we see God’s love is stronger than even death. This is cause for celebration!
Singing the faith
Invite the children to listen to or sing “Jesus Christ is Risen” today. You may want to share multiple recordings of the song with them so they can experience different interpretations of the same message.
After listening to and/or singing the hymn, ask:
- What verses “jumped out” at you?
- How does the music (separate from the lyrics) make you feel?
- Why do you think the word “alleluia” is repeated throughout this hymn?
Responding to the song
Choose one or both of these activities to engage in with the children as a response to the hymn:
- Sing a new verse: Gather the materials you’ll need for this activity: chart paper or a whiteboard, markers, a smartphone or computer with speakers, and an instrumental recording of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” such as this one by Kaleb Brasee. Play the instrumental version of the hymn encouraging children to notice the tune that is repeated for each verse. As a group, write a new verse for the hymn that continues the theme of celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. Write the new lyrics on the whiteboard or chart paper as the group develops them.
- Illustrated hymn: Gather the materials you’ll need for this activity: blank white paper, art materials (crayons, markers, paints and paint brushes), and copies of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” sheet music or church hymnals. Divide the children into four small groups. Hand the children copies of the sheet music or hymnals and assign each group one of the verses of the hymn. Re-read the lyrics with them helping them to understand them, if needed. Give each child a piece of blank paper and art materials. Ask them to illustrate their assigned verse. Let them know they can create a literal interpretation of the verse or something more abstract. After each child has completed their drawing, have them share their work within their small groups comparing their visual interpretations.
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