Not Just One Sunday: Living Resurrection with the Next Generation

As this year’s Lenten season comes to a close—this holy time of hope, renewal, and resurrection—it’s a good moment to pause and ask: How have we nurtured the faith of our children and youth throughout this holy season? How are we showing them what it means to walk with Jesus not just on Sunday, but in the everyday - especially through life’s difficulties?

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One powerful answer? Prayer.

When we mentor young people in faith, prayer isn’t just a background activity—it’s the heartbeat of the whole journey. It shapes our posture in life, as faith leaders, it deepens relationships, and it keeps us grounded in God’s presence as we nurture others.

And we’re not the first to do this. The Bible gives us a beautiful example in Epaphras, one of Paul’s friends and ministry partners. Paul writes that Epaphras was “always wrestling in prayer” for his people (Colossians 4:12). He wasn’t just saying a quick blessing—he was deeply invested in their spiritual lives. He prayed for them to grow up in faith, to live boldly in God’s will. Isn’t that what we long for in our kids and youth?

A Sabbath Practice Worth Embracing

If you haven’t yet explored the faith practice of prayer from the PC(USA) Essentials Toolkit, it’s worth a look. It’s full of gentle reminders that prayer doesn’t need to be long or perfect. It can be as simple as a breath, a pause, a moment of stillness where we remember God is with us.

Try this with your young people or families:

• Take a mini-sabbath—just five minutes.
   
• Breathe deeply.
   
• Read Matthew 11:28 slowly: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
   
• Ask: What do you want to say to Jesus right now?
   
• Then sit in silence and listen. 

Simple. Sacred. Doable even in a children/youth ministry gathering or bedtime routine.

Prayer as Mentorship

When you pray with and for young people, you’re doing more than just speaking words—you’re planting seeds. You’re modeling how to turn to God with joys, fears, and questions. And you’re inviting them to do the same.

Consider forming intergenerational prayer partnerships in your church. Pair a child with an older member of the congregation—not just to pray about each other, but to pray with each other. Create a safe, sacred way to build connection and trust across generations.

Or invite kids and teens to keep a prayer journal during Eastertide. Ask them to write one sentence a day: a thank-you, a question, a hope. Encourage them to listen for God’s voice too.

Resource Highlight of the Month: 

Faithful Families is a wonderful resource that equips families and churches with simple, developmentally appropriate activities to help children learn the story of Jesus at home. But here’s the real beauty of it—it offers a fresh, gentle approach to helping children understand the meaning of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Instead of diving into complex atonement theology that can be confusing—or even frightening—for young minds, this resource provides language and practices that are age-sensitive and emotionally wise.

I’ll never forget one Maundy Thursday when I had a group of children, all under the age of 8, sitting with me during worship. They were quietly working on some activities while the liturgist (or maybe it was the pastor) began to foreshadow Jesus’ death—as is customary during this solemn service. Suddenly, one child gasped and screamed in pure horror, “THEY KILL JESUS?!!” What followed was a chorus of weeping and wailing from the group I was tending. I can laugh about it now, but in the moment, it took nearly two hours to calm everyone down. Prayer was a valuable tool in that moment!

That experience has stayed with me, and it’s why I so deeply appreciate this wise and timely resource. It helps adults share the story of Jesus in ways that are both meaningful and trauma-sensitive.

And don’t forget—Easter isn’t just one Sunday. Eastertide lasts for 50 days, beginning on Easter Sunday and ending on Pentecost Sunday (this year, June 8, 2025). That means there’s still plenty of time to use your Easter resources! Author Traci Smith offers a thoughtful take on how to use Resurrection Eggs and other activities in a less fear-inducing way. I encourage you to check out her blog and get her book, where she introduces this idea to faith leaders, caregivers, and parents.

The Resurrection Keeps Going

Journeying with children through Lent and transitioning to Eastertide annually reminds us that resurrection isn’t a one-day event. It’s a way of life. And prayer keeps us rooted in that truth, even as we pour into the next generation. As mentors, pastors, parents, and leaders, we’re not just passing down knowledge—we’re showing what it looks like to live life influenced by the work of God through Jesus Christ.

So this month, as you gather around tables, youth rooms, or bedtime stories, let prayer be your starting point. And like Epaphras, may you “wrestle” in love-filled prayer for the ones God has placed in your care.

May the Lord protect you on your journeys, whether going or coming, and the peace that Jesus promised, be ever flowing (adapted from Psalm 121:8).
 

Neema
The Reverend Neema Cyrus-Franklin
Around the Table | Project Coordinator