Introduction

This year’s Grace Foundation Easter theme is ‘Love Has the Last Word’ and in our Partner Schools will be exploring with students what this means through lessons, Assemblies, Tutor Time and Enrichment activities as part of the RE Curriculum.

Here is a short film that explains what Christians believe about the significance of the Easter Story created by our Ethos Leaders.

The kind of love that Christians are excited about in this film isn’t conditional like we see in most romantic films from Hollywood or read about on social media. It’s the kind of love where we can come as we are – not needing to pretend to be someone we are not and one that offers complete acceptance.

This love has made a huge difference in the lives of people all over the world. As Bear Grylls, well-known TV Adventurer puts it:

“To me, my Christian faith is all about being held, comforted, forgiven, strengthened, and loved.”

Or as the late Queen Elizabeth II described it in one of her famous Christmas broadcasts:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’… Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ’s unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another.”

Easter is a Story of Love

The Christian week (called Holy Week) leading up to Easter is a journey filled with many rollercoaster emotions. On the day before ‘Good Friday’ (known as ‘Maundy Thursday’) leading up to Jesus’ death, Jesus meets with his followers for what is known as the ‘last supper’ – it is a meal filled with uncertainty as Christians await the hopelessness of Jesus’ death on Good Friday. But then this confusion turns to joyful expectation through the hope that the resurrection on Easter Sunday brings.

And this is, for Christians, what Easter celebrates – a man called Jesus who entered the world and showed sacrificial love to everyone. It’s the kind of love that has the very last word in a world that whilst has so much joy within, also bares much pain.

Whether you believe the Easter Story or not we can all take heart from what love can really look like in our day-to-day lives. Love is what is needed right now more than ever. As it says in the Easter film… everyone is looking for:

    • Peace over anxiety.
    • Kindness over hate.
    • Gentleness over anger.
    • Generosity over selfishness.
    • Forgiveness over cancel culture.
    • Joy over despair.

Here are a few ways you – whether students, staff, or family in one of our Partner Schools – can show love to others:

    • Stand up for someone who needs a friend.
    • Start a petition or write a letter about an injustice I see in the world.
    • Support a local charity e.g. donating old clothes or volunteering.
    • Leave an encouraging note for someone who seems lonely.
    • Give a Chocolate Egg to someone I don’t know well.
    • Thank a Teacher for all they do.
    • Do something kind for someone, anonymously!
    • Try praying for someone in need.

May Love Have the Last Word in all our lives this Easter 😊