Faith Lutheran Church: Register now for a sensory journey through Holy Week

Have you ever wondered what took place in Jesus’ life during Holy Week, the days leading up to Easter? Experience Easter in a meaningful and memorable way at Faith Lutheran Church’s Journey to the Cross, an immersive sensory event designed for the entire family.

Everyone is invited to attend this special one-day event on Saturday, March 28, rain or shine. Guests will walk in Jesus’ footsteps as they travel through a series of interactive stations that bring the events of Holy Week to life.

Participants will travel in small groups, and reservations are required to select a time that works best for you and your family. The event is handicap accessible so everyone can enjoy the experience. Knowledgeable tour guides will lead each group through the stations, providing an engaging and hands-on journey.

Following an international travel theme, each participant will receive a commemorative passport to keep. As you visit each station, you will collect a visa sticker, and have your photo taken—just like an actual passport experience.

Stations include opportunities to smell the perfume Mary Magdalene placed on Jesus’ feet, wave palm branches like those used on Palm Sunday, and see the donkey He rode into Jerusalem. Guests will also sample elements of the Seder (Passover) meal, touch and feel the weight of the thirty pieces of silver Judas received for his betrayal, pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, hear the whip and touch the crown of thorns, hammer a nail into the cross, and look into the triumphant empty tomb. Each experience is designed to be meaningful and appropriate for both children and adults.

“We encourage both adults and children to take this opportunity to experience our Savior’s final week before His crucifixion and resurrection in a powerful sensory way,” said Faith Meinzen, event coordinator. “By engaging the senses—smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound—we hope to deepen everyone’s understanding and appreciation of the Easter story.”

To enhance the experience, presenters dressed in Jerusalem-themed period clothing will be stationed throughout the event.

Before beginning the journey, guests are invited to enjoy a free pancake breakfast, and children can participate in a free Easter egg hunt following the tour. Tours will depart in groups of eight every ten minutes between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Please plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time for check-in and breakfast.

The event will be held Saturday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church Life Center, located just off the roundabout near Cox Hospital in Branson. Parking and entrance are in the lower parking lot.

“It’s truly a unique opportunity to open your heart and experience some of the sensations Jesus encountered during His final days,” Meinzen added.

There is no cost to attend the breakfast, sensory tour, or Easter egg hunt. Due to the limited number of tours and the overwhelming response from last year’s event, early registration is encouraged.

To reserve your time, visit faithbranson.org or call 417-334-2469 for more information. You can also view a video preview of the event on the Faith Lutheran Branson Facebook page.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to this special Journey to the Cross experience.