Can't believe its already time to start thinking about Lent. Ethan's birthday this year is on Ash Wednesday, just like it was the year of his birth. Wow! He's going to be eleven years old. I can't believe how the time flies. So, this year I'm thinking about Ethan's birthday and the beginning of Lent once again. We will be attending an Ash Wednesday service in the evening and probably have a small celebration of his birthday afterwards (even though it doesn't really go with Lent - I guess his birth didn't follow the season either :)
I also read about an idea for celebrating Lent in the Anglican Family Prayer Book by Anne Kitch, that I really like and thought I would share:
Burying the Alleluias
During the season of Lent, as a reminder that this is a season of abstinence and preparation, we do not say, 'Alleluia [in church]'. You may also wish to 'bury' the Alleluias in your household. Before Ash Wednesday, make colorful Alleluia banners. Then bury or hide them somewhere in your home. On Easter day, bring them back out and display them prominently as a symbol of rejoicing (p. 131). I think that I'm going to make some Alleluia pages for the kids to color and then we'll hide them on Ash Wednesday. On Easter day, we'll be able to pull them out and rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus. I'll try to post pictures when we've colored some. What kind of things do you find meaningful during Lent? How do you help your children enter into this season of preparation?
2 comments:
Hi, Paula! We did this last year!
On Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras, we made "Alleluia" Banners (just poster-sized paper with big "Alleluia"...then the kids decorated them and we rolled them up until Easter. We had a great time unfurling and hanging them on Easter!
I love this idea and am putting it in my binder for homeschooling next year!
Tom, Hanna and I are all taking part in the Blood:Water Mission 40 Days of Water challenge. It's been a great way to teach Hanna about sacrifice and prayer. We've just been talking quite a bit about sacrifice, self-denial and preparation for Easter, and Caleb has given me one of his favorite toys to hold onto until Easter.
Post a Comment