Guest Outpost blog by Sarah Iliff McGill
Ash Wednesday is coming up. As a pastor and a mom, I know many are wondering – especially this pandemic year – if they should do anything for Ash Wednesday with kids and families.
My answer? No. You don’t have to do a thing. If you get to the third week of Lent before you remember that Easter is around the corner, it’s OK. You remembered. That’s Lent in a nutshell: getting us ready for Easter. So, you have my ordained permission to not do any of the following.
Now, if you do want something to do with your family for Ash Wednesday and Lent at home (or guide the families in the church you serve), I have some ideas that I have used in the past!
Create a Lent bag
On Ash Wednesday, have your family put together a “Lent devotional bag.”
Materials needed:
- A paper bag (like a lunch bag)
- Paper (purple could be a plus!)
- Either a printer or pen to write out words
- Materials to let kids decorate the bag
After you collect the materials needed, print this word list (WordList) and cut out the words. Or, write the words on squares of paper.
Let the kids decorate the bags.
During Lent, take a few minutes each day to pull a slip of paper from this bag and reflect on the word that you find.
Discuss:
- What images or feelings come to mind?
- How does this word relate to your life?
- Discuss the word with your family, encouraging everyone to share a thought or feeling.
One Great Hour of Sharing @ home
Many churchgoers will recognize the cardboard fish banks that come out during Lent for One Great Hour of Sharing. Learn more here and find resources for your family to use each week during Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday.
Lent cards
Create cards with the word “Alleluia.” You might use index cards or decorate and color sheets of paper. As you do this activity, try to avoid saying the word, and explain that it is a tradition in Lent to not say “Alleluia” until Easter.
Place all cards in a box and wrap the box with purple paper. Tell the children these boxes will be “put away” until Easter Day, at which time you can open up the box and put the cards up as Easter decorations.
As your family gets prepared for Easter, whatever it looks like, know that Jesus’ love and grace is with you if you do all of these ideas — or none of them.
Sarah Iliff McGill is a PC(USA) pastor and full-time mom. She lives in Rochester, Illinois.
