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Lenten Faith Activities for All AgesLent Begins Wednesday, February 14
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The season of Lent is a wonderful time to start a new spiritual practice, such as reading your Bible, attending a Bible Study, praying intentionally, or starting a family devotional time. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14) and lasts forty days (not including the Sundays). Sundays are excluded because those are the days we remember Jesus’ resurrection. Every Sunday is a little celebration of Easter and thus a time of joy.
Historically, the Christian church has recognized Lent as a time to focus our attention on how we are living for God. It is a time to examine our lives to see how we can be in a better relationship with God. The forty days of Lent are symbolic of Jesus’ time in the wilderness before he began his ministry. During that time, he was tempted; but stayed true to God.
Historically, the Christian church has recognized Lent as a time to focus our attention on how we are living for God. It is a time to examine our lives to see how we can be in a better relationship with God. The forty days of Lent are symbolic of Jesus’ time in the wilderness before he began his ministry. During that time, he was tempted; but stayed true to God.
Ten Activities for Growing Closer to God during Lent (Don’t feel like you have to do them all):
1. Attend an Ash Wednesday service (6pm at Dixboro UMC) or reflect on the Ash Wednesday worksheet available at church or click here.
2. Commit to a weekly devotional as a family, or individually pick up a Lenten Devotional from church for a daily devotional.
3. Give something up for Lent as a family, even if your kids are young enough that they may not understand. For example, give up candy as a blanket sacrifice, or no music in the car, no eating out, silent lunches, or drinking only water during Lent.
4. Set up an almsgiving box– you simply set out a box, and take one thing from your own pantry every day of Lent. At the end of Lent, bring the box to church for Food Gatherers.
5. Set up an offering jar– all you need is a jar or piggy bank of some kind. Spare change goes into the jar for the length of Lent, and then is donated.
6. Light Lenten candles on your dinner table each night (much like an Advent wreath, but for Lent set them up as a cross). Use 5 purple candles and one pink candle. Click here for pictures.
7. Make pretzels together. If you don’t have time to do this from scratch, get the Pillsbury bread sticks in a can and make them that way. Find out the meaning of the pretzel while doing this activity. Click here for instructions.
8. Lenten cleaning- rather than the idea of “Spring cleaning”, clean one area of your home every day during Lent. Your house is beautiful and clean for Easter!
9. Decide one day of the week during Lent to go “screen free” as a family.
10. Attend the Good Friday Potluck & Worship on Friday, March 30 at 5:45pm with worship at 6:30pm.
Three Family Friendly Focused Activities:
1. Countdown the days of Lent with a Lenten calendar for your kids– a lot easier than making paper chains! Click here for calendar.
2. Sing “The Lent Song” with your kids.
3. Use the Holy Week Box to journey alongside Jesus’ last week. Click to see instructions.
***Basically, make sure you’re including more prayer, fasting, and giving than during ordinary time!***
1. Attend an Ash Wednesday service (6pm at Dixboro UMC) or reflect on the Ash Wednesday worksheet available at church or click here.
2. Commit to a weekly devotional as a family, or individually pick up a Lenten Devotional from church for a daily devotional.
3. Give something up for Lent as a family, even if your kids are young enough that they may not understand. For example, give up candy as a blanket sacrifice, or no music in the car, no eating out, silent lunches, or drinking only water during Lent.
4. Set up an almsgiving box– you simply set out a box, and take one thing from your own pantry every day of Lent. At the end of Lent, bring the box to church for Food Gatherers.
5. Set up an offering jar– all you need is a jar or piggy bank of some kind. Spare change goes into the jar for the length of Lent, and then is donated.
6. Light Lenten candles on your dinner table each night (much like an Advent wreath, but for Lent set them up as a cross). Use 5 purple candles and one pink candle. Click here for pictures.
7. Make pretzels together. If you don’t have time to do this from scratch, get the Pillsbury bread sticks in a can and make them that way. Find out the meaning of the pretzel while doing this activity. Click here for instructions.
8. Lenten cleaning- rather than the idea of “Spring cleaning”, clean one area of your home every day during Lent. Your house is beautiful and clean for Easter!
9. Decide one day of the week during Lent to go “screen free” as a family.
10. Attend the Good Friday Potluck & Worship on Friday, March 30 at 5:45pm with worship at 6:30pm.
Three Family Friendly Focused Activities:
1. Countdown the days of Lent with a Lenten calendar for your kids– a lot easier than making paper chains! Click here for calendar.
2. Sing “The Lent Song” with your kids.
3. Use the Holy Week Box to journey alongside Jesus’ last week. Click to see instructions.
***Basically, make sure you’re including more prayer, fasting, and giving than during ordinary time!***
Resources:
http://www.catholicicing.com/simple-lenten-traditions-for-families-with-little-to-no-prep-work/
Discipleship Ministries: 2018 Family Study for Lent by MaryJane Pierce Norton
https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/crescent-hot-cross-buns/dc80cd7f-2a31-4bb8-b1dc-a0475fc8975a
http://www.catholicicing.com/simple-lenten-traditions-for-families-with-little-to-no-prep-work/
Discipleship Ministries: 2018 Family Study for Lent by MaryJane Pierce Norton
https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/crescent-hot-cross-buns/dc80cd7f-2a31-4bb8-b1dc-a0475fc8975a
