Ash Wednesday
Today, Ash Wednesday, begins the season of Lent. Lent leads up to Easter, and it’s a time for cleaning out our lives and making space for the risen Christ. Just as Christmas has more meaning if it is preceded by Advent, Easter morning is that much more joyful when we have first walked through Lent. Many congregations have an Ash Wednesday service, and while it’s good for children to attend and participate in these services, very few churches gear them toward people of all ages. But Ash Wednesday has potential to be so hands-on, so holy, and so rich for children. On Ash Wednesday we remember that we do indeed sin - yes, a word that makes many of us cringe, but is biblical nonetheless. Sin means broken relationship, it’s when we do or don’t do things that hurt our relationships with God, others, ourselves, and God’s creation. On Ash Wednesday we say yes, we do things that hurt others. We ask God to wash us clean, to give us forgiveness. And we ask God to fill us with God’s love so that we can be in better relationship with God, ourselves, others and all creation.
|
Read It
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. -NRSV |
|
Do It
Simple Ash Wednesday Service
Supplies: Playdough or clay, a small bowl with water in it, a towel, ashes or oil, candle (if you want)
When we have done this, our son has wanted to repeat the whole ritual over and over. So we did the handwashing and bowl-making repeatedly, then ended it with the ashes.
Simple Ash Wednesday Service
Supplies: Playdough or clay, a small bowl with water in it, a towel, ashes or oil, candle (if you want)
- Light the candle (if desired, we just think it helps our children get a sense of the holiness of our time together).
- Read the scripture passage together. Talk about how we all do things that hurt others, God, ourselves, and creation. Name some of those things. Keep it simple - this doesn’t need to be an exhaustive confessional. When our oldest was not quite 3, we named not sharing, forgetting to thank God, eating unhealthy food, and putting paper in the trash instead of the recycling.
- Pass the bowl around to each person. Wash your hands and say, “God, please make me clean.” Wipe your hands on the towel.
- Using the clay or playdough, make a bowl together (or each make your own bowl, depending on the age of your children). Hold it up and say, “God, please fill me up.”
- Using the ashes or oil, make a cross on each other’s foreheads, saying the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words will probably not make any sense to your child. We think that’s okay - they are words that will gain meaning as they get older.
When we have done this, our son has wanted to repeat the whole ritual over and over. So we did the handwashing and bowl-making repeatedly, then ended it with the ashes.
Pray It
God, make our hearts clean and our spirits fresh. Help us remember to do and say things that are kind and helpful and show your love, to you, to others, to ourselves, and to all of your earth. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
God, make our hearts clean and our spirits fresh. Help us remember to do and say things that are kind and helpful and show your love, to you, to others, to ourselves, and to all of your earth. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Extras
A way of explaining Ash Wednesday and Lent to preschoolers, from a Catholic mom’s perspective (http://www.classychaos.com/links-topmenu-20/959-how-to-explain-lent-to-children-a-kid-activities-for-the-lenten-season
What is Ash Wednesday and why we celebrate it, from an evangelical pastor’s perspective http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning/
Great Lent activities with children
http://kidsfriendly.org.nz/sharing-lent-and-easter-with-children/
A way of explaining Ash Wednesday and Lent to preschoolers, from a Catholic mom’s perspective (http://www.classychaos.com/links-topmenu-20/959-how-to-explain-lent-to-children-a-kid-activities-for-the-lenten-season
What is Ash Wednesday and why we celebrate it, from an evangelical pastor’s perspective http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning/
Great Lent activities with children
http://kidsfriendly.org.nz/sharing-lent-and-easter-with-children/
