Eleanor sent me a great email filled with ideas for observing Lent with our little ones and I wanted to share it with you all.First of all though, I wanted to be sure you all knew when the nursery is available, because one major thing you can do to observe Lent with your little ones is to bring them to church. I personally appreciate that our children receive not only loving care but thoughtful Christian formation in the nursery!
In addition to Sundays, the nursery is available:Ash Wednesday 10:30 am & 6:00 pm services
Each Thursday during Lenten Lunches 11:15 to 1:15 (with reservation, email Leslie)
Good Friday 11:45 to 1:15
Ideas for Observing Lent with Our Little Ones:Creating a
"Lenten Jesse Tree" using a cross instead with 40 symbols, one for each day of Lent
Hosting a "Passover Seder" as a family
Making soft pretzels on Ash Wednesday
Making Resurrection cookies ...
We gave out recipes for these at last year's Easter Egg Hunt. In my house, we make these on Holy Saturday before going to bed.
Using
Resurrection eggs to help tell the Easter story
Making Hot Cross Buns
Hanging grapevine Cross on front door
Place a "crown of thorns" in the center of the dining table
Perhaps transform our 4 + center candle Advent wreath into a 7 + center candle Lenten/Easter wreath
Hang a one cross on our "cross Easter Tree" each week
Plant some bulb flowers
Create resurrection scene to display as you would a creche/nativity scene
Isn't that a great list! It got me going on plans for our family and I hope it helps you! In addition, I found
this link with 40 different ideas for families of young children.
If you have a favorite family tradition for observing Lent and preparing for Easter, please tell us about it in a comment. Also, please share the titles of children's Easter story books you would recommend. Lastly, don't forget our Tuesday, February 23rd playgroup tour of Bud's Best Cookies factory. Please let us know if you can come. It will be fun!
