Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection: Simple Ways to Create Meaning for the Season

by Traci Smith

Overview

How do you share the deep mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Resurrection with children? Parents, guardians, teachers, and ministers will find dozens of fun and easy practices for celebrating the Easter season with our kids. The practices and seasonal prayers are grouped into chapters titled Ash Wednesday, Symbols, Lenten Prayers, Lenten Refraining, Lenten Acts of Service, Holy Week, Easter Vigil and Easter Day, and the Season of Resurrection. Smith also offers theological notes guiding parents on addressing the violence of the crucifixion and the meaning of Jesus' death.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780827211414
Publisher:	APG Sales & Distribution
Publication date:	01/04/2022
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Traci Smith is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), mother of three, and author. Her quest to help enrich her own family's faith life has blossomed into a passion for helping families find times for connection and spiritual nourishment amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. This is her third book with Chalice Press in the Faithful Families series.

Table of Contents

Introduction xiii

Theological Notes for the Season xvi

Notes for Parents xx

A Note on Ages xxii

Notes for Ministry Leaders xxiv

Chapter 1 Beginning the Season 1

Count the Days with a Lenten Paper Chain 2

A Journey of Transformation: Witnessing Growth 3

A Journey of Transformation: Smoothing Rough Edges 5

Lenten Word-a-Day 6

A Prayer for the Beginning of a Journey 8

Chapter 2 Pancake Tuesday and Ash Wednesday 11

We Come from Dust 14

We Are the Stuff of Stars 15

The Symbolism of Ashes: Memento Mori 16

The Symbolism of Ashes: Turning Around 18

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday 19

Chapter 3 Praying 21

Make and Use Prayer Beads 23

Candle Prayers 25

Easter Egg Prayers 27

Pretzel Prayers 28

Body Prayers 29

Labyrinth Prayers 30

Jelly Bean Prayer 31

The Daily Examen 32

Flower Prayer 33

How Do I Connect to God in Prayer? 34

Chapter 4 Simplifying 35

Head Outside 36

Drink Water 37

Enjoy More Fruits and Vegetables 38

Make Something You Would Normally Buy 39

Compliment Others 40

Enjoy More Books 41

A Prayer for Simplifying 42

Chapter 5 Giving 43

Gifting a Box of Favorite Things 46

Giving to Neighbors: Paper Cone Baskets 48

Giving to Nature 49

Writing Letters for Justice 50

The Gift of Receiving: Learning to Accept Gifts from Others 51

Giving a Gift to Yourself 52

A Prayer Celebrating Uniqueness 53

Chapter 6 Symbols 55

Symbols 58

Water 59

Bread 60

Towel 61

Fish 62

Candle 63

Spices 64

Linen Cloth 65

Rock 66

Sunrise 67

Garden 68

Jesus' Head Cloth 70

Empty Tomb 71

Chapter 7 Holy Week 73

Palm Sunday 74

Holy Week Monday 76

Holy Week Tuesday 78

Holy Week Wednesday 79

Holy Week Thursday 80

Holy Week Friday 81

Holy Week Saturday 83

Easter Sunday 84

Chapter 8 Easter Vigil and Easter 85

Light an Easter Vigil Fire 86

Light a Paschal (Easter) Candle 88

Sunrise Easter Breakfast 90

Plant an Easter Garden 91

Host or Contribute to an Easter Meal 92

Share an Easter Gift 93

Easter Prayers 94

Chapter 9 The Season of Resurrection 95

More Light Every Day-Tracking the Sun 96

Rainbows Everywhere 97

Make a Resurrection Collage 98

Make a Memory Table 99

Compost: Turning Waste into Good Soil 100

Make Something New Again: Upcycle or Recycle 101

A Prayer for the Season of Resurrection 102

Chapter 10 Ending the Season 103

Sorting the Symbols of Lent, Easter, and Resurrection 104

Evaluating and Planning for Next Year 105

Planning for Pentecost 106

A Prayer of Gratitude for the Season 107

Acknowledgements 109