Prayer
Candle Prayer (God's Love Candle)
Lighting candles to represent prayers in a tradition that spans many centuries, countries, and religious traditions. Candle flames are a simple way to make the prayers of our hearts visible. (Choose wax or battery-operated candles depending on the ages represented in your household, and remember never to leave wax candles unattended!)
- God's love candle prayer. As you light a candle, say, "The light of this candle represents God's love for us and for all people. Whenever we pass by, we will remember God's love for all." When it's time to blow out the candle, say, "Thank you for your love, God. Amen."
Candle Prayer (Prayers Under the Candle)
Lighting candles to represent prayers in a tradition that spans many centuries, countries, and religious traditions. Candle flames are a simple way to make the prayers of our hearts visible. (Choose wax or battery-operated candles depending on the ages represented in your household, and remember never to leave wax candles unattended!)
- Prayers under the candle. Write the names of the people you would like to lift up in prayer on a piece of paper and place it under the candle. You could also draw a picture of the prayer. As the light of the candle shines, remember the prayer on the paper.
Simplicity
Try One New Food
Instead of: Eating the same food every day
Try: One new food with a different spice (if allergies allow)
When we try at least one new food with a different spice than what we typically eat. It will expand our pallets and learn about different cultures that possibly use those ingredients. When Jesus was eating the passover meal with his disciples, they ate lamb, vegetables, and herbs. Jesus did eat meals with others. However, when they buried Jesus, his close friends and family put spices on the body. While Jesus was alive. People that lived while Jesus was on earth used for more than one purpose for spices. The Bible tells us two ways that they used spices. One way was for food like the passover meal. The second way that they used spices was for burying the dead.
Lenten Challenge for one new food: Try one new food with a different spice (if allergies allow) that you would normally not eat.
Try: One new food with a different spice (if allergies allow)
When we try at least one new food with a different spice than what we typically eat. It will expand our pallets and learn about different cultures that possibly use those ingredients. When Jesus was eating the passover meal with his disciples, they ate lamb, vegetables, and herbs. Jesus did eat meals with others. However, when they buried Jesus, his close friends and family put spices on the body. While Jesus was alive. People that lived while Jesus was on earth used for more than one purpose for spices. The Bible tells us two ways that they used spices. One way was for food like the passover meal. The second way that they used spices was for burying the dead.
Lenten Challenge for one new food: Try one new food with a different spice (if allergies allow) that you would normally not eat.
Say Only Loving Messages to Yourself All Day
Instead of: Listening and saying negative messages
Try: Say only loving messages to yourself.
Throughout the day, we are overwhelmed by negative messages. Whether it is at school, on social media, on tv/streaming shows, etc. We have to keep reminding ourselves that Jesus was only saying loving messages to us when we are hearing these negative messages. While Jesus was on earth, he tried to spread the Good News and say positive messages to himself and to the people that were listening to him. There are so many ways that we can say positive messages to ourselves and others. As Christians, we want to say when we have not done what Jesus wants us to do. We say, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a beloved child.”
Lenten challenge for say only loving messages to yourself: Say “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a beloved child.” - in the morning and pray it throughout the day while saying positive messages to ourselves.
Try: Say only loving messages to yourself.
Throughout the day, we are overwhelmed by negative messages. Whether it is at school, on social media, on tv/streaming shows, etc. We have to keep reminding ourselves that Jesus was only saying loving messages to us when we are hearing these negative messages. While Jesus was on earth, he tried to spread the Good News and say positive messages to himself and to the people that were listening to him. There are so many ways that we can say positive messages to ourselves and others. As Christians, we want to say when we have not done what Jesus wants us to do. We say, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a beloved child.”
Lenten challenge for say only loving messages to yourself: Say “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a beloved child.” - in the morning and pray it throughout the day while saying positive messages to ourselves.
Act
Write a Letter for Justice
One of the most powerful gifts we can give another is freedom from an unjust system that is oppressing them. Sometimes we may feel as if there's nothing we can do to impact large and powerful systems, but there are many people and organizations who can help us work for change. Writing letters or postcards is a practice and action that even the youngest among us can participate in. Two organizations that offer great toolkits and resources for letter writing are bread for the World (look for their "Offering of Letters" campaign) and Amnesty International (look for their "Write for Rights" campaign).
After you write your letters, say a prayer or blessing over them using the praters provided or your own words.
After you write your letters, say a prayer or blessing over them using the praters provided or your own words.
Make a Memory Table
When people we love die, they live on in the ways we remember and honor them. The things they taught us and the memories they imprinted on us help us hold on to them. Make a memory table honoring someone you have lost who is important to your family. Gather up pictures of them, along with symbols of their favorite hobbies or music. Put these items together on a table. Add some candles if you like. Once everyone has added to the table, share the memories you have of the person and the thing they taught you. Keep their memory alive and vow to honor them with your life. You can close with a simple prayer: "Thank you, God, for all the ways (NAME) touched our life. Help us to always remember them in the way we live. Amen."
Source
Materials are taken from excerpts of:
- Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection by Traci Smith (Chalice Press; 2021, All Reserved Rights)