Take lent a trip through time and space to experience a closer walk with Jesus. Use a suitcase or backpack as a symbol of the trip. Fill it with items to use during lent. Every few days open the pack, remove a specific item, and use that for hands-on reflections.
Gather and stash the items needed:
- Ashes
- Trash bags, paper, and pencil
- Duster
- Small piggy bank or coin holder
- Goldfish crackers
- Sand or cornmeal
- Stone
- Pretzels
- Strainer or sifter
- Compass
- Cotton ball
- Seed packet
- Travel clock
- Flashlight
- Paper hearts
- Perfume Green crepe paper or artificial greens
- Crackers
- Nails
First Days of Lent
Display the suitcase and explain a trip is starting, a Lenten journey. Open the bag and remove the ashes or lint. Read Genesis 2:7 and Job 42:6. Discuss how God made people from dust and that Biblical people used ashes as reminders of sin. Chat about the meaning of lent.
A few days later, remove the trash bag. Pick up litter and discuss getting rid of bad habits and sin. Write them on slips of paper and toss them into the trash. Read about forgiveness and God tossing away sin in Micah 7:19. Use the duster to do spring clean. Read Psalm 51:10 as a reminder to clean hearts.
Lenten Actions
Dwell on what Christians can do for Jesus during lent with other items in the suitcase. Take out the piggy bank, read Luke 11:41, and make plans to sacrifice and save money to help others. For example, when eating out, add enough money for one more person and give that to a food shelter. Or give up a meal to give money to the poor. Read Mark 1:17, enjoy eating goldfish, and then discuss being Christian fishermen.
Lenten Prayer Activities
Pray together after unpacking each of these items.Use the sand and stone and Matthew 4:1-4 to talk about Jesus praying a long time in the desert and resisting temptation. Use the pretzels to show the shape of arms folded across the shoulders in prayer. Read Luke 22:31-32, use the sifter, and talk about Jesus praying for his followers when they are tempted.
Discover Jesus
Spend days learning about Jesus. Read John 14:6, look at the compass, follow the compass in different directions, and talk about how Jesus is the way to heaven. Read John 1:29, hold the soft cotton balls, and chat about Jesus as a loving lamb sacrificed to save people.
Reflecting on Jesus’ Death
Examine scriptures on other days, with items as reminders of what Jesus predicted. Read parts John 12:23-35. Take out the seed packet to chat about Jesus’ words about a seed that is buried and then grows. Plant the seeds and watch them sprout to life. Pull out the clock and discuss how Jesus knew the time would come for him to die and he did it for a purpose. Look at the flashlight and discuss how Jesus came to bring light into a dark world. Remove the paper hearts and chat about the new command to love others. Write on the hearts ways to show love and then do those deeds. Remove the perfume, smell it, and read Matthew 26:12 to understand Jesus knew his burial would come soon.
Holy Week
On the last Sunday of lent read John 12:12-13. Use crepe paper to make palms and praise Jesus. On the Thursday before Easter, called Holy Thursday, share the crackers, and read about the Last Supper (Luke 22:19-20). On Good Friday read about the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:34-56) and take out the nails. Discuss the sharpness and what Jesus felt.
With touchable items children experience Lenten concepts of the Christian faith.
Karen Whiting - Professional freelance writer with ten published books and hundreds of published articles. My books are for women (time management and ...
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