Jesus is more powerful than death! Do your best to explain the Eucharist in simple terms that your child will understand. For a simple Ash Wednesday devotional and activity that you can do with kids of any age, check out the printable activities in my store. The Church emphasizes the penitential nature of Ash Wednesday by calling us to fast and abstain from meat. WHAT IS ASH WEDNESDAY and LENT? These ashes represent death and life. Do your best to explain the Eucharist in simple terms that your child will understand. We know that, because of the cross, we will have the gift of eternal life. I let the children feel its grittiness and make crosses on the back of their hands with it. The ashes used in the service originate from the burning of palms from the previous year. To help children understand the meaning of the ashes, I explain the two prayers that might be said as the ashes are marked on the foreheads of the faithful. It marks a holy day to start the tradition of repentance, prayer and fasting. Judas got together with the Pharisees and said he would play a trick on Jesus and kill him. The pastor might say something like, “From dust you came, and to dust you will return.” This is just a reminder that we are mortal. It is full of big and very abstract ideas and yet it is an integral part of the Christian calendar. The faithful go to church to receive a sign of the cross on their foreheads from ashes (ashes from the blessed palms used on Palm Sunday). Your email address will not be published. Typically, Catholic children are invited to receive Holy Communion at around the age of 7, but younger children will have questions about the Eucharist from attending Mass. Here is some information you may find helpful as you seek to provide your children with answers to their questions. Permissions. How to Explain Ash Wednesday to Your Children, The Art of Cultivating Spirit-Led Leadership, Young Adult Ministry: A Ministry of With-ness. Ash Wednesday. So lets see Ash Wednesday traditions for kids and families. I recognize that not all traditions or denominations observe Lent, but for me, it was important that I took time this year to articulate what all of these “strange customs” mean in a way that not only my children, but other children could understand them. Ash Wednesday can be a meaningful time for whole church families to reflect and worship together, but it can also be a stressful time if the focus in "keeping children quiet" rather than inviting them into worship. The Church gives us sacramentals such as blessed ashes, palms, rosaries, and candles to help us open up to God’s grace. We dwell in his miracles, his love, and his ultimate sacrifice. Wearing ashes on our foreheads is a tradition of repentance that comes from the Old Testament. Fasting and Abstinence Are Required . The Church gives us Lent as a time to change, to become a better version of ourselves, and to become more like Jesus. This mark is a reminder of our mortality--we are all going to die--and a call for repentance. Pinterest is a good place to find all sorts of different ones. We are given the cross as a reminder that Jesus’s victory can become our own, and our lives don’t have to end when our bodies turn to dust again. ©2021 The Foundry Publishing, formerly Nazarene Publishing House. The kitchen table is … The idea of Lent and the driving principles behind it can be difficult for children to understand. Feb 15, 2015 - Easy activity for explaining Ash Wednesday to kids The ashes of this holiday symbolize two main things: death and repentance. Learn together. We are given the cross as a reminder that Jesus’s victory can become our own, and our lives don’t have to end when our bodies turn to dust again. For older children we need to go more deeply into the origin and significance of the day. The palm branches of last year’s Palm Sunday become the ashes used on the following year’s Ash Wednesday. you see, the ashes represent. SWBAT explain why we wear ashes on Ash Wednesday. Judas had been Jesus’ good friend, but he got jealous that so many people loved Jesus. Explaining the meaning behind the ashes is important for children to understand why they are walking around with dirt on their foreheads. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. The idea of Ash Wednesday—and, indeed, of all of Lent (the span between Ash Wednesday and Easter)—is to prepare our hearts for the crucifixion and resurrection. Almsgiving (You could make an offering box for Lent with your kids) Go to Confession (Check your church’s schedule and put it on the calendar.) Go to mass- In the United States, Ash Wednesday is actually not a holy day of obligation, but it is one of my favorite days of the year to take Catholic kids to mass! Easter is a celebration of Christ’s victory over death and the gift he offers us—victory over death. I learned a lot in preparing to write this, as well. The idea here is that you’re sacrificing, not eating lobster tail. We invite you to join us as we lean into God’s call to image and proclaim the power of a holy people to change the world. Darcy holds bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and theology from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, as well as a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He loves music, sports, Chipotle, coffee, his family, and Jesus, but not necessarily in that order. Produce the ash, and explain that Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent - six weeks of preparing for Easter. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Loyola Press is expressly prohibited. These ashes represent death and life. There is deep beauty in the meaning and practices of Ash Wednesday, and I am convinced that children can understand them as well. Ashes are a sign of repentance and for centuries the words “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” have been spoken as the sign of the cross in made with ashes on Christians’ foreheads at special Ash Wednesday services. Looking for a quick way to explain Ash Wednesday to your friends? These ashes are made by burning palm leaves which have been saved from last year’s Palm Sunday. This mark is a reminder of our mortality and a call for repentance. . For that matter, how do we talk to other adults about it? Judas had been Jesus’ good friend, but he got jealous that so many people loved Jesus. Great, now I feel awesome. I let the children feel its grittiness and … Feb 15, 2015 - Easy activity for explaining Ash Wednesday to kids Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lent, a season of prayer and fasting before Easter. I always had an idea of what Ash Wednesday was, but now I know for sure. Lent is complicated. . At the end of Lent, we celebrate together. Want a preview? When Jonah preached repentance to Nineveh, the king covered himself in sackcloth and ashes and ordered the people to do the same (Jonah 3:6–9). Look no further than Busted Halo’s two-minute video that describes the day that begins the season of Lent and explains why Catholics and many Christians receive ashes on their foreheads. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (RNS) Chances are you’ll see a bunch of folks walking around … Ash Wednesday (write it on the board or hold up Word Wall card) Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lent, a season of prayer and fasting before Easter. This day kicks off Lent. Considering there are 40 days in Lent, the most notable calendar days are at the beginning and end. He beat death when he died on the cross and came back to life! Death exists because sin exists. Many people keep the ashes on their forehead for the entire day. your iPod, your cell … During the Ash Wednesday service, I asked children if they had ever said “I’m sorry” to a friend or a parent. . Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season. People of all ages love when the spiritual is made physical, when they can touch and feel something real. But do you see how the ashes are being made into crosses? It is set at 46 days before Easter. There are lots of resources available on Catholic Mom and Vacation Bible School (VBS) sites. preparing children for what they might see and hear at the service can… The important thing is that we do take the time and talk to them about what this season leading up to Easter is all about. When we mark our foreheads with ashes at the beginning of Lent, we are indicating that we are turning back to God. The season of holy Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, a solemn day of fast and abstinence. Facts About Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday can be a meaningful time for whole church families to reflect and worship together, but it can also be a stressful time if the focus in "keeping children quiet" rather than inviting them into worship. The mark on our foreheads reminds us … Ash Wednesday is also when we begin to do penance for Lent. Even for younger children I encourage skipping unnecessary snacks for Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday begins a holy season for many Christian religions, marking the start of the 40 days leading up to Easter (not including Sundays). We can choose eternal ashes or eternal life. There are several stories that mention ashes, but one that is easy for children to understand is the story of Jonah. Looking for a quick way to explain Ash Wednesday to your friends? What do Ashes Signify? Pinterest is a good place to find all sorts of different ones. Ash Wednesday is traditionally the day when the Easter season begins. However, when we have faith in Jesus—who conquered death with his sacrifice—and we believe in him in our hearts and confess with our mouths that he is Lord, we are given the gift of living in his kingdom. What Almsgiving Really Means. Use a children's picture Bible with illustrations to help your child understand the narrative. Despite being one of the most-attended holy days of the year by Catholics around the world, it is not an official holy day of obligation. How do you explain the meaning of Ash Wednesday and Lent to children? But seeing those ashes on her little forehead (and on the little foreheads of her four-year-old and seven-month-old little sisters) is still cause for pause. I explained that, Lent is a time when we say “I’m sorry” to Jesus because we all … Ash Wednesday begins a holy season for many Christian religions, marking the start of the 40 days leading up to Easter (not including Sundays). Purple Cloth Coverings. Spy Wednesday is usually called Ash Wednesday. Significance of the Ashes & Where They Come From Compared to the rest of the church year, Lent is a somber season during which Christians reflect upon both their sinful nature and their baptism. The faithful go to church to receive a sign of the cross on their foreheads from ashes (ashes from the blessed palms used on Palm Sunday). It is a sign that they are sinners and need God's forgiveness. On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of hope. What in the world is going on with Ash Wednesday? We are part of this world, and someday we will die. Your answer might sound something like this: These ashes make us think of death. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Without the cross, death is the end of the story. Making Ash Wednesday Accessible for Children. “Well, sweetie, it’s the first day of Lent, when we get ashes put on our forehead.”, “Well, because . Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Many people keep the ashes on their forehead for the entire day. Learn together. Kyle is the Family Pastor at Lawrence First Church in the Kansas City area. Ash Wednesday. Receive special discounts, exclusive offers, and free samples of the latest small group resources. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On Ash Wednesday, blessed ashes are put on your forehead in the shape of a cross. So, on Ash Wednesday, a pastor may put ashes on your forehead. Lent is a fast - a time of eating less well, and praying more. During Lent, we dwell in Jesus’s story. Give your kids lots of opportunities to ask questions this Lenten season. Ash Wednesday can be among the most accessible of rituals in our liturgy for children and their families, IF it's not handled in a "stuffy" or overly formalistic way. From there, we move into the church to talk about the basics of Lent – we use the Godly Play liturgical calendar as a visual aid. Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press. I recognize that not all traditions or denominations observe Lent, but for me, it was important that I took time this year to articulate what all of these “strange customs” mean in a way that not only my children, but other children could understand them. From our Jewish roots we learn the importance of caring for the poor. Nobody lives forever. It is a sign that they are sinners and need God's forgiveness. The palm branches of last year’s Palm Sunday become the ashes used on the following year’s Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday Learning Activities. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, so we’ll take all the children in the religious education program to church for Mass. Ash Wednesday and Lent For older students: thereligionteacher.com-Ash Wednesday Lesson Plan which includes a full set of activities, worksheets, integration with the Ash Wednesday Video, and a short quiz to assess the students' progress.thereligionteacher.com-Lent Project and Lesson Plan IdeasFor younger students: Objectives: The students will be able to So, on Ash Wednesday, a pastor may put ashes on your forehead. it’s . The pastor blesses the ashes and says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust … You can teach children about Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins, by explaining that in the past people used to put ashes on themselves as a sign that they wanted to repent and be a better person. HOW TO EXPLAIN THEM TO KIDS What is Ash Wednesday? Next, we assemble outside to burn last year’s palms into ashes, each kid throwing a palm onto the fire. It's also a time of thinking about all the things that human beings get wrong. On Ash Wednesday small children are thrilled to receive ashes. Then the pastor might say something like, “Repent, and believe in the good news of Jesus.” This is a reminder that the cross, which you are now wearing on your forehead, is the only thing that saves us from death. We are flesh, and flesh dies. Ash Wednesday, in the Christian church, the first day of Lent, occurring six and a half weeks before Easter (between February 4 and March 11, depending on the date of Easter). Teaching Ash Wednesday to kids. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ, under CC BY 2.0. This Ash Wednesday lesson plan is a part of The Religion Teacher’s Lenten Activity Pack, which includes lesson plans, a Lenten video series for kids, 20+ worksheets, prayers, and other activity ideas to help students encounter the love of Christ during Lent. Your ashes call attention to both the bad news and the good news—death and life. A catechist e-mailed me with the following question about helping children to be able to explain why they are wearing ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday:. Your child can help mix the ashes with the water and oil. . Most kids are connected, and what better way to show what Ash Wednesday and Lent’s all about than finding resources online that speak to the way children learn. Students will feel (SWF) determined to live out their Lenten commitments. Explain fasting. (Genesis 3:19) By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground,for out of it you were taken;for you are dust, and to dust you will return. In the Middle Ages ashes were sprinkled on the head rather than drawn in a cross on the forehead. Ashes of Sorrow. We are eternal. Get weekly blog posts, updates on new resources, and tips for your children’s ministry. – My Popular Ash Wednesday Post, Lent FAQ with Joe Paprocki – A Short Video, Pop-Up Catechesis: Filling Your Home with Joy, The Glorious Mysteries: The Coronation of Mary and Conversion, Why Catechists Should Care About the Ignatian Year, Pop-Up Catechesis: Pentecost and Our Need for an Advocate, Pope Francis Announces Major Recognition of Lay Catechists. SWBAT make connections between what they decide to give up for Lent and the meaning of ashes on Ash Wednesday. Following in the footsteps of Christ during Lent. During Lent, Christians “fast” in various … Ash Wednesday’s Significance. Teaching Lenten Practices Download Article. Explaining the meaning behind the ashes is important for children to understand why they are walking around with dirt on their foreheads. I humbly asking your good office to please send copies of catechrsis of the Life of Mary "Assumption of Maŕy...", why they are walking around with dirt on their foreheads, What’s That on Your Forehead?