Lenten Passport. The Journey From. Ash Wednesday to Easter. The Way-Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus. Lutheran Parish. Name:

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1 Lenten Passport The Journey From Ash Wednesday to Easter The Way-Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus Cross Roads Lutheran Parish Name:

2 Identification Last Name: First Name: {Insert Your PHOTO Here} Congregation Membership: Date of Birth: Date of Baptism: Date of Issue 10 February March 2016

3 A white cloth for your home altar. And another one to drape around your cross. An empty Easter egg to remind us of the empty tomb Put your butterflies on the home altar. Find an Easter Lily to put on your home altar. Egg Someone s house- Hide 12 plastic Easter eggs in your neighbor s yard. Fill 11 of them with treats. Leave the 12 th one empty. Make a poster that says: You have been Egged! There are 12 eggs hidden in your yard! Enjoy the Hunt but do not be discouraged when you find the empty egg. It is a simple reminder of Jesus empty tomb.. for HE IS RISEN! Make Easter baskets and give them away! Lord Jesus, This is a bright and glorious day. It is the day You rose from the dead. You beat death and sin and sadness and pain. Help us to remember Your amazing triumph today. We give You praise and honor and glory. Amen. On Easter morning, wake your children with these words: Christ is risen! What is Lent? Welcome to the journey! Lent is an annual season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 weekdays to Easter (we don t count Sundays in the 40 days). Lent is observed by many churches including ours. Purple is the color of Lent. The word Lent means the lengthening of days. Where we live, the days are getting longer and spring is on it s way. Lent is sometimes called a journey or pilgrimage. A journey through Lent to bring us to Easter joy. Most people pack a bag to take on a journey. What are the things we need to put in our Lenten luggage? Prayer? Fasting? Self examination? Repentance? Reading God s Word? Daily Devotions? Asking forgiveness? Service? Restarting or returning to a discipline? Just as you prepare for a trip, make plans with your family as to how you will observe Lent together this year. Will you give things up together? Add something? Serve together? Read daily devotions? Light candles each week of Lent? Read the Bible together? Spend time planning and pick one thing to focus on during Lent. This year on Wednesdays Crossroads will gather as a parish to worship at 4:30 or 6:30. We will travel on the Lenten journey together. This passport is to help you through the week. There are ideas that you can do at home including making a home altar, readings from the Bible, and things to make and do. Begin your time by sharing Highs and Lows. If you live alone, find someone to do this with or use it to keep a journal. As you do each activity or reading, check it off. Bring your passport with you each week to get a stamp.

4 Transfiguration Sunday Date: February 7, 2016 Family Time.. c Gathering: As a family, each time you meet, begin by gathering in the name of the Father/Son/and Holy Spirit. Light a candle if you wish. Encourage each member to tell the highs and lows from today or since the last time you met. If you are doing this alone, use a journal to record the date and your highs and lows. Read about the Transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a] Talk about what Lent is. Sometimes people give things up for Lent. Sometimes we take on things like spiritual practices. We do this to remind us of what God has given up for us. He gave up his son to save us. We can also give up our time to help out and serve. Through out this Lenten Journey this pass port will give you some ideas that you can do. Check them off and each week bring your pass port to the Lenten service to get a stamp for your pass port. What stands out to you in the telling of the Easter Story from Mark? How does what happened on Easter make you feel? If you hid the Alleluias get them out and put them up! Sing- This Little Light of Mine 1 This little light of mine, I'm goin'- a let it shine; this little light of mine, I'm goin'- a let it shine; this little light of mine, I'm goin'- a let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 2 Ev'rywhere I go, I'm goin'- a let it shine; ev'rywhere I go, I'm goin'- a let it shine; ev'rywhere I go, I'm goin'- a let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 3 Jesus gave it to me, I'm goin'- a let it shine; Jesus gave it to me, I'm goin'- a let it shine; Jesus gave it to me, I'm goin'- a let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Text: African American spiritual Butterflies are a symbol of change and new life- Make butterflies (check Pinterest for some cool ideas) Easter Lily s are a symbol of Easter Google the history.

5 Easter Sunday Date: March 27, 2016 Family Time The color for Easter is white, the liturgical color of joy and triumph. It s also the color associated with Jesus. You may want to change the color of your cloth on your home altar. The season of Easter lasts for the next six weeks. c Gather: Light the candle Put everything back on the altar. Today is a day of Celebration! Choose a place for your home alter: Find a purple cloth or piece of purple paper. You will be adding things as directed each week. Make a Kings Cake Make an Alleluia banner out of paper, cloth, or felt. Put it in a small box and mark the box with Do not open until Easter. Place it on you home altar for safe keeping. Something that glows in the dark- such as a candle. Add it to your home altar. Tell someone you are sorry for something you did. Together Pray the Lord s Prayer. Leader: Christ is risen! Everyone else: Alleluia! He is risen indeed! Mark 16:1-7 What is your favorite Easter memory? How do you celebrate the gift of life on a regular basis? Dip your finger in water and make the sign of the cross on each person s forehead, each time saying: You are a beloved child of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit and Marked with the cross of Christ forever. Amen. PASSPORT STAMP

6 Fat Tuesday Shrove Tuesday Date: February 9, 2016 Family Time. c Gathering: Light the candle Matthew 2:1-6 Today is the last day of Epiphany. Epiphany is a day (January 6) and a season of the Church year. The season of Epiphany lasts from January 6 th until Ash Wednesday (February 10). On the day of Epiphany we celebrate the Magi also known as the Wise men visiting Jesus. Epiphany means the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles (people who were not Jews) as represented by the Magi. Manifestation means an event, action, or object that clearly shows something. The Magi were the first to know that Jesus was something special. Epiphany was a time to bring gifts to Jesus, whose face we see in people who have needs. Epiphany symbols and images include: light, incense, and gift giving. At the worship service at church on Maundy Thursday, the altar was stripped. You may want to strip your altar too. Leave the candle but put everything else away. Take or find pictures of things that are broken. Find wood or other material to make a cross. Nails, dice, purple cloth, rooster, crown of thorns, and a sponge are all symbols of things that happened to Jesus on the journey to the cross. Find as many of these things and put on your home altar to remind us of what Jesus did to save us. Put some Band- Aids in a small plastic bag. Put them in the car or in your go bag. Give them to people who need them. Lord Jesus, This is a dark day. It is the day Jesus was crucified and died. Pray for help to remember Jesus today and to remember what Jesus suffered and died for us because Jesus loved us that much. Amen. Dip your finger in the water on your home altar. Place the sign of the cross on their forehead with a wet finger and say: Beloved child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever! Make sure everyone receives the baptismal blessing.

7 Good Friday Date: March 25, 2016 Family Time c Gather: Light a candle Mark 11:15-19 Luke 23:18-23, Talk about where things are broken. Sometimes in families we get mad about things. Talk about healthy ways to deal with frustration. Jesus died to take away our sin. What made Jesus someone that people could trust? Why did Jesus die? (There are lots of answers here. (Encourage older children to think beyond the usual for our sins. ) Make a cross out of sticks or wire that you find around the house. Place it on your home altar. Talk about light- are the days getting longer? Talk about Lent. What would you like to do this year. Learn about Mardi Gras- o What do the colors gold, green, and purple mean? Google it! o Make a Kings Cake- find a recipe on line. Make Pancakes and enjoy them Make a Kings Cake Make Mardi Gras bead necklaces Mardi Gras Beads A candle, place on your home altar. Call Someone up and ask if you can pray for them. Ask if there is something special you can pray for. If you eat out, pay for the meal the person next to you ordered. When you go to the grocery story, pay for someone else s qqqgroceries. Buy some mittens and give them to the school for someone who lost theirs. Pray for the people you love. Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve me. Amen.

8 Lent Week #1- Ash Wednesday Date: February 10, 2016 Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On this day we go to worship and ashes are placed on our foreheads in the shape of a cross. This reminds us that God created human beings out of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and that one day our bodies will return to dust (Genesis 3:19). We are challenged to talk about the hard stuff of life.death and sin. Family Time. c Gathering: Light the Candle c Highs and Lows Creation- Genesis 2:7 The Fall- Sin comes into the World- Genesis 3:19 Baptism of Jesus- Matthew 3:1-17 Matthew 6:1-6, God Created the World and everything in it. What kinds of things did God create? Humans disobeyed and sin came into the World. Talk about the realities of sin. Sin is the bad stuff we do. It is also the things that we fail to do and when we let things get in the way of our relationship with God. Make a list of things that are sinful. remember what You suffered because You love us. We remember especially those who are in jail and those who have been betrayed. Be with them. Amen. Pray the Lord s Prayer together. Wash each other s feet. Pray this prayer: Blessed are you, Lord God. In the waters of Baptism God calls us to be beloved children and members of the Body of Christ. Let the humble act of washing feet remind us that we are in service to God. As we go forth, give us grace to count others more important than ourselves, to love our enemies, and to make peace. Send the Spirit of truth to keep alive in us what Jesus taught and did, that our words may carry the Good News, and that our lives may bear the shape of the cross of the One who lives and reigns with You and with the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

9 How does it feel to have your feet washed? What does it mean to have feet washed? What do you think betray means? Why do you think Judas, who was Jesus friend, betrayed Him? How do you think Jesus felt when Judas betrayed Him? How did He feel when the crowd seized Him? Where do you think they will take Him? Have you ever had someone betray you. Wash each others feet. Make Bread, Make two loaves- eat one for a family meal and give the other one away. Bread Coins. Coins remind of us of the betrayal. But coins are also used to buy things such as food that feed the hungry. Leave some coins on the home altar to remind us of being kind to others and to feed and clothe others. A large bowl, pitcher, and towel for foot washing. Place them near your home altar. Gather coins from around the house. Look in the seat cushion. Decide as a family an agency to give the money to. Give the bread you made to a neighbor Volunteer at the food pantry or other social service agency Prayer: Lord Jesus, This is a dark day. It is the day You were betrayed and arrested. Help us to remember You today and God sent Jesus to fix every thing- God forgives us. What does it mean to be forgiven? How can we forgive someone? Baptism is a gift and a call to follow and serve as Jesus did. Talk about what happened on each person s day of their baptism? Who came? What was special? c Something to Make or Do: Light your baptismal candles. Make Thank You Cards, send them to someone you are thankful for. Write a thank you card to someone who shared faith with you. Tell them what their willingness to serve has meant to you. Make a goodie bag and leave it in the mail box for the postal carrier. Make a lunch and give it to someone working in a store. Find a small bowl- put a few ashes or sand in it. Find a sea shell. Let the Shell remind us of our baptisms. Place on your home altar. Pray this or another prayer: Jesus, Thank you for loving me. I am so grateful that I have been baptized and am part of God s family. Help me to answer the call to take care of God s creation and be nice to all God s children. Amen! Make the sign of the cross on each other s foreheads and say From Dust you have come and to dust you shall return.

10 Lent Week #2- Date: February 17, 2016 c Gathering: Light the Candle Luke 4:14-21 Family Time Reading the Bible everyday is a way that God talks to us. Scripture has been compared to a light. Light a candle and talk about the importance of light. Turn off the lights and blow out the candle..how does that feel? Were you afraid? God is like the light that leads us through life. Pray together as a family. Sometimes it is hard to pray out loud. Try praying out loud as a family or group. Start by praying for something you are thankful for. Then pray for something you are concerned about. Don t worry if the words don t come out perfect. Maundy Thursday Date: March 24, 2016 Family Time c Gathering: Light the candle Mark 14:12-25 Mark 14:43-46 Maundy Thursday is the day that Jesus and the disciples were preparing to celebrate the Passover. They were gathered together to eat. This meal became what was known as the Last Supper. After supper Jesus washed the feet of the disciples to remind them they will be serving others. Today we celebrate Holy Communion much the same way that Jesus did. After supper Jesus went to a garden to pray and be alone. It was there that Jesus s friend Judus turned him over to the Roman authorities (police) to be arrested. Read the story of Jesus washing the disciple s feet. (John 13: 117) How can we live like Jesus? How does it feel to wash someone else s feet?

11 Find a palm (hint: there will be some at church today) place it on your home alter. Make an Easter Basket and take it to someone who is home bound, in the hospital, or in a nursing home. Include things like tea bags, pencils, or pens, a coloring book, a deck of cards or a game. Tape change on a vending machine for someone to find and have a treat on you. Lord Jesus, You are the King. You are good and humble and powerful and gentle. We praise you, our King. Amen. The Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in all ways. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. c Something to Make or Do: Make a scroll- look through the Bible and write your favorite Bible verse on the scroll. Roll them up and tie them with string or a ribbon. Add this to your home altar. Take a prayer walk. Walk outside or around the house. When you see something that reminds you of someone, pray for them. Find a candle and a Bible to add to your home altar. Smile and say hello to someone, Do a chore without being asked like doing the dishes. Invite someone over to play games or share a meal. Pray for people who are hurt, sick, or suffering. Say together: And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

12 Lent Week #3 Date: February 24, 2016 c Gathering: Light the Candle Matthew 5:1-19 Matthew 7:24-29 Family Time. What does it mean to be blessed? How has God blessed you? Look in the newspaper, online news service, or a magazine. Where do you see God at work in the world? The man built a house on a rock. Why are foundations so important? Wander around your house and talk about the strengths of your house. This year is leap year. We get an extra day! How will you spend your extra day? Palm Sunday Date: March 20, 2016 Family Time c Gather: Light a Candle Luke 22:7-23 Why do you think the people are so excited? What do you do you do when you are excited? What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming to town? How do we welcome Jesus into our lives. What do you think a kingdom is? How is God s Kingdom different that what we know on Earth. The people were welcoming Jesus.How do we welcome Jesus? Make palms out of paper if you did not get one in church. Have a parade. Have everyone choose their favorite Bible story and create a float (use cardboard boxes) for the parade.

13 Stripping of the Altar After the Eucharist is celebrated it is customary to "strip the altar," which symbolizes the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers before his crucifixion. It represents the humiliation of Jesus and the consequences of sin as a preparation for the celebration of new life. We read Psalm 22 is read while the things on the altar are being removed. Good Friday This is the day that we remember Jesus died. It is hard to think and talk about. The pastor will wear no robes also called vestments and there will be no paraments or clothes on the altar. The crosses will be covered. The stations of the cross The stations of the cross is a devotional practice that consists of 14 stations, each one standing for an event that occurred in the passion of Jesus. Art, combined with literature, movement, prayer and reflection assist people as they work their way through this devotion. You may visit the one set up at St. Luke through out Holy Week. Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows" or "darkness") Tenebrae is usually held the evening of Good Friday and includes the gradual dimming of the lights and extinguishing of candles. The Christ candle is removed from the sanctuary and a concluding "Strepitus" or loud noise (slamming shut the Bible) symbolizes the earthquake and agony of creation at the death of Christ. PAINT rocks- find smooth rocks. Paint the rocks your favorite color and then paint symbols of lent. Make a blessing jar. Rocks add them to your home altar. Find a jar and some small slips of paper. Make a blessing jar. Decorate the jar you found. Put the jar on the home altar. When you think of a blessing, write it on the slip of paper and put it in the jar. When you gather again, read all the blessings, and give thanks. Visit someone who is sick or who is in a nursing home. Make a tasty treat and take them to the fire station or police station. Pray for those who work to protect so many- such as police, law enforcement, fire fighters emergency. Say Together: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

14 Lent Week #4 Date: March 2, 2016 Family Time c Gathering: Light a Candle Mark 4:35-41 Talk about a time when you were afraid. What does peace look like to you? March 4 th and 5 th is National Day to Unplug. Try to not use screen devises. Pretzels were invented by a baker to help people learn to pray. Google pretzels and find the history. Try making homemade pretzels. A small bowl- put water in it. A boat. Add both to the home altar HOLY WEEK This week the focus of our journey changes..we begin Holy Week. Holy Week is what we call the week before Easter. It starts on Palm Sunday and continues until Saturday night at midnight. Here are some things to expect this week Maundy Thursday The liturgical color is either scarlet. What does the name mean? The term "Maundy" comes from the Latin "mandatum;" it is from a verb that means "to give" or "to order" like a command. After Jesus and the disciples finished the Last Supper and walked toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught them a new commandment - - "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (John 13:34). The Last Supper On the first Maundy Thursday, after they had eaten, Jesus gave the disciples his body and blood together with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of their sins. Called Holy Communion or the Eucharist, Lutherans believe this to be one of two sacraments - - gifts from God. Most worship services focus on the meal and communion as a way to commemorate this day. Foot washing The story of the Last Supper in John's Gospel records a remarkable event that is not mentioned in the other Gospels - - to illustrate humility, Jesus performs the duty of a slave, washing the feet of his disciples and urging them to do the same for one another. Sometimes this practice is used as an act of humility at Maundy Thursday services.

15 Soft Pretzel Recipe~ What you need: 1 package yeast 1 1/2 cups warm water 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon salt 4 cups flour 1 egg Directions: Mix your yeast, water, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the flour, and knead until the dough is smooth. Shape into the form of arms crossed in prayer and place it on a baking sheet. Brush the dough with a beaten egg to give it a shiny finish (I skipped the egg on mine). Sprinkle the top with salt, and bake in an oven preheated to 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Pick up the trash in the ditch. Dispose of the trash properly. Pray this or a prayer of your own: God of compassion, we thank you for gathering us this day and helping us to learn how we can serve those most in need. Help us to see the ways in which we can work with our brothers and sisters in the world to make adequate food, clothing and shelter a reality for all people. By your Spirit move us to affirm the dignity of all people and to work for just laws that protect the most vulnerable in society; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Say Together: Go now in peace, for nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Thanks be to God.

16 Lent Week #5 Date: March 9, 2016 c Gathering: Light a candle John 4:3-10 Family Time Make a list of all the ways that use water. Have you ever been without water? Talk about what happened. Draw a picture or make a card, perhaps an Easter Card. Send it to someone who might like to get some mail. Learn more about how people get water everyday. elca.org is an excellent resource. Make a donation to the 100 Wells Challenge. Pray that clean water be available to everyone. Pray for creation and all things that God made and those who care for creation. Pray for those serving their countries in the military. Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (II Corinthians 13:11) The Jews did not get along with the people of Samaria. But Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water. What do you think Jesus meant by living water? Make popcorn. How is popcorn like faith. Notice how it starts small and turns into a whole bowl that everyone can enjoy. A Donkey A pitcher or a jar that holds water.add it to your home altar

17 Lent Week #6 Date: March 16, 2016 c Gather: Light a candle Mark 11:7-10 Family Time Learn more about another country or culture- Google more about it. Play a game from that place. Make a meal with recipes from there. Here is a great resource: World- Hunger Find pictures of God s creation- Make a collage out of them. Display the collage on your home altar or fridge. Gather canned goods and cereal and donate to the food pantry. Or buy diapers and wet wipes to donate. Pick up trash and dispose of it properly Pray that all have enough to eat. Pray for God s Creation and those who care for creation Pray the Lord s Prayer together. "May The Lord bless you, and keep you: The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and grant you peace." (Numbers 6:24- aa26.) Plant a bulb or some seeds. Talk about how seeds contain hope for the future. Make a meal together. Use the resources from the ELCA Signs of new growth.

18 Have a Lenten and Easter Scavenger Hunt! Pray the As you Journey through Lent to Easter look for each of these things. Check them off as you find them. Tell how they connect to Lent and Easter: c Dust c A Nail c A Stone or a Rock c Easter Lily c A Cross c Rooster c Coins c Unleavened Bread c Grapes c Purple Robe c Bitter Herbs c Butterfly c Dice c Hot Cross Buns c Palms c Crown c Thorns c Seeds c Donkey c Water c Pretzels c Light or a candle c Basin (Bowl) c Pitcher c Towels c The Word (Bible) c Lamb c Sea Shell