Stepping Stones SEVEN STEPS WITH JESUS. Activity Booklet

Transcription

1 Stepping Stones for LENT: SEVEN STEPS WITH JESUS Activity Booklet

2 Imagine crossing a wide river. You want to find the right way across. You want to step on the stones that will bring you safely to the other side. You want to stay close to the guide who can take you to the other shore. As we travel from Lent to Easter, we want to find the right way to travel. We want to stay close to Jesus. We want to learn how to walk where Jesus walks: how to live as Jesus lives. This Lent, we ll give you seven stepping stones to follow that will keep you close to Jesus. Jesus will lead us from Lent to Easter from one shore to the other! An Easter Garden Another way to think of Lent and Easter is this: we start in the desert of Lent with Jesus, then travel through mountains and rivers and towns until we come to the final garden. Here we see Jesus, risen to new life. This Easter, we ll help you create an Easter Garden that you can use on Easter Day and all 50 days of Easter. To start your Easter Garden you ll need: A small table, or space on a shelf, or a large terracotta plant saucer Green felt, cloth or construction paper for the ground Stones or smooth rocks to make a path to the garden To make people for the garden you ll need: Wooden pegs OR construction paper, scissors and glue Markers and scraps to add details To make the tomb you ll need: An extra large egg OR white play dough and small stones A large rock OR extra play dough and small stones The last week of Lent you ll need: Green plants, small flowers, or even fresh herbs Each week, we ll tell you how to add to your Easter Garden, so it is all ready for Easter Day! Now let s go find the stepping stones that will bring us to Easter Day.

3 Ash Wednesday 3 Return to me with your whole heart. Joel 2:12 The first stepping stone invites us to TURN to God. How do we turn toward God? Every day of Lent will teach us a brand new answer. And Lent has many days! There are 40 days of Lent, but six Sundays of Lent, too! 46 days in all to learn how to TURN to God. Find a calendar. Ask your parent to help you find today s date. Use a purple marker or crayon to make a cross on that date. Now ask your parent: what day is Easter? Use a yellow marker to make a golden cross for that most special day. Starting today, count the weekdays of Lent on the calendar. Start with this Ash Wednesday, then count through Saturday that s four. Skip Sunday and start counting again. You should be able to count 40 days of Lent on your calendar! You can even make 40 purple crosses to help you remember this number.

4 4 Thursday after Ash Wednesday Obey the commandments of the Lord. Deuteronomy 30:16 One way to TURN toward God is to do what God s People do. The Church has used Lent as a way to turn toward God for hundreds of years! Yesterday we gathered with the Church to receive ashes on our foreheads. These ashes come from palms that were burned to make ash. The palms are the ones we used last year to celebrate the Sunday before Easter, sometimes called Palm Sunday. From season to season, year to year, our steps with Jesus go on forever! Use the letters below to write 5 ideas about how to TURN toward God this Lent. We filled in one idea! A Say a prayer each day H E S

5 Friday after Ash Wednesday 5 Then they will fast. Matthew 9:15 On Ash Wednesday of 2018, Pope Francis taught us, Fasting wakes us up! As we find the stepping stones through Lent, the Church invites us to choose our food carefully. The Church asks us: To eat fewer things for pleasure. To take the money we usually spend on treats and share that money with those in need. Talk this over with your family: is there one treat we could give up as a family? How could we share the money we save with others? Write or draw your idea here: Fasting wakes us up!

6 6 Saturday after Ash Wednesday Jesus said, Follow me. Luke 5:27 Jesus invited people to follow him. When we look for stepping stones through Lent, the very first stone is TURN. In Lent we turn toward God. How can we do this? By following Jesus! Jesus always shows us how to come close to God. In Jesus day, people might leave their homes or jobs to walk with Jesus. Find out what Levi did in today s Bible story by inserting the missing words on the stepping stones to finish the verse. You can look at Luke 5:28 (NABRE) for help! and behind, he up and him Answer: and leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him

7 The First Sunday of Lent 7 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert. Luke 4:1 In this first gospel story for Lent, we see how Jesus chose to TURN to God. We ll look at this story all week long to learn how to live like Jesus. Jesus was baptized in a great river called the Jordan. (Ask your family: When was I baptized? Where did it happen? Who was there? ) After Jesus was baptized, he knew that God wanted him to go to a desert so he did. He decided to fast. (Remember: fasting is a way to wake up!) He decided to pray to come closer to God. He fasted and prayed for 40 days just like the 40 days of Lent. That s a long time to fast! How do you think Jesus felt after that long time? You can find out by breaking the code below! Look at Luke 4:2 for clues. A=1 B=2 C=3 D=4 E=5 F=6 G=7 H=8 I=9 J=10 K=11 L=12 M=13 N=14 O=15 P=16 Q=17 R=18 S=19 T=20 U=21 V=22 W=23 X=24 Y=25 Z= , Answer: He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.

8 8 Monday, the First Week of Lent Jesus was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2 To solve all the puzzles of Lent, we need to know how to find stories about Jesus in the Bible. Let s start with this week s desert story! We are using the New American Bible, Revised Edition. How to find any verse in the Bible 1. Can you find the Table of Contents? Write its page number here:. 2. Now look at the Table of Contents. Can you find the book of Luke? Write its page number here:. 3. Now go to that page to find the book of Luke. Can you find Luke 4:1? That s chapter 4 and verse 1. Write its page number here:. This is how you can find every verse we use this Lent! An Easter Garden Every Monday, we ll add to the Easter Garden we are making during Lent. To start, decide where your Easter Garden will be. On a small table? On an empty shelf in your house? You ll need green ground for the garden! Start by covering the space you choose with green felt, green napkins, a green scarf or even green construction paper.

9 Tuesday, the First Week of Lent 9 Jesus answered him. Luke 4:4 Back to our story! Jesus goes to the desert because he knows that is where God wants him to go. Jesus goes to the desert to TURN to God. He fasts. He prays. And he is tempted by the devil. The devil knows that Jesus is very hungry. So he tells Jesus, You could take the stones around you and turn them into bread! You don t have to be hungry! But Jesus TURNs to God. He does not turn the stones into bread. He tells us why, too. To find out how Jesus answers the devil, solve the puzzle below! Look at Luke 4:4 for help. It is, does live by alone. Answer: It is written, One does not live by bread alone.

10 10 Wednesday, the First Week of Lent Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13 The devil didn t give up! He showed Jesus all the big countries of the world and said, I can give these to you! You ll be a king in all of them if you worship me. But Jesus did not want to be that kind of king. Jesus would never worship anyone but God. How did Jesus TURN to God? Find out what Jesus said to the devil by solving the puzzle below. Circle every other letter to find the answer. (We highlighted the first 3 correct letters.) Look in Luke 4:8 for clues! You Answer: You shall worship the Lord your God and him alone.

11 He led him to Jerusalem. Luke 4:9 Still the devil didn t give up! He took Jesus to the top of the temple in Jerusalem. The temple was a a place that all God s people in Jesus day loved dearly. People went to the temple to pray. People went to the temple to worship. People went to the temple to learn from the teachers who gathered there. Jesus went to the temple himself when he was only 12 years old! His parents had taken him there for a great feast. But when they were on the way home, they found he was missing. They ran back to the Temple and there was Jesus teaching and learning in the big temple! Already he was at home in the Temple of God s People. Already he knew how to TURN to God. To find out what Jesus said to his parents Joseph and Mary, find the words (from Luke 2:49) hiding in the Temple. Thursday, the First Week of Lent 1 1 Why? Did? Answer: Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father s house?

12 12 Friday, the First Week of Lent You are the Son of God. Luke 4:9 The devil had Jesus up on the top of the Temple, but Jesus loved the Temple. This was where his parents brought him when he was only a boy. This was where he had learned to pray. The devil tried to trick him into making a very bad prayer by throwing himself off the roof. The angels will catch you! the devil told him. Jesus knew better. God does not want God s people to throw away their lives. Jesus TURNed to God, and then said to the devil, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. Can you complete a cartoon story of this week s gospel? We ve given the drawings. What words can you give to Jesus in each cartoon?

13 Saturday, the First Week of Lent 1 3 Blessed are they who seek God with all their hearts. Psalm 119:2 What have we learned about how to TURN? Jesus turned toward God by saying no to things that could get in the way of his love for God. Think of it as making a saying no list. Look at the list below. Circle 3 things on the list that might get in YOUR way when you want to turn to God. Think it over: How can you choose to turn to God by saying NO to the things on your list?

14 14 The Second Sunday of Lent This is my chosen Son; listen. Luke 9:35 In this second gospel story for Lent, we hear how God tells the friends of Jesus to LISTEN to Jesus. We ll look at this story all week long to learn how to live like Jesus. Jesus and his friends have been walking together for a long time. Today Jesus took just 3 of his friends up to the top of a mountain. Peter, James, and John were happy just to be together with Jesus. But on the mountain something amazing happened! Can you unscramble the words on this mountain to find out what happened? You can look at Luke 9:29. shi cfea nhacdge ni eapcrepaan nad sih glcitnoh eebacm lgzznida itweh His. Answer: His face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.

15 Monday, the Second Week of Lent 15 Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good that we are here. Luke 9:33 The friends of Jesus climbed the mountain with Jesus because they always wanted to LISTEN to Jesus. They listened to Jesus to learn how to live as Jesus lived. They listened to Jesus to learn how to love the whole world around them. They listened to Jesus to learn how to love God most of all. Talk this over with your family. When we listen to Jesus, what do we learn. What do we learn about how to live each day? What do we learn about how to love others? What do we learn about how to love God? An Easter Garden Every Monday, we ll add to the Easter Garden we are making during Lent. Last Monday, you prepared green ground for your garden. This week, make a path to the center of your garden. Use a collection of small stones to make the path. You could make your path a large spiral or a broad, stone-filled path. Leave the center of your garden empty.

16 16 Tuesday, The Second Week of Lent God sent an angel to say, Don t be afraid, Joseph. Name this baby Jesus, which means savior because this baby will grow up to save God s People. What did Joseph do when he woke up? Put the words that are on the angels in order to find out! You ll find help in Matthew 1:24. Joseph was a righteous man. Matthew 1:19 Let s take a day to thank God for the good man who took care of Mother Mary and Baby Jesus: St. Joseph. Joseph knew how to LISTEN even before Jesus was born! When Mother Mary told him that she would have a baby, he did not think he could marry her. But that night God spoke to him in a dream. He. Answer: He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

17 Wednesday, the Second Week of Lent 17 And behold, two men. Luke 9:30 The friends of Jesus on the mountain saw Jesus changed. His clothes shone as though they were lit up, like a bright light. The friends saw Jesus talking to two men from heaven. One man was named Moses. Long ago Moses had led God s People to freedom from Egypt. All the friends of Jesus grew up and learned to LISTEN to that story of freedom. Ask a family member to read aloud with you Psalm 78, verses 12 through 16. Read it slowly. LISTEN: what word or words stand out to you? Write them here:

18 18 Thursday, the Second Week of Lent Moses and Elijah appeared in glory. Luke 9:30-31 LISTEN again to a story from scripture! Ask a family member to read aloud to you part of the story of Jesus and his friends in Luke 9: Listen for the 10 words below as you hear the story. Circle each word that you hear. Can you hear all 10 words? James eight clothing Face awake Mountain Behold Elijah Exodus Glory

19 Friday, the Second Week of Lent 19 This is my chosen Son. Luke 9:35 God had one more surprise for the friends of Jesus. As they looked at Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, a cloud came over them. They heard a voice, and knew: it was the voice of God. The voice said, This is my chosen Son. LISTEN to him. God asks us to listen to Jesus, too. We listen to Jesus when we spend time in prayer. We listen to Jesus when we come together every Sunday at Mass. We listen to Jesus when we read his stories in the gospels. The gospels are the four books of the Bible that tell the stories of Jesus life. Let s find each one! How to find the four gospels in the Bible Can you find the Table of Contents? Write its page number here: Now look at the Table of Contents. Can you find the New Testament? Now find the first four books of the New Testament. Write the name of each book here: Did you find all four? Answer: 1. Matthew; 2. Mark; 3. Luke; 4. John

20 20 Saturday, the Second Week of Lent It is good that we are here. Mark 9:5 Peter was so happy to be on the mountain with Jesus that he wanted to stay there. But God did not want Jesus and his friends to stay on a mountain. God wanted them to come down and walk with God through the world. Imagine you were on the mountain with Jesus. What picture would you take with your phone or camera to remember this day forever? Draw your picture on the phone below. Look at Luke 9:28-36 for ideas!

21 The Third Sunday of Lent 21 He came to a town of Samaria. John 4:5 In the third gospel story of Lent, Jesus makes himself known to a woman in a land called Samaria. This week s stepping stone is PRAY. When we PRAY, we get to know Jesus, and we let Jesus know us. That s what this week s story is all about. Be a detective of your own prayer! When do you pray? Do you pray at Church? Do you pray at home? Do you use words? Do you like to stay quiet? Draw or write one of the ways you pray in the detective s magnifying glass below.

22 22 Monday, the Third Week of Lent Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Luke 1:38 Today we remember the person on earth who knew Jesus best of all: holy Mother Mary. We remember her every time we say a certain prayer and today s story tells us how to begin that prayer! God sends an angel to Mary to tell her that she will be the mother of baby Jesus. The angel speaks to her and begins, Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Do you know the rest of that prayer? Write it here! On this special day for Mary, can you say this prayer 3 times, at morning, noon, and night? (If you don t know this prayer, ask a family member to say it for you.) Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; An Easter Garden Every Monday, we ll add to 1. the Easter Garden we are making during Lent. Begin making puppets you ll want for your Easter Garden. You can take wooden pegs and decorate them as women. You can make paper cones and glue faces onto them. This week, make 3 women for the garden

23 Tuesday, the Third Week of Lent 23 Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down. John 4:6 Jesus and his disciples walked a long way to come to the town in Samaria. They were hot. They were tired. They were thirsty. The disciples went to find food. Jesus sat down near the well of water. It was noon the hottest time of the day. This is the first way we get to know Jesus, when we PRAY. Jesus got hungry, just as we do. Jesus got thirsty, just as we do. Jesus got tired, just as we do. Whatever we feel, whatever we need, Jesus understands just how we feel. Sit for a moment today with Jesus at the well! Jesus tells you he is thirsty and tired. What do you say to Jesus?

24 24 Wednesday, the Third Week of Lent A woman of Samaria came to draw water. John 4:7 When we PRAY, we get to know Jesus and Jesus gets to know us. That s what it was like that day in Samaria, long ago! Jesus and his disciples were Jews. Jews and the people of Samaria didn t usually talk to each other. Men and women didn t usually talk to each other unless they belonged to the same family. But Jesus said to the woman, Please give me a drink of water. The woman was surprised he would even talk to her. You re asking me for water? Your people don t even talk to my people! But Jesus wanted to know her and wanted her to know him. He told her, If you really knew me, you would know I bring you a gift from God. If you know me, I can give you water that lasts forever! What did Jesus mean by water that lasts forever? What special gift from God was this? Find out by solving the code below. Each letter is one letter before the letter given in the alphabet. We ve solved the first letter for you! I P M Z H T Q J S J U Answer: Holy Spirit

25 Thursday, the Third Week of Lent 25 I know that the Messiah is coming. John 4:25 When Jesus offers her the water of God s Holy Spirit, the woman wonders: Who can Jesus be? She is getting to know Jesus, just as Jesus knows her. The Samaritans and Jews both believed that God would send a Messiah, someone full of God s Holy Spirit, to set the world right. So the woman wonders: Does Jesus know when this Messiah will come? To find out how Jesus answers her, use the letters on these 5 stones to make a short sentence! I

26 26 Friday, the Third Week of Lent Come see a man! John 4:29 Jesus and the woman have spent time together, just as we do when we PRAY to Jesus. The woman now knew Jesus: the one God chose to save God s people. Jesus now knew the woman: he knew he could trust her to tell others the good news. The Samaritan woman left her water jar and ran into town. She was no longer just a woman at a village well. She was now a prophet herself, telling people the good news of what God was doing. Could this man possibly be God s chosen one? God s love is not just for Jesus. God s love is not just for the friends of Jesus. God s love is for all, so God chose a Samaritan woman to bring good news to Samaria! Imagine it s your turn to be the prophet. What good news would you tell others about God today?

27 Saturday, the Third Week of Lent 27 The love of God has been poured out into our hearts. Romans 5:5 Meanwhile the disciples came back and said, You must be hungry, Jesus! You need something to eat! But Jesus gave them a mysterious answer. He said, My food is to do what God sent me to do. That s not how we usually think of food! But today think of three meals you could eat. Each meal is one thing that you think God is asking you to do today. Write or draw your ideas in the plates below.

28 28 The Fourth Sunday of Lent Neither he nor his parents sinned. John 9:3 In the fourth gospel story of Lent, Jesus makes himself known to a man born blind. This week s stepping stone is SEE. When we SEE what God shows us, we see how to live the way God wants. That s what this week s story is all about. In the time of Jesus, people believed that God punished people by making them blind even babies. In our day, we don t believe that. But Jesus never believed that. If people were in need, it was not their fault. It was a chance to show God s love. That s the first thing Jesus wants us to SEE: when we see someone in need, it s a chance for us to help. Can you find the helpers in the picture below?

29 Monday, the Fourth Week of Lent 29 He saw a man blind from birth. John 9:1 Jesus could always SEE what God wanted him to see. By a pool of water called Siloam a man waited. People waited for the waters to churn. They believed if they could get to the water first, they might be healed. The blind man was alone. He had no one to help him to the waters. Jesus could SEE that he needed help, but he did something we find hard to understand. He spit into the ground to make mud. He smeared this on the man s eyes. He told the man to go wash in the pool, even though it wasn t churning. The man did what Jesus said and now the man could see, for the very first time. An Easter Garden Every Monday, we ll add to the Easter Garden we are making during Lent. Make more puppets you ll want for your Easter Garden. You can take wooden pegs and decorate them. You can make paper cones and glue faces onto them. This week, make an angel and a figure of Jesus for the garden. You can make other puppets, if you like even one of yourself

30 30 Tuesday, the Fourth Week of Lent I am the light of the world. John 9:5 In this week s story Jesus gives light to a man who now can see. The Church teaches us that Jesus is light for the whole world. When we look at Jesus we can SEE what God wants for all people. Can you go on a light hunt? There are seven lights in the picture below. Can you find them all? As you find them, write one word of this verse on each light: I am the light of the world.

31 Wednesday, the Fourth Week of Lent 31 Go wash in the pool of Siloam (which means sent). John 9:7 The Bible tells us that the name of the pool where Jesus walked was Siloam. The Bible also tells us that Siloam means sent. When Jesus SEEs what is needed, he is sent by God to do that work. When the man in today s story wanted to SEE, he was sent by Jesus and obeyed what Jesus said to do. Imagine God sends you today. Take a few minutes to look around your home and SEE. What small, good thing do you think God wants you to do today? Help someone with their chores? Play with someone who s lonely? Call someone maybe a grandparent who likes to hear your voice? Where are you sent right now?

32 32 Thursday, the Fourth Week of Lent Those who do see might become blind. John 9:39 Jesus healed the man and helped him to SEE. But the story does not end there. Some powerful people were angry with Jesus before this happened. They got angrier after it happened. They told the man, We don t believe this story at all. We think Jesus is a bad man. The man said, He healed me! I believe he came from God. But they wouldn t listen to him at all. Jesus said, That s because powerful people can be the ones who do not SEE. Jesus knew that the man was willing to trust in Jesus and trust in God. The angry leaders refused to SEE God s work in Jesus. That s why Jesus says they can t really SEE. Could they still see each other or buildings or plants? Sure! But they could not SEE Jesus as good. They could not SEE Jesus as someone sent by God. Around the eyes below, write or draw two things you SEE about Jesus. What do you believe about him?

33 Friday, the Fourth Week of Lent 33 Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8 The early Church loved this story about Jesus. They wrote letters asking us to SEE Jesus as our light. In one of these letters, the Church tells us to Live as children of light. What does that mean? The letter tells us what it means in the next line! Oop! All the vowels are floating away. Try to figure out where they go and read the verse below. You can look at Ephesians 5:9 for help. Answer: Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

34 34 Saturday, the Fourth Week of Lent I do believe, Lord. John 9:38 Sunday s story is like our baptism! Someone washes in water because Jesus sends them. Now someone can SEE Jesus and the world in brand new ways. That happened in the story. That happens in our baptism! One special part of the story and of our baptism are the words I Believe We believe in Jesus. That means we trust Jesus. We SEE Jesus and we trust that he shows us God. What do you believe about Jesus? About God? About your own life? About the whole world? Use your own words and ideas to finish the words I Believe below I believe I believe I believe

35 The Fifth Sunday in Lent 35 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. John 11:5 In the fifth gospel story of Lent, Jesus goes to see friends who OPEN their home and their lives! to him. This week s stepping stone is OPEN. Jesus knows how to OPEN up the world to God s power. Jesus asks us to OPEN our lives to God, too. That s what this week s story is all about. The friends of Jesus we will hear about this week were two sisters, Mary and Martha, and their brother, Lazarus. They did not travel with Jesus and his friends, but they were close friends with Jesus, too. They opened their home to him. They cooked for him. They talked with him, listened to him, and asked him questions right in their own home. Jesus is not just for Church. Jesus is with us each day as we live together, eat our meals, do our chores, and play games. We OPEN our day to Jesus when we pray, when we choose to be kind, and when we help one another. Talk this over with your family: How can we pray together at home? How can we be kind to one another at home? How can we help one another at home?

36 36 Monday, the Fifth Week of Lent Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany. John 11:1 Pope Francis teaches us that one way to OPEN our hearts to Jesus is to pause for a little while. In 2018, the pope said that instead of rushing around to work or play, we could pause a little to see what s around us. The pope mentioned seeing the faces of the sick and of those who care for them. Jesus and his friends take a pause from their work and travel to Bethany to see sick Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary who care for him. Can you help Jesus get there? An Easter Garden Every Monday, we ll add to the Easter Garden we are making during Lent. Last Monday, you 1. prepared figures of Jesus and the angels for your 4. garden. This week, make a tomb for the garden it will be an empty tomb! Ask your parent for the largest egg in the house. Crack it open not in the middle, but toward the smallest end. Save the egg for scrambled eggs! Wash and dry the empty egg carefully. This will be the empty tomb in the middle of the garden. You can also build your tomb with play dough or use play dough or clay to hold the egg still.

37 Tuesday, the Fifth Week in Lent 37 Our friend Lazarus is asleep. John 11:11 Jesus and his friends traveled to Bethany. Something sad had happened. Lazarus had become sick. Lazarus had died. Jesus and his friends loved Lazarus. Jesus and his friends loved the sisters Martha and Mary. They knew the first best gift we give to those we love is ourselves. We spend time with those we love. We listen to those we love. We help those we love. Pope Francis reminds us that sometimes we get so busy we forget to do those simple things! Can you change the picture for these family members? In the second box of each cartoon, write or draw one way for a family member to spend time together, to listen, or to help.

38 38 Wednesday, the Fifth Week in Lent Martha heard that Jesus was coming. John 11:20 When Jesus came to Bethany, Martha ran to OPEN the door. She came to talk to him. She was so sad. But even though she was sad, she said, I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day. (Resurrection means rising to new life.) But Jesus was there to OPEN the world to God s amazing power. To find out what he told Martha about himself and God s power, break the code below. I. Answer: I am the resurrection.

39 Thursday, the Fifth Week in Lent 39 Mary came to where Jesus was. John 11:32 Mary came to Jesus, too. All the friends of Jesus knew that Mary loved to OPEN her ears to Jesus! Mary would even sit at the feet of Jesus just to be able to learn from him. Jesus praised her for listening. But on this sad day Mary cried. And Jesus cried with her. Jesus loved his friends. He would OPEN his heart to them when they were sad. Mary listened to Jesus. Jesus listened to Mary. How can we OPEN our ears to listen better? Look at the clues below. Can you think of three ways to listen better to other people?

40 40 Friday, the Fifth Week in Lent Lazarus, come out. John 11:43 Jesus had the people OPEN the tomb where Lazarus was placed when he died. Jesus always said that every great deed he did, God did through him. God wants to work through human beings! Jesus prayed to God and an amazing thing happened: Lazarus came out of the tomb, alive again. God gave new life to Lazarus. Amazing things happen when people OPEN their hearts to God. We can OPEN our kitchens to feed the hungry. We can OPEN our churches to give rest to the homeless. We can OPEN our ears to listen to the sad. And when we do these things, Jesus makes an amazing promise to us! To find the promise, solve this puzzle. Here are the first 13 letters of the alphabet, A-M: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N Underneath each of those, write the last 13 letters of the alphabet, N-Z. The sentence below is written in letter Friends. If you see an A, it means N. If you see an N, it means A. Can you solve the puzzle and read the words? I say to you, whatever you did for one of these L B H Q V Q V G S B E Z R. Answer: You did it for me.

41 Saturday, the Fifth Week in Lent 41 You will see the glory of God. John 11:40 This week s story is a big one! It gets us ready for Easter, because it tells us to OPEN our hearts to God s power to give life. Can you finish the retelling of the story below? You can find the missing words in the Word Search! You can find clues in John 11. and his friends traveled to.. They went to see their sick friend. came out to tell Jesus he had died. Her sister the power to cried with Jesus. Jesus said he had Lazarus. Jesus prayed to God, calling him. Then Jesus called to Lazarus in a loud. Jesus said, Lazarus!! And Lazarus came out!

42 42 Palm Sunday The whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God. Luke 19:37 This is our last week of Lent. This week s stepping stone is BLESS. We will hear a week of stories. People will BLESS Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem. Jesus will BLESS bread and wine for his friends and for us. Jesus will BLESS the whole world by saying yes to God to the very end. The word BLESS means many things. When we BLESS we give praise. When we BLESS we give thanks. When we BLESS we offer to God. On this Sunday we BLESS the palms that remind us of Jesus. We wave the palms to praise Jesus. We give thanks for the palms that God gives to us. We offer the palms to God. We BLESS them. On the palms below write or draw 3 things for which you thank God this week.

43 Monday in Holy Week 43 Jesus came to Bethany. John 12:1 In today s story Jesus goes again to the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Together they sat at table. What do you think his friends would say to Jesus in this hard time? What do you think Jesus would say to his friends? An Easter Garden Every Monday, we ll add to the Easter Garden we are making during Lent. Last Monday, you made an egg shell tomb for the garden. This week add green and growing things. Start with the palms you brought home from church. You can also add any grass, flowers, or other green things you find near your home.

44 44 Tuesday in Holy Week Now is the Son of Man glorified. John 13:31 When Jesus was at table with his friends he BLESSed them in a new way. He gave them a new commandment. Let s find the new commandment that Jesus taught to BLESS his friends. Unscramble the words on the dinner plates to find the new commandment. Answer: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

45 Wednesday in Holy Week 45 I shall celebrate the Passover. Matthew 26:18 Jesus got ready to celebrate the Passover. To celebrate Jesus and his disciples would tell stories and sing songs. They would BLESS bread and wine. They would BLESS God for bringing God s people to freedom. The Bible tells us that Jesus celebrated this year after year. In the Mass, we still celebrate this blessing with Jesus. Draw lines to match the pictures of what we use in the Mass with their right names. Thursday in Holy Week This is my body that is for you. 1 Corinthians 11:24 At the last meal Jesus ate with his friends he showed us how to BLESS all things. Jesus took the bread. Jesus gave thanks to God for the bread. Jesus shared the bread with all his friends. Then Jesus used wine to show us how to BLESS all things. Jesus took the wine. Jesus gave thanks to God for the wine. Jesus shared the wine with all his friends. What good things do you have in your life? How can you give thanks for them? How can you share them with others? Draw or write your ideas on the cup and plate.

46 46 Good Friday For this I came into the world. John 18:37 Even on the cross Jesus chose to BLESS the whole world. Jesus loved God. Jesus loved God s people. Jesus loved the whole world that God gave to all of us. On this cross, we show Jesus who rises to new life on Easter. Can you fill the cross with pictures of God s gifts to the world? What colors do you love? What foods? What animals? What people? Put what you love most around Jesus.

47 Saturday in Holy Week 47 We too might live in newness of life. Romans 6:4 Tonight the Church gathers us together to BLESS God. Tonight we light new fire. Tonight we hold candles and sing to God. Tonight we all BLESS God as we sing out our Easter song: Alleluia! Christ is risen! Why are we so full of joy on this night of nights? Unscramble the candles below to find out. Look at Romans 6:9 for help! Answer: We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more.

48 48 Easter Sunday This is the day the Lord has made. Psalm 118:24 The last stepping stone is labeled RISE! At Easter, we see Jesus RISE to new life. We hear the Church tell each of us to RISE and go and help all the people we can. And every single day, when we wake up, we RISE from bed and begin a new day with God. There are 50 days to celebrate the great gift of Easter! Make a paper chain to help you remember to celebrate. Easter Chain 1. Cut construction paper into strips one inch wide. 2. On one side of each strip write the Easter word: Alleluia! 3. On the other side of each strip, write a number from 1 through Join the strips together to make an Easter chain. 5. Each day tear off a strip once you have done ONE of these things to celebrate: TURN away from a time alone to be with other people. LISTEN to a story from the Bible. PRAY aloud the Easter word: Alleluia! SEE someone in your family who needs a helping hand today and help them. OPEN your heart by sharing a small part of your allowance. BLESS something by thanking God for that good thing. RISE and go into the world with joy! ALLELUIA! Stepping Stones for Lent was written by Dina Strong and Illustrated by Anne Berry. Copyright 2019 All Saints Press. (800) and AllSaintsPress.com