totally lent! For Intermediate Grades HTP3617 TL intermediate.indd A4 V A KID S JOURNEY TO EASTER 2018 3055 Kettering Blvd Dayton, OH 45439 800-543-4383 pflaum.com 9/7/17 10:24 AM
What Are You Doing for Lent? The Church teaches us to do penance during Lent. This means to do something good to make up for our sins. It means to make sacrifices. A sacrifice is an offering to God given with love. Many people give up something as a sacrifice during Lent. That s fine if what you give up is something that gets in the way of your friendship with Jesus. But if you give up candy and keep on being mean to your brother, what good does that do? It would be better to give up being mean to your brother! Lent is a time to do something that will help you grow closer to God and will help the life of Christ to grow in you. You might pray more, be more helpful to others, or do your chores without complaining. You get the idea. Totally Lent! will help you keep track of your spiritual growth throughout the next six weeks. On pages 32 and 33, there is a drawing of a sunflower. This sunflower will be your growth chart. Every Saturday you can write a note about how you ve done in keeping your promise for Lent. Take some time now to think about what you will do this Lent. Write your promise for Lent in the space on page 32. 3
40 Ash Wednesday February 14 Today s Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said, Beware of practicing your piety in front of others so they can see you. (6:1) Today, the priest or minister uses blessed ashes to make a cross on your forehead. The ashes remind us that life on earth is only for a while. Now is the time to turn to God, be sorry for our sins, and try to do better. After hearing or reading today s Gospel, choose the correct ending for what Jesus said about praying, fasting, and giving alms. When you pray 1. Do 2. Do not A. Stand up in public so everyone will notice. B. Go to your room and close the door. When you fast 3. Do 4. Do not When you give alms 5. Do 6. Do not A. Look gloomy so everyone knows what you are doing. B. Look happy so no one knows what you are doing. A. Keep your good deeds secret. B. Call attention to yourself. 4 Today you may see someone who doesn t know what the ashes on your forehead mean. Take time to explain what Lent is about.
39 Thursday after Ash Wednesday February 15 Today s Gospel: Luke 9:22-25 Jesus said to his disciples, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (9:23) You deny yourself whenever you do anything that puts other people first. Two examples are when you play the game your friend wants to play or you give up your free time to read to your little brother. That is not always easy, is it? 1. Trace this cross pattern on construction paper. 2. Cut around the outside of the cross shape. 3. Print Jesus words to his disciples on the cross. 4. Fold each square toward the center to make a cube shape. 5. Tape the cube closed. Keep the cross cube where it will remind you to follow Jesus. 5
38 Friday after Ash Wednesday February 16 Today s Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15 Jesus said, The wedding guests cannot be sad when the bridegroom is with them. The days will come when he is taken away. Then they will fast. (9:15) Lent is the time when we prepare for the day when Jesus is taken away. It is a time for sacrifices. Sometimes a choice might look like a sacrifice but really isn t. Check the choice that makes these examples true sacrifices. 1. You love shrimp. You have a choice of two menu items this Friday. Choose one. Shrimp Macaroni and cheese 2. You gave up video games for Lent. A friend has a new game and asks you to play. What do you do? You say no. You explain to your friend about Lent. You say yes. You decide it would be rude to refuse. 3. Your neighbor asks you to help her in her yard. She will pay you. You help her and save the money for a new bike. You help her, save half the money, and give half to the poor. 6 Jesus, accept the sacrifice I make today as a small sign of my love for you. Amen.