Helping Children Make Meaning: Tips for Holy Week
We need to find the meaning-filled place between a cute (but spiritually meaningless) Easter bunny and retellings of the cross that with potential for spiritual harm.
Latest Entries
Not Just for Children: Children’s Time Series for Lent
Click to Download 2018 Lent Children’s Time- Final, the complete, not-just-for-children’s time series. “Wait!” we were about to say, “Not THAT candle. Surely there is a mistake, that light cannot be extinguished.” This is not how the story ends! Before we could protest, the candle was re-lit with words of mystery and comfort. “The light … Continue reading
Lent and Easter Inspiration: 2018
From bookmarks to praygrounds to prayer stations, a list of resources for your planning. Continue reading
Prayground Activities for the 2018 Lenten Season – Year B Lectionary
And now we begin to prepare for Lent… Use the code “BLESS30” to receive 30% off Lenten Prayer Station downloads in the new Etsy shop. Please sign up for the email list to receive downloadable bookmarks and upcoming special offers.. I’ve written previously about the challenges and joys of offering an activity for children in a … Continue reading
Free Fall Leaf Photos
Who doesn’t need a few photos suitable for social media backgrounds? Here are seven copyright free photos taken by me. I used one of the photos in Canva to make this week’s prayer of the week. Enjoy! Continue reading
Stories that Shape Us & and Invitation to Share Yours
Recently, a dear friend told that she was wondering what to do next when she realized that parts of the story of my life helped her to navigate through her challenging, similar situation. My heart was touched to learn that the memories and stories I have shared with her over the years helped her in … Continue reading
Cairn Building: Thoughts from Spring Break
One of the highlights of our spring break travels to Arizona and Utah was an unplanned trip to a lesser known canyon. Away from the lines and well worn trails of the national parks we visited, we were able to explore at our own pace. My nephew enjoyed the freedom to discover “hidey holes” in the … Continue reading
Summer Lesson Options that Work
Summer Faith Formation is both an opportunity and a challenge in a church of our size (weekly worship attendance between 60-80 and Sunday school attendance from 5-20). Earlier this week I asked our leadership team for feedback on four curriculum options for summer. I named what we wanted to be intentional about our annual reprieve … Continue reading
A Recipe for Wonder on Maundy Thursday
When my kids were little we didn’t observe Holy Week. I simply didn’t know how to share this part of our faith with my girls. Back then there weren’t many mommy blogs, and even fewer resources for learning to share faith at home. At some point I found a book, Mitten Strings for God, that … Continue reading
Unfinished reflections on a long week
Saturday: My daughter shares that a lockdown drill has been announced for her high school. It will happen sometime in the coming week, not on Wednesday because of the Walkout, but during a passing period. Curious, I ask what students do when they are in the hallways. I learn a lot about safety procedures that … Continue reading
Children’s Message for Palm Sunday
Spring break aligns with Holy Week for us this year, meaning many families will miss part or all of the most important story of our faith. Which means, we need to be creative about finding time to tell the Easter story. This year we’ll be handing out Holy Week Boxes, which are small enough to … Continue reading
What I learned this Sunday…
Sunday evening we had a multi-generational event about the realities of teen life today. The plans have been in the works for months, stemming from an idea one of our youth, who is also a community leader, developed. Adults, youth and the Holy Spirit showed up in the most beautiful ways. We started with a … Continue reading
How will we #StandWithTheKids?
I stand in awe of the youth today. My colleagues Emily Heitzman and Melissa Cooper have written eloquently on the prophetic voice of the students leading a movement for change in the aftermath of the Parkland tragedy. While the youth are busy organizing, planning, and making their voices heard on a local and national state, … Continue reading
Children's Sermons / Faith Formation (formerly Sunday School) / Lent / Taking the Lessons Home / The Bible / Uncategorized
Before You Read that Easter Story to Children…
How is the violence portrayed? Why did Jesus have to die? Does the story match the Bible text? Even the simplest children’s Easter story has deep implications for how we understand God. Continue reading
