10 Lenten Ideas for Families

1. Make a "Lutheran Rosary" and follow the suggestions found on the ELCA website at www.elca.org/communication/rosary.html .

2. Start a new family tradition: Share highs and lows at dinner or bedtime, pray for each other, and end with a blessing.

3. Lenten Service Jar: Dye kidney beans purple and add beans to a jar every time a member of the family is helpful. loving, or of service around the house.

4. Create shadow puppets (use black construction paper to make silhouettes and attach to craft sticks). Mount a light colored sheet in a doorway and act out the story with the puppets. Aim a safe lamp behind the puppeteer to create the shadow effect. (From www.sfaparish.com.)

5. Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross. Ask family members to think of people who have helped them in the past year (babysitters, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, etc) and have them write out a thank-you note or buy a small gift for them to give on Palm Sunday.

6. Keep a Lenten journal and write down prayers, meditations, etc. (For younger children, this may be done in pictures.)

7. Bake your way through Lent! Make pretzels to represent prayer; make hot cross buns and decorate with crosses; make a cake in the form of a lamb for Easter.

8. Instead of giving up something for Lent - give something for Lent: service for others. Decide with your family each week, how you could reach out and help others in your community. (Or do both!)

9. Participate in the 40 Days Calendar "Living Simply With God" and coin box. Information can be found at www.elca.org/hunger/resources/40days.html

10. Recognizing Others' Gifts: Each week, have family members privately list the good qualities/God-given talents/gifts of one member of the family. A parent compiles the lists and transcribes on a scroll/letter of praise to be included in each member's Easter basket.