Creating a Lent Prayer Station {for kids}

I grew up in the Methodist denomination. On Ash Wednesday we would go to church and the pastor would paint crosses of ash on our foreheads. We waved real palm branches on Palm Sunday and paraded giant purple banners on Easter. The Methodists, like the Catholics and other traditional denominations, have some deeply rooted spiritual traditions that enrich the experience of the season.

What I appreciated most was the preparation of the heart for the sacred celebration of Easter Sunday. We didn’t just show up to church on Easter, we built up for it all month long. I now attend a non-denominational church where these rituals are not practiced, but I still value the 40 day process that helps unearth the deep truths of Easter. Of being Easter people.

And I want my kids to have that same experience.

Lent Prayer Station

This year I decided to set up a little table as our “Lent Prayer Station.” The instructions are simple and it requires only a few minutes of time:

• Light the candle
• Read the scripture or say it out loud
• Say the prayer

Light the Candle

I love that each child can do it when he/she gets up in the morning, whenever that is.  It allows them to take their own initiative.  Lighting the candle has turned out to be a key component of the station – they like that part!

Journaling Option:

The journaling part works best with older children and is totally optional.  I write down 2-3 questions surrounding the prayer or scripture in the journal. I also write a possible sacrifice or Lent addition for the day. I don’t make them do it, as I want it to come from an internal motivation, but we talk about it as a family and encourage it. With kids, I find that doing something different each day is more doable than doing one thing for forty days!

I Have Provided 36 Prayers

I have 36 different short prayers – the last four you get to create as a family – make your own last four prayers and make them really personal to YOU.

 For the printables, you can pre-cut them into squares and they are ready to go, or glue one on each page of a journal and walk through Lent that way.  You could also do this as a family at dinner and light the candle and read it then.   You can get creative with how you use these!

Download the Lent Prayer Cards

I pray you will be blessed as you lead your children toward their own journey with Jesus this Easter season!

UPDATE:

Now that my kids are teenagers, I find that reading these together at dinner, or leaving one out for each child to take with him or her each day to school is a great way for them to carry Lent with them.  This also allow them to apply it in their own way.

MAY THIS BE A JOY-FILLED & HOLY SEASON FOR YOU!

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