Ministry with Children Lent Resources - The Michigan Conference

Need something else?

Need another resource? Looking for advice? Please contact Kathy Pittenger.

Resources from 2021

2021 Lent in a Box & Holy Week in a Box Resources - includes Ash Wednesday and 5 weeks of prayer practices for families to use at home.

Resources from 2020

Click here to download a flyer to give to families about ways to practice Lent or visit the blog post.

Children's Message for Easter

Download the pdf resource or view the webpage with links and additional information.

Lent

Lent is the 40 days before Easter (not including Sundays) that are a time for reflection, spiritual practices, and preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Below are resources and links for parents/caregivers and local churches.

Lent Playlists for families are available here.

The Lent, Holy Week, & Easter Resource Toolbox contains a lot of information. Click on the topic you are interested in to learn more:

Lent Resources

Lent/Holy Week at Home Resources

Holy Week Resources

Easter Resources

Children's Books for Lent, Holy Week, & Easter

Additional Resources

Dear Adults who are investing in the faith of children:
The resources below are intended to help you grow in your own faith as well as support the children you care for. Incorporate as few or as many as you wish and you have the time and energy for. You may have additional traditions or faith expressions that you want to incorporate as well. The digital faith formation playlists are here to assist and guide you.

Lent Resources

Pancakes to Ashes - An Ash Wednesday Service on Shrove Tuesday (buildfaith.org)

Praying in Color resources for Lent and Holy Week

Walking with Jesus Lenten Calendar (special thanks to Loubird Creations for changing the wording for our UM traditions)

Lent and Easter resources from Illustrated Ministry that can be used with all ages.

Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, & Resurrection is a wonderful book that can be included in an at-home box or for meaningful experiences at church. Order from your favorite bookseller.

Christine V. Hides created a 10 page guide for Lent and Easter with devotionals, prayer stations, parent articles, and more. Access it from her blog here.

Children's Ministry Leaders shared lots of great ideas - view their ideas here or connect with us on our Facebook group!

A Sanctified Art Children's Curriculum for Lent 2023

Lent & Holy Week @ Home

Ten Ways to Observe Lent at Home (simple, free, family-friendly)

Prayer practices and activities for families to use at home during Lent.

#pictureLent daily visio divina visuals for all ages

Family Time Kit is expecting to have a subscription box ready for Lent. More information will be on their website soon. $

Holy Week in a Box

Holy Week in a Box Resource - includes a "read, say, do, wonder, and pray" component for each day of Holy Week. Download the Resource

Lent in a Box

Lent & Easter at Home Kits (Building Faith)

Holy Week Resources

What Does This Day Mean? series from Building Faith. The entire collection is here, pick the ones that apply for Lent and Holy Week.

Finding the Way of the Cross in Nature (an adaptation for the Stations of the Cross from Building Faith)

Wondering about how to talk with children about Good Friday? While some are comfortable sharing many of the details of the story, others are uncomfortable with the violence and nuance of the crucifixion. On this doc you will find links to several resources with different ways of sharing the story of Good Friday with children in age/developmentally appropriate ways.

Easter Resources

Resurrection Eggs

Use these Resurrection Eggs from Traci Smith in a way to share symbols of the story without the violent details of Jesus' torture and death. They are also included in Chapter 6 of Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, & Resurrection.