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2006 Lent/Easter
Children and the Easter Symbols of Fire, Wind and Water
Gospel Action Figures
Keep It Simple . . . The Way Jesus Did
Whose Experience Is It Anyway?
Music Suggestions for Liturgies with Children - Year B

Vivian E. Williams

Use Clear Childlike Images
Since Lent is a preparation time for Easter, we should think of ways to link the two seasons in the minds of the children. One way is to put our bulletin boards to good use. Begin the Lenten season with a large brown cross silhouette on a purple background and surround the bottom of the cross with thorny plant silhouettes. For Easter change the background to a bright color and place lilies at the base of the cross.

Another image for Lent is the cocoon, an oval gray-brown case in which a butterfly develops. Place a large version hanging from a bare branch on the board and for Easter cut a crack in it and place a large, beautiful butterfly on the branch which now may have leaves and flowers on it. In both cases it is important to have a conversation with the children about the images.

Actions: Fasting and Almsgiving
Part of the conversation might include the manner in which the children will express Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For whom will they pray more intentionally? When will they do that prayer? How often will they pray? From what will they fast? Fasting is a way of saying, nothing has power over me except God. Can I fast from unnecessary trips to the shopping mall, from junk food every Wednesday and Friday (since these are the traditional days for penance and fasting) from renting movies or playing video games?

How will I do almsgiving? This is another reason to fast. What I save I give to the poor. To whom shall I give the money I save on movie rentals? Where shall I spend the time I save from not playing video games or roaming the mall? Shall I read to or play a game with my younger sibling? Shall I visit an elderly neighbor? These intentions can be written on the back of small crosses or cocoons and placed on the bulletin board.

Prayer: Liturgy of the Hours
Another way to link the seasons is with prayer services and this may be a good time to introduce Evening and Morning prayer modeled on the Liturgy of the Hours. These liturgies feature psalms from Scripture with two or more psalms and a short spoken Scripture. Since these services are for children we’ve abridged them. (See the two adapted services below.) Try to sing the psalm by finding a simple setting such as those found in OCP's Rise Up and Sing.

The Lenten Evening Prayer makes use of the traditional incense and the Easter Morning Prayer adds a water rite. During the Lenten evening prayer the children can add their cross or cocoon to the bulletin board. For Easter replace the small crosses with birds, butterflies and bunnies. Replace the small cocoons with small butterflies.

A Lenten Evening Prayer
Environment: Bible, candle, small pot filled with sand, charcoal, incense grains, matches, small tongs, purple cloth, opening response and psalm refrain printed on board, overhead or paper.
Ministers: Leader, psalmist, lector, intercessor, candle lighter/incenser
Light the charcoal about 10 minutes before the service begins. A window is open. Children with allergies or asthma have been advised to stay back from the incense. The children gather. The candle is lit or carried in lit and placed in the midst of the gathered church.

OPENING
Verse and Response
Leader: God (All make the sign of the cross) come to my assistance.
All: Lord, make haste to help me.
Evening Song: (Choose something the children know with a Lenten theme or “Lord of All Hopefulness,” “This Little Light of Mine” or some other suitable song.)
PSALM SCRIPTURE
The incenser places incense on the coal a little at a time until a definite spiral of smoke is created. Then the psalmist begins the Psalm.
Psalm 141
Some silence is observed.
SPOKEN SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 58: 6-9 (From the weekday Lectionary For Masses With Children, #176)
Some silence is observed. The children are invited to place their cross/cocoon on the bulletin board.
INTERCESSIONS
The intercessor leads a series of short intercessions. After the intercessions:
Leader: My sisters and brothers, we gather these spoken and unspoken intercessions we pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven….
CONCLUSION
Leader: Holy One, lead us safely home this evening and guard us from all evil. Help us prepare for Easter by being kind and generous and prayerful. Bless our families as we gather at home. For you are God, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Leader: May the Lord bless us (All make the Sign of the Cross) protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.

Morning Prayer (Easter time)
Environment: Bible, candle, large, glass bowl, pitcher with water, brightly colored cloth, opening response and psalm refrain printed on board, overhead or paper.
Ministers: Leader, psalmist, lector, intercessor, candle bearer/lighter, Water bearer/sprinkler
In the water rite the water should be poured slowly and from a little height so it can be seen and heard. Children may come to the bowl and sign themselves or may be sprinkled using an evergreen branch. The water is holy even if it is from the tap – all water is holy from creation. It should be used to water plants, left in the bowl for signing after the prayer. The children gather. A new large candle is lit or carried in lit and put in place.

OPENING
Verse and Response
Leader: Lord, open my lips (All make the sign of the cross).
All: And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
The water is poured into the bowl. During the song the children are sprinkled and sign themselves or they come to the water, dip their hand in the bowl, and sign themselves.
Morning Song: (Choose something the children know with an Easter theme.)
PSALM SCRIPTURE
Psalm 63
Some silence is observed.
SPOKEN SCRIPTURE
Acts: 2:32-33 (From the weekday Lectionary for Masses with Children, #185)
Some silence is observed.
INTERCESSIONS
The intercessor leads a series of short intercessions. After the intercessions:
Leader: My sisters and brothers, we gather these spoken and unspoken intercessions we pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven….
CONCLUSION
Leader: Gracious God, we celebrate this Easter with great joy as we remember the Resurrection of Jesus and our own baptism. We offer our day to you in love. For you are God, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Leader: May the Lord bless us, (All make the Sign of the Cross) protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.

Vivian E. Williams serves as the liturgy director for the St. Giles Family Mass Community in Oak Park, IL. She holds a master of arts in pastoral studies with a concentration in word and worship from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Vivian often speaks at liturgical and catechetical conferences and in-services for religion teachers and catechists. She is the author of Classroom Prayer Basics published by the Pastoral Press and co-author of the When Children Gather series published by GIA Publications, Inc.