Ash Wednesday for Kids

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What is Ash What is Ash Wednesday all about? Wednesday all about? You may see something strange You may see something strange happening in church on Ash Wednesday. happening in church on Ash Wednesday. You’ll see your family and friends go forward You’ll see your family and friends go forward to receive the sign of the cross on their foreheads. The strange to receive the sign of the cross on their foreheads. The strange part about all of this is that it will be done with the ashes from part about all of this is that it will be done with the ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday palm branches. last year’s Palm Sunday palm branches.

Why do we do this? Why do we do this? Usually when someone gets dirty they know they need water Usually when someone gets dirty they know they need water to get clean. The ashes that are put on our foreheads remind to get clean. The ashes that are put on our foreheads remind us that in sin we are dirty and need to be cleaned. It also helps us that in sin we are dirty and need to be cleaned. It also helps us to remember the first time the sign of the cross was made us to remember the first time the sign of the cross was made on us at our Baptism. In the waters of Baptism, we are cleaned on us at our Baptism. In the waters of Baptism, we are cleaned and the dirt of sin is washed away. Ash Wednesday helps to and the dirt of sin is washed away. Ash Wednesday helps to remind us of this. remind us of this.

Parents: At home after the service, when your Parents: At home after the service, when your children are washing the ashes off, remind them once children are washing the ashes off, remind them once again that we are washed clean of sin at our Baptism. again that we are washed clean of sin at our Baptism. Jesus did all of this for us through His death on the cross Jesus did all of this for us through His death on the cross which we prepare for during Lent. Ash Wednesday is which we prepare for during Lent. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of this time of preparation. the beginning of this time of preparation.

What is “Lent”? What is “Lent”? Lent is a season of the Lent is a season of the Church Year that lasts Church Year that lasts six weeks. Lent begins on six weeks. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter Sunday. During these six weeks the day before Easter Sunday. During these six weeks we look forward to Good Friday, the day our Lord we look forward to Good Friday, the day our Lord died on the cross to pay for our sins, and to Easter died on the cross to pay for our sins, and to Easter Sunday, the day He rose from the dead to prove it! Sunday, the day He rose from the dead to prove it!

How can I remember to think about Jesus How can I remember to think about Jesus during Lent? during Lent? You can give up something you enjoy during Lent. You might You can give up something you enjoy during Lent. You might see your parents give up their morning coffee. Maybe your see your parents give up their morning coffee. Maybe your brother or sister has decided not to eat candy during Lent. Every brother or sister has decided not to eat candy during Lent. Every time you think about doing what you gave up for Lent, it will time you think about doing what you gave up for Lent, it will remind you of what Jesus gave up for you — His life! Blessings remind you of what Jesus gave up for you — His life! Blessings to you as you experience the wonderful journey of Lent! to you as you experience the wonderful journey of Lent!

Parents: Parents: We encourage you to help your child decide on We encourage you to help your child decide on something in their life that they can give up during Lent. something in their life that they can give up during Lent. Be sure to give up something too. Being their example Be sure to give up something too. Being their example and companion on this journey makes a big difference! and companion on this journey makes a big difference!

Copyright © 2016 LCMS Worship. Created by Christopher Thoma. LCMS congregations and schools have permission Copyright © 2016 LCMS Worship. Created by Christopher Thoma. LCMS congregations and schools have permission to reproduce “KIDS in the Divine Service” for their use. to reproduce “KIDS in the Divine Service” for their use. lcms.org | 888-THE LCMS lcms.org | 888-THE LCMS + + + + + + Kids in the Kids in the Divine+ +Service + Divine+ +Service + Why do we celebrate Lent for 40 days? Why do we celebrate Lent for 40 days? Don’t forget what Lent is all about! It is a time when we are Don’t forget what Lent is all about! It is a time when we are reminded of what Jesus gave up for us, and a time when we reminded of what Jesus gave up for us, and a time when we look forward to and prepare for His death and resurrection! look forward to and prepare for His death and resurrection!

We celebrate Lent for six weeks, or 40 days, as we We celebrate Lent for six weeks, or 40 days, as we remember Christ’s temptation in the wilderness in the remember Christ’s temptation in the wilderness in the Gospel of Matthew. There Jesus was without food Gospel of Matthew. There Jesus was without food for 40 days. for 40 days.

We remember the temptation of the Israelites in We remember the temptation of the Israelites in the desert after the Lord had delivered them from the desert after the Lord had delivered them from Egypt. This lasted 40 years. Egypt. This lasted 40 years.

Finally, we can remember the story of Noah and his Finally, we can remember the story of Noah and his family. After 40 days and 40 nights of rain, the Lord family. After 40 days and 40 nights of rain, the Lord delivered them as He promised. delivered them as He promised.

During these 40 days of Lent, we remember God’s faithfulness During these 40 days of Lent, we remember God’s faithfulness to His people and how His faithfulness is complete in Jesus, to His people and how His faithfulness is complete in Jesus, our Savior. Jesus remains faithful to us, always being where our Savior. Jesus remains faithful to us, always being where He promises to be: in His Word and Sacraments. Wow! What He promises to be: in His Word and Sacraments. Wow! What a Savior! a Savior!

Parents: Continue to encourage your children in Parents: Continue to encourage your children in their Lenten preparation. During worship, point out their Lenten preparation. During worship, point out the places where our Lord comes to us (i.e. God’s the places where our Lord comes to us (i.e. God’s Word, Holy Communion, Holy Baptism, Absolution). Word, Holy Communion, Holy Baptism, Absolution). Remember, being their example and companion on this Remember, being their example and companion on this Lenten journey makes a difference! Lenten journey makes a difference!

Hey! What happened Hey! What happened to the “a” word? to the “a” word? There’s one word we often use There’s one word we often use in the Church that isn’t used in the Church that isn’t used during Lent. Usually we use it after during Lent. Usually we use it after responsories, antiphons and other parts of our worship. Have responsories, antiphons and other parts of our worship. Have you guessed what the word is yet? If you guessed “alleluia,” you guessed what the word is yet? If you guessed “alleluia,” then you are right. We stop singing and saying “alleluia” then you are right. We stop singing and saying “alleluia” during Lent and won’t speak it again until Easter morning. during Lent and won’t speak it again until Easter morning.

What does “alleluia” mean and why What does “alleluia” mean and why don’t we say it during Lent? don’t we say it during Lent? “Alleluia” is a Hebrew word that means “Praise the Lord.” Since “Alleluia” is a Hebrew word that means “Praise the Lord.” Since we focus on the sufferings and death of Jesus during Lent, we we focus on the sufferings and death of Jesus during Lent, we stop using this joyful word until we celebrate Jesus’ glorious stop using this joyful word until we celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection. On Easter morning the first words you hear will resurrection. On Easter morning the first words you hear will be: “The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” be: “The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Parents: Parents: During worship, help your children to look for places in During worship, help your children to look for places in the service where “alleluia” has been omitted. Notice the service where “alleluia” has been omitted. Notice the red writing in the hymnal. These words will help the red writing in the hymnal. These words will help A to point out when and where we might use or refrain A to point out when and where we might use or refrain from using the “a” word. from using the “a” word.

Why do we have a week Why do we have a week called “Holy Week”? called “Holy Week”? Why would we refer to a week as being holy? Why would we refer to a week as being holy? The word “holy” means that it is from God. The word “holy” means that it is from God. That’s why we call the Bible “holy.” It isn’t That’s why we call the Bible “holy.” It isn’t just any book. It is God’s living Word given to just any book. It is God’s living Word given to us for our salvation! The same goes for Holy us for our salvation! The same goes for Holy Week. This is “God’s Week.” This is the week Week. This is “God’s Week.” This is the week in the Church Year when Jesus actually paid in the Church Year when Jesus actually paid for our sins and won our salvation! for our sins and won our salvation!

Which days are in Holy Week? Which days are in Holy Week? There are particular days during Holy Week There are particular days during Holy Week that are extra special. During Holy Week we that are extra special. During Holy Week we celebrate Palm Sunday, when Jesus went to celebrate Palm Sunday, when Jesus went to Jerusalem and people celebrated His arrival; Jerusalem and people celebrated His arrival; Maundy Thursday, when Jesus instituted the Maundy Thursday, when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper; Good Friday, when Jesus died Lord’s Supper; Good Friday, when Jesus died on the cross; and Holy Saturday, when we on the cross; and Holy Saturday, when we await His resurrection on Easter Sunday! await His resurrection on Easter Sunday!

Parents: Parents: During worship, help your children to look for other During worship, help your children to look for other things in the church that are considered holy (i.e. God’s things in the church that are considered holy (i.e. God’s Word, the Sacraments, etc.). Ask them: “How does Word, the Sacraments, etc.). Ask them: “How does God use these things to give us His forgiveness?” God use these things to give us His forgiveness?”

Why do we celebrate Why do we celebrate “Palm Sunday”? “Palm Sunday”? The Sunday before Jesus was The Sunday before Jesus was crucified by the people, they crucified by the people, they honored and adored Him as their honored and adored Him as their Lord and king with palm branches. Lord and king with palm branches. We remember this as the beginning Praise Him! crucify Him! We remember this as the beginning Praise Him! crucify Him! of Christ’s bitter walk to the cross. of Christ’s bitter walk to the cross.

Why did the people honor and adore Why did the people honor and adore Jesus on Palm Sunday and then kill Him Jesus on Palm Sunday and then kill Him on Good Friday? on Good Friday? When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the people When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the people began to praise and honor Him as their king. They believed began to praise and honor Him as their king. They believed Him to be a powerful leader who would overthrow the Roman Him to be a powerful leader who would overthrow the Roman government and restore Israel. When Jesus did not do this, the government and restore Israel. When Jesus did not do this, the people wanted Him crucified. You and I know what kind of people wanted Him crucified. You and I know what kind of a king He is. He’s a king who came to die for the sins of His a king He is. He’s a king who came to die for the sins of His people. Wow! What a king! people. Wow! What a king!

Parents: Remind your children that it was important Parents: Remind your children that it was important that Jesus did die for their sins. That is exactly what that Jesus did die for their sins. That is exactly what He came to earth to do. He came to pay the price He came to earth to do. He came to pay the price that we could never pay. Direct your children to the that we could never pay. Direct your children to the symbols in the church that reflect Christ’s death. symbols in the church that reflect Christ’s death. Remind them that we will hear of His victory over Remind them that we will hear of His victory over death next Sunday on Easter!!! death next Sunday on Easter!!!