TIME TO PRAY!!!

Drawing by: Alberto from the archives of:

The International Children's Library.

In early childhood rituals are an important piece within the stages of development.

Examine your daily routine(s) and see what makes a realistic fit into your life…set yourself and your family up for success!

Common Times Families Pray Together:

Mealtimes, Bedtimes & Times of Crisis

Common Family Experiences: (AKA: Opportunities to pray)

Morning & Evening Grooming Routine, School Drop-off & Pick-Up, Extra-Curricular Activities, School Events, Play Dates, etc.

Don’t feel your family has any schedule?
THEN EXTEMPORANEOUS PRAYER MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU!
Any regular occurrence or special situation can merit a prayer!

The Lord's Prayer

Lent does not have to be all about giving things up.
Lent can also include adding good things to our lives or to others' lives -

- the kind of good things that follow on what Jesus asks of us.

This year, try the CYF Challenge:

SAY THE LORD'S PRAYER ONCE EACH DAY

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday
This is the day that Lent begins. A day of reflection and pause for all of us to stop and think about the things that we want to change and the places we want to transform our lives. The ashes that we use are made from the palms from last year’s Palm Sunday services. The ashes symbolize the death and burial of old things, the thing we want to be rid of, and the beginnings of our journey toward Easter and our Baptismal renewal.

Family Ash Wednesday Ritual
Have your family gather together and give them pieces of paper. Have them each write or draw something that they would like to change, something they would like to do differently, or something that they would like to take on in their Lenten journey. After each person has had the chance to finish, fold the papers up and burn them together in a safe place. As they are burning, read the following prayer:

Gracious God, as we light this fire we offer ourselves to you.

Be with us this season of Lent as we journey toward you.

Help us to release things that get in the way or things we want to change.

Help us also to see new things that will draw us closer to you. Amen.