One of the challenges we have taken on this year as a team
serving the children of our community is how we can share the stories and
traditions around observing a Holy Lent. This period in the church calendar is
not always the easiest to discuss with our children. Shrove Tuesday and
pancakes are fine and the resurrection and Easter eggs draw the crowd but Holy
Week itself is packed with expectation and imagery we find hard to talk about.
It also contains so many stories so close together so we rush from one to the
next.
For the third year in a row Lori offered a Children’s Ashes
Service after the Pancake Supper on Shrove Tuesday. This was well attended and
introduces our children to the important marking of the start of Lent.
New this year we have 2 events on Good Friday, March 29 that
will be of interest to our families.
Holy Week for Kids, March 29, 4:30-6pm. Join Lori and Jan
for dinner, stories and activities that take us through Holy Week from the Palm
waving of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to his death on the cross. We will
celebrate together Holy Week with an eye on the knowledge that Sunday brings
the resurrection, new life, and Easter eggs! Please sign up for this event in
the Parish Hall or at ctfcoord@saintj.com. A donation of $10 a family is appreciated.
Also on Good Friday between 2-8pm an Interactive Stations of
the Cross will be set up in Church. There will be material available for all
ages to use to experience this traditional practice in a new way (or
traditionally if you prefer!) Children, accompanied by an adult, can experience
the stations while reflecting on what happened to Jesus and how it is relevant
to them. Walking the Stations can take a little as half an hour or as long as
you want. Drop in at a time to suit you, or come before or after joining the
Holy Week for Kids dinner.
For more information on any event or any questions about kids and families at St James, please feel free to speak to me any time or email ctfcoord@saintj.com.
Yours
Jan Scrutton
