9 Ideas for Family Lenten Bags

by Vanessa Myers

This Lenten season I wanted to put together something for the families in our church in which they could celebrate Lent at home together.  I did something similar during Advent a year ago (Family Advent Bags), and was excited to put together a Family Lenten Bag this year.

Below is a list of items I included in our Family Lenten Bag.  You can easily put these things together at home with your own family, too, so ya’ll can reflect on the Lenten season together.

To see a printable list of the items, click here:  Family Lenten Bag List

1. Family Lenten Calendar/Scripture PathFamily Lenten Bag

A fellow Children’s Ministry leader sent me this Matthew Scripture Path.  It has a Scripture reading from the book of Matthew every day in Lent.  Each day that you read the Scripture, you mark it with a sticker or color it in.  This Scripture path was created by Lisa Surran.  She gave my friend, Glenys Nellist, permission to link this to her website.  Click here to see the Matthew Path

2. He Lives Sticker Sheets 

These are simple Easter stickers that I ordered from Oriental Trading.

3. Dissolving Paper

I used these at a previous Easter event several years ago. I ordered them from Group Publishing (not sure if they are still availale there or not).  Each person in your family is given a sheet of dissolving paper.  They are to write down something they need to ask for forgiveness.  Then they will each place it in a cup of water, stir, and watch it dissolve…just like God forgives our sins and remembers them no more.

4. Give It Up Notebook

I bought mini-notebooks from Wal-Mart.  Each family gets one notebook.  In the notebook they are to write down what they are giving up or adding to Lent.  Throughout the Lenten season, they can journal about their experience or draw pictures about it.

5. Prayer Pail

I had these mini-pails left over from a previous Easter event.  I honestly can’t remember where I got them from.  But you can use any type of pail or box for this.  I included craft sticks in each pail.  Each family member will write down someone who needs prayer.  During meal times, your family can draw a craft stick and pray for that person.

6. Easter Prayer Cube

I ordered these from Living Grace.  On each side of the cube is a prayer.  At meal times, have someone roll the cube and pray the prayer that it lands on.

7. Holy Week Cross

I ordered this from Oriental Trading.  It’s a journey through Holy Week.  Your child can color in the cross each day during Holy Week.  It’s a good discussion starter for you and your child.

8. Picture Lent Photo Challenge

I read about this photo challenge from a fellow Children’s Ministry leader on Facebook.  Each day in Lent you are given a word.  Your job is to take a picture of something that reminds you of that word. Parents can then post it to their social media pages.

9. Empty Easter Egg

I placed an empty Easter egg inside the bag with a small card that reminded them that the empty Easter egg is to remind them of the empty tomb.

I pray these Lenten bags will help your family remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross!

For other family Lent ideas, check out these resources:

Remember Me

Letters from Jerusalem

Holy Week Stones

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