Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for forty days until Holy Thursday (when the Easter Tridiuum begins). During Lent, we look more intently at our lives, repent of our sins, and offer personal sacrifices of alms, prayer, and fasting as penance for our sins. We spend these days in preparation for the new life of Easter. These prayer celebrations are appropriate for early in the Lenten season.

See Liturgical Calendar–Seasons–Lent for additional background information and prayer.


"Walking with Jesus" Prayer Celebration Notes

Focus		Journeying with Jesus during Lent
Materials Needed		Prayer table with Bible and candle, copies of liturgy, footprint, crayons or markers, scissors, music Click here to print footprint.
Reading		Jeremiah 1:4–9
Music		"Be Merciful O Lord," Blest Are We Music CD 2; "With Open Hands," Gifts for a Lifetime; "Jesus Remember Me," Jacques Berthier (Taizé) (GIA Publications)
Preparation		Print out and photocopy the liturgy, "Walking with Jesus," for each child. Distribute copies of the footprint, scissors, and crayons or markers to the children. On the footprint, have each child write one way in which he or she will promise to walk with Jesus during Lent. Have them cut out their completed footprints. Place a box or basket on the prayer table. Select a strong reader for the Scripture passage. Prepare your role as leader for the prayer celebration. After the liturgy tape the footprints around the room as a reminder of the children's Lenten promises.
Adaptation		See "with Open Hands" and "Be Merciful O Lord" for music movements. [www.blestarewe.com/resources/index.cfm/rsrc/music] Help the children follow the movements during the prayer celebration.
Additional Materials		"Be Merciful O Lord" Blest Are We Music CD 2 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36653-0 Blest Are We Song Book Words and melody for children; contains music for levels 1-8 ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 Blest Are We Accompaniment Book Contains accompaniment music for levels 1-8 ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2 "With Open Hands" Gifts for a Lifetime Music CD ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36113-X Gifts for a Lifetime Song Book ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36103-2 Gifts for a Lifetime Accompaniment Book ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36104-0