ASH WEDNESDAY Para-Liturgy - for Primary Schools

1. ASH WEDNESDAY Para-Liturgy - for Primary Schools

2. Lent 2014 – Dig Deep and Pray

3. Teacher: Let us begin our worship with a reminder that Jesus died and rose again for us. Altogether…. All: In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

4. Opening Prayer: [Pupil 1] Wonderful God your light shines into our world and brings happiness and peace to our hearts. As we begin our journey of Lent today give us your blessing and strength so that we may show care for one another. Encourage us, creator God, to be close to you. All: AMEN

5. Teacher: • Today is Ash Wednesday. • Doesanyone know what happens today? • Today blessed ashes are put • on our foreheads in the shape of a cross. These ashes are made by burning the palm leaves saved from last year’s Palm Sunday. • Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent.

6. Teacher: • Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. Following Jesus’ example, it is a time to try to improve our relationship with God and with others. Lots of us choose to give up something we enjoy during Lent. We can also make an extra effort to pray and to do good things for other people.

7. Teacher: • It’s not always easy to do the right thing. We try but sometimes we can be tempted to do the wrong thing. This is something that happened even to Jesus, as Matthew tells us in the Gospel: • Matthew 4: 1-11

8. Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 Narrator: God led Jesus into the desert. Jesus stayed in the desert for forty days and nights, praying and listening to God. During that time, he did not eat anything because he was trying to pay close attention to God. After forty days and nights, the devil came to him and tried to tempt him to do wrong. First the devil said: Devil: "If you are God's son, tell these rocks to turn into bread." Narrator: Jesus would not do it, even though he was very hungry. Instead, He answered by using a memory verse: Jesus: "It is written in the Scriptures, 'A person does not live by eating only bread. But a person lives by everything the Lord says.'"

9. Narrator: Next, the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem. He put him on the top of the temple building and said: Devil: "If you are God's son, jump off." Narrator: Then he tried to use a memory verse to convince Jesus to jump. The devil said: Devil: “It is written in the Scriptures, „He has put his angels in charge of you. They will catch you with their hands." Narrator: But Jesus answered with another memory verse, Jesus: “The Bible also says „Do not test the Lord your God‟.”

10. Narrator: So Jesus did not jump off the building. A third time the devil tried to tempt Jesus. He led Him to the top of a high mountain. He showed Jesus all the world. He said to him: Devil: "If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you everything you see." Narrator: Jesus would not bow down. He answered the devil by saying: Jesus: "Go away from me satan! It is written in the Scriptures, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Narrator: So the devil left Jesus and angels came to take care of him. (Angels could put their arms round Jesus)

11. Teacher: Jesus was tempted, but he did not do wrong. Even though Jesus was hungry and tired, he found the strength to do the right thing. Even though God created the world with enough food for everyone, many people around the world still go hungry. Samai is five years old and lives in a village in Sierra Leone. Samai is clever and does very well at school. But his family find it difficult to buy enough food to feed themselves and still have enough money left to pay for Samai to go to school.

12. Teacher: CAFOD has helped Samai‟s family learn how to grow their own food on unused swampland. The crops that Samai‟s family grow help them to have enough to eat and they can sell any extra crops so they have enough money for Samai to go to school. Let us read these questions and reflect: • What are some ways that I am tempted? • What did Jesus do when he was tempted? • What can I do when I feel tempted so I don't • do the wrong thing?

13. This is Samai. Let us watch a video about him. http://www.cafod.org.uk/Education/Primary-schools/Lent-and-food-primary

14. Teacher: The question being ask of you and me: WHAT WILL YOU DO THIS LENT? This Lent we are invited to Dig Deep inside ourselves and consider how we can become more like Jesus. Lent invites us to make our personal commitment – to do something and be more Jesus.

15. Distribution of Ashes

16. Prayers The response is: God help me to Dig Deep this Lent. Group 1: Caring God, we pray for our school family as we begin this season of Lent. Help us to be generous in our actions. Response: God help me to Dig Deep this Lent.

17. Group 2: Loving God, we thank You for your love and patience, and for always being ready to forgive us if we do wrong. Response: God help me to Dig Deep this Lent. Group 3: Gentle God, during Lent,help us to Dig Deep within ourselves in order to be the best we can be. May we show our love for you by doing what we know is right, and by doing good for others. Response: God help me to Dig Deep this Lent.

18. Final Prayer ALL: Be close to us, Lord Jesus, as we journey through Lent. As we pray and share with others, help us to see that all people are precious, and that we are all blessed by your love. Amen. In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

19. Resources: Para-liturgy: CAFOD, http://www.cafod.org.uk Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gocyclones/ http://stbrigidsgns.ie/about/ Avondale Patillo UMC: www.flicker.com http://roundunvarnishedtale.blogspot.sg/2013/02/ashless-wednesday.html http://catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Prayer-Candles.jpg http://newkilpatrickblog.typepad.com/spillbeans/2012/02/powerpoint-backgrounds-for-sunday-4-march-2012-lent-2.html http://robcrandell.com/sanctuary/Backgrounds/bread-basket-meal.jpg http://writeousrhema.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/god-doesnt-use-a-man-until-he-proves-that-man/take-up-your-cross-002-3/