Key #4: Rituals and Traditions during Lent

At Calvary, we believe that parents & grandparents are the “experts” in the faith development of their children, and the home is the best “sanctuary” for worship, prayer, and service to occur. We delight in fulfilling our promise to support families who raise their children in our community of faith. And research shows that one of the best ways to do that is to put resources in  parents’ hands to help them weave faith into the folds and creases of their busy lives

One of the four “keys” for growing faith at home involves taking a look at the rituals and traditions your family observes. Church seasons and holidays are rich with opportunities for children to grow in faith because they learn through the multi-sensory events each season brings. Every church season ushers in different colors, readings, songs, and traditions that are repeated year after year. As children grow, they have “anchors” from prior years that allow them to process, remember, and anticipate the holidays that we celebrate. And when families observe the church seasons at home, children have a much deeper understanding of faith in action.

For parents, the beauty of liturgical seasons like Advent and Lent lies in the fact that they are finite.  It you have struggled to develop a consistent habit of reading the Bible with your children, or being more deliberate about family meals or prayer or serving, taking a “deep dive” during Advent and Lent is a great place to begin. 

Lent is a more abstract concept for children to understand. The absence of angels, sheep, stars, journeys fraught with danger, and a king born in a barn makes the Lenten season more difficult to comprehend. (And the season of Advent culminates in a birth, something all children understand.)  When families observe Lent at home, children have a deeper understanding of the the meaning behind the stories. Below are a few ways to “practice” faith at home with your children as we journey to the cross together:

1. “Remember” the teachings of Jesus as a family: Read the stories of how how Jesus loved, prayed, served, healed, and forgave.  
2. Adopt a family service project for the six weeks of Lent.  Talk about the way Jesus modeled loving and serving others. 
3. The longer days of spring, and the explosion of color in nature offer wonderful parallels to the Easter story. Take a walk outside and talk about the wonders of God’s creation.

We hope you will visit our website and check out the resources we have available in our Parent Resource Center. We suggest you start  right HERE